Page 1 of Blue Velvet: Special Edition @ CD-Wow

Has anyone ordered the region 2 version of Blue Velvet from CD-Wow, the so-called Special Edition? I`d like to know if it is different from the Widescreen version as found at amazon.co.uk.

Customer reviews at Amazon complain of "picture quality similar to a much used and weary VHS", but CD-Wow boasts of a "New Digital Transfer Supervised by David Lynch". Both seem to have the same features (45-minute interview with Hopper). I am beginning to suspect that they aren`t different at all, or the CD-Wow copy is in fact Region 1 (as reviewed on this site)

Although they are both listed as Region 2 discs, I believe the version on sale at CDWow is the Australian SE which is 2:35:1 anamorphic PAL while the version on sale at Amazon appears to be the U.K. disc issued by Castle Home Video which is 1:78:1 non-anamorphic PAL. Have a look at www.dvdcompare.org.uk for further information.

This item was edited on Thursday, 10th July 2003, 22:37

Thanks for the link, that`s a useful site.

If CD-Wow really are selling the Australian version then it should say Region 4, no? And according to dvdcompare the Australian one doesn`t have the extras listed at CD-Wow (like the Hopper interview). I`m confused, and CD-Wow won`t respond to my queries.

CD-Wow just responded to my query. Apparently it is the Australian version (Region 2 and 4) as distributed by MGM. Strange this is that the extras listed at dvdcompare and at CD-Wow don`t match.

It should contain:
[list] [*] "Mysteries Of Love" documentary featuring rare interviews with David Lynch, Isabella Rossellini and Kyle MacLachlan
[*] "Are You A Pervert?" deleted scenes featurette
[*] "Siskel & Ebert" critical review of the film [/list]

But CD-Wow says it contains the 45-minute Hopper interview. Anyway, it is probably 2.35:1 anamorphic. But why can`t they release a decent British version of this DVD?

If it is the Australian Region 4 ( dual encoded Region 2 ) disc then I suspect it will in fact contain the features `Mysteries Of Love` `Are You A Pervert` and `Siskel & Ebert.` As far as I am aware all the M.G.M. Special Editions contain these features.

CD-WOW is also listing it as having a running time of 89 minutes which is totally off.. all releases are 120 minutes.
So they have obviously messed up all the info =OP

Anyways I just ordered it =)

This item was edited on Saturday, 12th July 2003, 02:04

Let me know what it`s like (or write a review for this site :) ). I have always been a bit dubious about ordering DVDs from CD-Wow as, even if they are advertised as Region 2, they tend to substitute some strange version which you wouldn`t find in the shops.

I am even more sceptical after ordering Radiohead`s Hail to the Thief and getting fobbed off with some bizarre copy controlled version. After hearing all the trouble people had been having with CC albums I got a replacement straight away. Websites should be more explicit in exactly what version of things they are selling (although in that case EMI prohibited them from displaying a warning in case it affected sales).

My copy arrived from CDWow this morning and it is the Region 4 SE. The aspect ratio is 2:35:1 and the sound is Dolby Digital 5.1 ( English and French ) with Czech, Dutch, French, Greek, Hungarian, Polish and Portugese subtitles. The Special Features include Mysteries Of Love Documentary; Deleted Scenes Montage; Siskel and Ebert At The Movies; Photo Galleries; Original Theatrical Trailer; Two T.V. Spots; Four Easter Eggs.