Nixon: Dutch DVD (Now available for trade)

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 25 Apr 2006, 14:47

Does anyone know if the Dutch R2 has optional or burnt subtitles?

This is the release I'm talking about: http://covertarget.com/si.php?cat=1&id=102264

Thx.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 25 Apr 2006, 15:15

No idea, but the Dutch version isnt as long as the region 1 version I believe:
Region 1 version is 222 minutes and the dutch one is 183/190 minutes, so it might be cut.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 25 Apr 2006, 15:29

Its not cut exactly, its just the R1 is the DC (212 minutes) and the R2 Dutch is the theatrical cut.
I presume you want the Dutch for the anamorphic 16/9 transfer?

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 25 Apr 2006, 16:14

grim_tales wrote:Its not cut exactly, its just the R1 is the DC (212 minutes) and the R2 Dutch is the theatrical cut.

Right. I've heard that besides the extended cut being letterboxed the extra footage is of lesser workprint quality. Not like JFK.

I presume you want the Dutch for the anamorphic 16/9 transfer?

Right. Only the Dutch and Brazilian (according to DVD Compare) discs are 16:9. I just need to know that the Dutch subs are optional.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 30 Apr 2006, 23:12

Going by experience I'd be surprised if they're forced but I could be wrong (what with English being well spoken and accepted). Good news is it's anamorphic:

http://www.dvd.nl/reviews.php?reviewid=126
http://www.dvdinfo.be/index-02.php?cat=1&Id=2473

There's no mention of the Dutch subs being forced, you'd think they'd mention it. The same review confirms the extras don't have Dutch subs and the Brazillian DVD is also anamorphic, odd they mention it IMO.

Taken from the second review so it's rough but still oh dear:

"The picture quality of Nixon is enormously poor, but lets this now exactly one of the qualities of the film be."
"The version of RCV is moreover, with the braziliaanse version, the some of two anamorfische versions which be to obtain."

Personally I'd opt for one of the DC DTS DVDs. Despite the non-anamorphic nature they look better IMO.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 01 May 2006, 14:24

Not interested in the DC, which I believe uses workprint footage, and doesn't add anything much to an already 3hr movie.

Sucks that the Dutch DVD image is poor, but so is the non-anamorphic job I have from EIV.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 01 May 2006, 14:26

I checked out the review and the image can't be as bad as those screen caps. That's not even professional level.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 04 May 2006, 01:04

OK, I bought this then... and guess what?

The Dutch subs ARE enforced.

Can you believe that?

They're not theatrical subs either, but rather computer generated ones, so why are they forced and not optional? If it was a cinema print I could at least understand.

Bizarre and annoying.

Thankfully I didn't pay too much for it.

Anyone want it cheap? Dutch speakers? 8)

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 04 May 2006, 01:09

DUTCH

UK

DUTCH

UK

DUTCH

UK

DUTCH

UK

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 04 May 2006, 01:25

The Dutch image is sharper, but there's not a lot in it.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 May 2006, 10:09

Markgway wrote:OK, I bought this then... and guess what?

The Dutch subs ARE enforced.

Can you believe that?

Is it otherwise good? Anamorphic? Do you have a DVD Writer? If so burn a new copy and either remove the subs or remove the forced part.

It must be because it's a very old DVD. I'm sure they don't do this anymore. Actually now I think about it I used to own Donnie Brasco Dutch R2 which when you listen to it in English it has Dutch subs enforced but with the French dub they're not.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 04 May 2006, 10:52

It's otherwise decent. Not spectacular. But I never expected it to be. I just wanted the 16:9 image for my TV. I hate having to zoom films in as they look crappish. I do have a DVD-writer. How do you remove subtitles? Do you need a special program or is it a standard option on any burner?

Also will burning a DVD-R not reduce the quality a notch so I end up with something same as or worse than the letterboxed original I already have?

Dutch arses.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 May 2006, 11:45

FYI considering DVD Copying methods and the software below are freely available online I see no harm discussing this. I believe even DVD Forums always this discussion.

Markgway wrote:It's otherwise decent. Not spectacular. But I never expected it to be. I just wanted the 16:9 image for my TV. I hate having to zoom films in as they look crappish. I do have a DVD-writer. How do you remove subtitles? Do you need a special program or is it a standard option on any burner?

It's a doddle and a standard option on pretty much every DVD Burning software. Some software won't let you removed Enforced features (but many will) so just choose to not include the Dutch subs. You're not going to need them.

Do you have Nero installed? If so use DVD Shrink it uses the burning engine from Nero to burn or if you don't prepare it on your hard disk and then burn using whatever yo normally do.

DVD Shrink will remove all the region coding and enforcment from the DVD too. It's really the free only all-in-one program out there.

Download it here, what they say about it not burning isn't strictly true if you have Nero also installed:

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/DVD_Shrink.htm

OR use DVD Decrypter. It doesn't compress video but will remove all the protection like DVD Shrink. If you want a copy LMK. It's hard to find online now.

Markgway wrote:Also will burning a DVD-R not reduce the quality a notch so I end up with something same as or worse than the letterboxed original I already have?

That depends. If you use a DVD-5 then maybe but it depends how much you have to compress it or at the end of the day how much of the DVD-9 is "actually used".

If you use a DVD-9 (assuming your burner is DVD-9 compatible) you won't have to worry but discs are £2-3 each. In my experiance if the compression is 70% or higher you'll be fine, below 70% and things start to look ropey.

That said Nixon is a long film so using a DVD-5 may not be a good idea.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 04 May 2006, 11:52

How do you remove subtitles? Do you need a special program or is it a standard option on any burner?

Like Brad said:
-Launch DVD Shrink.
-Click on Re-Author.
-Double-click on your DVD.
-Grab the biggest track (which is presumably the movie) and move it to the left window.
-Click on Compression Settings.
-Only tick the tracks you need. (don't tick the subs !)
-Then check the video compression rate (%). If you're above 75% you probably won't notice a drop in quality.
-Hit Backup !
-Then you gotta choose between Hard-Disk backup or iso file. I prefer iso files.
-Then you open the iso file in Nero and burn it. Voilà.

Note: you'll lose all menus by doing this (to save some space and avoid compression).

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 May 2006, 13:32

* Isn't the DVD bare-bones? So I'd use "Backup" not "Re-Author" and therefore keep the menus.
* Remember to untick the dub soundtracks
* There is no need to backup to Hard Disk or ISO as the third option is to burn it to a DVD. It looks like DVD Shrink is doing this but if you look closely it's using the Nero engine (assuming you have it installed).

All other DVD Compression software will also do this too but not all remove copy protection!

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 04 May 2006, 18:56

Looking at the caps, I don't think it's worth the fuss. Do you see a great deal of difference? The Dutch disc is only slightly sharper to my eyes. Maybe there'll be an SE come out in the UK at some point? I'll just keep the LTBX edition for now.

If anyone wants the 16:9 to trade (and you can make your own burned copy) just ask.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 May 2006, 19:20

It looks minutely sharper BUT as it's anamorphic I'd say it's definitely worth it. It's dead simple to remove subs.

If you can capture screen shots you can remove subs.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 05 May 2006, 00:32

I might make a standard copy of the 16:9 on DVD-5 until something better comes along AND still keep the letterboxed disc as it's an original without the subs. I can then still get rid of the Dutch disc and anyone who wants to do their own anamorphic version can too.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 05 May 2006, 17:31

Good idea.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 06 May 2006, 00:45

Ooh, questions:

Can you fit a 3hr movie on DVD-5?

Anyone here actually want my original copy?