Product: Brother [VHS]
Rating: 3.0
5*s a brilliant movie, but buy R2 or R3 -- this one is cut!
Sony has cut this version, removing some of the scenes spoken in japanese as well as digitally editing out some of the gore and changing the colour palette.the UK R2 version is apparently the best, but for US buyers the fact that it is in PAL format is a major problem, unless you happen to have a television that can playback in PAL or your DVD player converts it for you. Simply dezoning the player is not sufficient. You won't get any picture.the Japan and Hong Kong R3 versions I believe are both in NTSC. The Japan version might be anamorphic (like the UK version) but the Hong Kong version is non-anamorphic. These are both in DTS. The Hong Kong version might be the best bet for US buyers as the menus are in English. It is often on ebay.The Australian R4 version is 'rental only' but can be found in second hand shops. Big problems: it is in pan&scan; (4:3). It is uncut, however, and the colours are the original muted palette.I went for the UK R2 version and I'd urge all non-US English language buyers to do the same.P.S. Another issue with the R3 Hong Kong version -- the English subtitles appear during all the dialogue, whereas in the R2 UK version the subtitles appear only when characters are speaking in non-English languages. Also, some of the extras that appear on the UK version -- such as the documentary -- are not on the Hong Kong version. Also, a new R4 version has been released for sale; I have not viewed this version. I remain very happy with my R2 UK version.