My wife asked me to bring some English language movies when I visit her soon, so she can work on her English skills and also so I'll have some non Russian movies to watch for entertainment. With all the issues about security and computers, cameras and electronic devices at airports, etc, is carrying movies on DVDs, etc. a problem going into Russia? I mean, will they be confiscated or maybe damaged by the x-ray process?

I always take a nice library of films with me when I go to Russia. And I've been there many times. 2 weeks before each trip I begin burning movies onto disks. I keep them in a nice cd case and have never had any problems. Its no longer the Soviet Union, so they won't be looking to confiscate your American films. And xray devices shouldn't harm them either. but if you're concerned, burn them onto disks that you can throw away without losing your originals. Is this your first trip to Russia??

Thanks for the info! Glad th hear no problems with movies. This will be my fifth trip to Russia.

I don't think there is a problem bringing them in, but will they play?

Does anyone know if region-free DVD players are the norm in Russia?

I want to bring a region 1 DVD to Russia, and I'm not sure if the player will accept it?

BTW - Every DVD I've ever bought in Russia and brought to USA turned out to be all an all-region DVD, even if it was marked for Region 5.

I've never had a problem with customs, whether inbound or outbound. However, the discs probably will not play as they are, most likely, regionally coded. I ripped mine and made copies (Don't start with the copyright crap, I really don't give a hoot.) and re-encoded them from Region 1 (North America) to Region 5 (Russia). Now my fiancée can watch them on her player with no problems. I also left her a small Region 1 player with PAL output for discs that I could not successfully rip that I wanted to leave for her.

PAL output actually isn't a problem in Russia, as 99% of the TV's there support NTSC and PAL.

Playing PAL in the U.S. is another problem though, since that isn't the case here. However, at least for DVD's, my DVD players have always been able to convert PAL to NTSC fairly easily.

Where did you get a Region 1 player which runs on 220V (or, was this a portable player with/screen?)?

My motto is "nothing is easy!" and so it seems this is again true about playing movies. This reminds me of the same frustrations with mobile phones between USA & Russia phones.

My wife can only play movies via her computer so I wonder about compatibility issues with DVDs on her computer. She has a desktop and laptop computer. I know the laptop is a Russian version of an HP computer. Not sure about the desktop.

Do you think we can play USA DVDs on her computer? I could convert to either Quicktime or WMV format also. Will that help?

Working around region encoding is easy. US DVDs will be NTSC, so they won't work anyway. (the 29.97 framerate won't work on a 25 fps PAL TV). There are NTSC-PAL converting DVD players, though they aren't always cheap. Oppo Digital makes a nice on in the US, this should play just about anything in the world for about $150. Probably harder to find in Russia.

Frame rate conversion is a difficult thing. For NTSC from film sources, this involves what's called 3-2 pulldown. (show on film frame 3 times, then the next 2 times). For PAL, usually the just add a frame once a second (24 film -> 25 PAL fps). Converting back and forth from NTSC/PAL is ugly, since you need to detect the source frame rate, and results are ususally ugly.

If you watch them on a laptop, you should be fine anywhere.

ALmost all TV's in Russia and Europe will display an NTSC signal just fine---that will not be a problem! (even NTSC videocassettes will play fine in Russia). The reason is because it is very easy to support an NTSC signal on a PAL-designed system, but very difficult to go the other way.

You'll have much more problems on the computer if you want to play discs from both regions on the same machine. DVD-ROM drives typically are limited to 5 changes in region per lifetime. If you go into Control Panel | System | Hardware | Device Manager | DVD/CD-ROM drives, click properties, then DVD region, you'll see the currently selected region and the number of remaining changes allowed.

Region-free DVD players are the best solution, in the U.S. they are available, in Russia they might be standard, but does anyone know for sure?

Been in Russia for two years, and I ALWAYS come back with a filled DVD album of store-bought discs to watch. I've never had any problem with them, on my Russian TV and DVD player, my fiance's brothers player, or any local computer. The only DVD related issue I ever had was trying to get a disc bought at a Russian outdoor bazaar to play on my American Macintosh computer.

Customs was a piece of cake. I've never had a problem at Passport Control, nor have I ever been searched by Customs (when entering Russia) -- although I've seen the officials there treat people of Middle Eastern descent pretty roughly. The same goes for my bags -- never searched.

Good luck,

Z

No, it is a stand alone DVD player with dual voltage (only needed to buy a small plug adapter) very small. I can not remember the brand. It was actually abandoned by my daughter's former neighbour and was to be trashed. I rescued it and took it to Russia.

They are not standard, but can be found at any Russian electronics store. like Это or М-Видио.

Our Russian newer set did not! We had to convert the output to PAL in order to have the proper image.

Actually computer is the best solution. In order to bypass the issue of 5 changes limit, I suggest using DVD43: http://www.dvd43.com/. Use it and you'll never have to worry about regions. A computer will also play both PAL and NTSC without the need for conversion.

There are also ways of permanently unlocking region codes of DVD-ROM drives, but that depends of the manufacturer and model.

They make those for electronics too?

The ones I have always seen specifically warn not to use with electronics.

Why? If the electronic device is rated 110/220v. all you need is to change the plug style from the flat prong to the European round. I've used them with everything including my iMac in Russia.

Yeah, just about anything electronic will handle 110/220. Just look at the power brick that it comes with and it'll tell you right on the side. Some older electronics (especially older desktop computers) have a small switch in the back that you have to physically set if you're plugging it in to 220. You will fry these older items if you don't set that switch. (going back to the US, you won't fry it if you're still on the 220 setting and plug it in to 110, but it won't work right until you switch it to 110.) But any new electronics will handle 220 just fine. But always verify by looking on the power brick, or on the item itself if the power supply is built in.

As long as we're on the subject of movies and such...what about MPEG and WMV movies on Russian computers? Any format or compatibility issues?

None at all.

Oh, you found a dual-voltage region 1 DVD player.

I didn't know anybody made them here like that!



You can download for free the Russian version of copyrighted movies in MPG, AVI, WMV format from various file sharing websites. This is why Region 5 is so risky for the movie companies to release to...

Yep! It was small like the size of small notebook computer cut in half. No power brick either. It has an auto switch that sensed the voltage. You could output in NTSC or PAL with a simple menu option. My fiancée is still using it.

I feel like I'm at Radio Shack right now.

Regarding MPEGs and WMVs...if I download some movie onto a USA fromat DVD-R disk, a Russian computer DVD disk reader will read the files OK?

Yes. The DVD encoding on movies is specifically an encoding on the data, not the format of the disk itself.

Most new DVD players in Russia are able to play all formats and region styles. If you want to be sure that they will play, try uploading them to your pc first. Then simply burn them onto a blank disk in "data" format. Not DVD or music. That's what I do, then I can play any movie in DVD players or computers. Good luck.



Russians use the same operating systems that we do.

And if you run into any problems playing Region 1 discs on a PC, try downloading a program called AnyDVD. If it's not already installed, it's a safe bet you can download it from any Russian FTP site (often the bandwidth used when downloading from ISP-provided FTP sites is free), or pick up a cheap copy at the local bazaar/rinok at the computer kiosk (usually it'll be on a disc with Vista, Office 2007, and a hundred or so other programs for about 150 roubles).

Z

I keep thinking of new format questions...sorry! My problem is that I use a Macintosh and I have very little knowledge about PCs. The Mac makes movies with the .mov format. Will the PC handle .mov format? I suppose AVI format is good with PCs...yes?

Thanks for the quick education!

Just get Quicktime, and between Quicktime and Windows Media Center you'll be set. Quicktime is a free download from Apple and works on both Macs and PC's. (I use a Mac too, and absolutely hate when I'm forced to use a PC.)

Macs rule!

For a bit of extra money, a guy at a russian electronics store will make any dvd player you want to buy there region free. there is absolutely no compatibility issues with russian computer files and american ones, cause they are exactly the same.

I brought a huge, 72-disc cd wallet full of dvds with me and had no problem at customs. The only problem I ever had was when my dad sent me a bunch of dvds through fed ex of american tv shows and his stupid secretary put the value at 300$. then i had to pay customs and sign an affadavit saying i had absolutely no desire to pirate dvds.
not sure why russians would be interested in four seasons of full house, but there you go.

Makes me wonder if they have a Russian version of that lame series. I've watched the Russian "Marriage With Chidren" produced with all Russian actors with different character names. The house looks similar and the Russian father sticks his hand down his pants just like "Al".

actually, warner brothers sold all of their sitcoms to russian tv. so not only is there married with children, but perfect strangers, the nanny, who's the boss, and three's company had also already aired as russian versions by the time i left in august. i am pretty sure they are also producing full house. they also sell the stupid olsen twins dvds in russia, and they are pretty popular.

Are they remade Russian versions with Russian actors or only voice-overed Russian langauage versions? The "Married With Children" is completely remade with the stories more Russified.

they are completely remade. i think there are some storylines that are recycled, but they are still definitely russified. they also, however, show the US married with children dubbed over.

Interesting. I do also remember seeing the "Nanny" show too. But the nanny was a whole lot hotter than Fran Drescher and without the annoying voice.

I've seen a lot of these programs as well. Maybe it's eternal naivety, but I'm still surprised when I see something blatantly Western/American being adopted so completely here. I recall, when I first arrived two years ago, being shocked at hearing almost all the same music on the radio in the taxi (5 hours to Ivanovo from SVO) as I would in New York, instead of some Russian music.

Anyway, I'm not sure if its a remake or not, but I'm a huge fan of the program, "Sasha i Masha." It just cracks me up.

Z

PS: In the new mall, they opened up a food court that's actually called the "фуд-курт." While things like this make my life a lot easier, it is sad, and I empathize with those who are fighting for the preservation of the Russian culture and language.

I am with you. In Kazan' it is usual to hear 20% western music (18% too much if you ask me.) I have seen Sasha / Masha, but can't remember the theme now. I more worry for the children that are in their teens and younger now. They seem the most willing to loose a bit of their culture in favour of western. But I still believe many things will continue to be held over. As for the Americanized phrases, my personal favourites are Фаст Фуд and Биснис Ланч.

I saw the talk about American sitcoms being russified but did any of you see "Ne Rodis' Krasivoi" in Russia a few years back? I believe it was the fore runner of "Ugly Betty" here in the US. Looks like it goes both ways with borrowing or selling TV programing.

ugly betty is based off an argentinian show.

OK, just checked and it was based of a Colombian show that has made the rounds. Looks like the Russians got to it before it made it to the US however.

«Не Родись Красивой» was before "Ugly Betty". I really like the theme song, Если В Сердце Живет Любовь by Юлия Савичева. I did not know they were even connected until I mentioned it to my fiancée. She surprised me with, "Oh, they play that all the time. It is music from televison serial."

Haven't seen the show, but it's interesting you should mention that song. It was one of the first Russian songs that I didn't need to acquire a taste for liking. I wonder if there are any legal ways to distribute some of this Russian music. I'm sure there are more than a few people who'd be interested -- myself included, since I really hate buying the obviously pirated music available at the bazaars and even sophisticated shops like Soyuz... 100 roubles for the full Genesis collection, yeah right...

Z

When I hear a Russian song, it is immediate, I either love it or hate it. I'm getting quite a collection. I also very much like Алсу. Her «Зимний Cон» is great this time of year. I also love the video.

The files will be fine. The NAMES of the files may be unreadable, depending on the computer you are using. Any UTF-8 filesystem should be fine. If you don't use a Mac or Linux, that probably means the file names won't show up correctly on a US PC.

With modern computers, this is less of a problem. (And why Unicode/ UTF8 is a good thing).

What you've said is true when folks have used Unicode to encode their documents, files, and etc.

But I've found that many folks here use either CP-1251 or KOI8-R, with only a few using Unicode (even then Windows generally uses UCS2 and UTF16) . What's more, I've found that PCs are generally able to handle the variance in character-sets the Russians use and display the correct characters. Unfortunately, unless the encoding is Unicode, my Mac frequently hiccups. Ira's brother, for example, brought a flash drive, the volume label of which was written in Cyrillic. On OS X, that volume was read as "________" whereas on Windows (through Boot Camp) it read perfectly. I've had similar experiences with actual files like Word documents, MP3 files, and more. The only problem Windows seemed to have was with pointing to cyrillic folders over a network (go figure).

Even some open source software, like Firefox (in Windows or OSX), really messes up character display unless the web page author used so-called "standards compliant" methods to write their pages. In general, Microsoft's stuff is better at handling variance between good and bad, correct and incorrect, and what we hope will be and what is -- whereas OS X is rather idealist, IMHO.

Assuming he's using Windows, I think our friend seanconneryii will be just fine. Probably he just needs to install the Russian Language Pack.

Z