I bought the Japanese DVD...
I was SICK and TIRED that I had spent up to 100 bucks on low grade pirated DVDs from eBay... thinking that they were the actual item. Well folks, if you buy Sea Prince on DVD from eBay from the United States-- it's most likely to be a VHS transfer to DVD with a cheap sticker and ink jet wannabe box cover. A good way to know if it's pirate if it has "Region Free" in the item description.
I encourage you... avoid them. They're just plain horrible. And do you want to pay 40 to 60 bucks on a thing that's not even worth it? No. It's more acceptable if you payed, at most, 5 bucks if you were desperate... but it's best to ignore it all together.
I obtained this item when I read this description from an IMBD member of these fourms:
: by jeffghl (Thu Sep 28 2006 15:19:56)
: Ignore this User | Report Abuse
: UPDATED Thu Sep 28 2006 15:22:43
: Here's where you want to go to get the newer (and cheaper)
: Japanese language DVD:
: http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EOTH7E
: This is the reissue that came out earlier this year (April 19th).
: It's only 1,575 yen (about $14.00 US).
I bought it (shipping costed more than the DVD itself) and burnt myself a playable version of this DVD andI will tell you--
This DVD is BEAUTIFUL.
I never recall watching this movie with such beautiful and clear colors... or the quality being so sharp. There are no subtitles in English or Japanese. But I still thoroughly enjoyed this DVD.
But the sound is especially clear... and, it seems to me that the Japanese version is uncut. I remember certain scenes and frames not being there or changed. Like... Malta has lavender colored nipples when she transforms into a queen. In my memories, I don't recall her having any nipples. But then again, it may have been the cheap VHS quality of then that may have blurred such delicate details. And then there's a musical piece at the very end that's left out.
My only beef is that--
it seems the footage wasn't properly stored for its 25 years. Okay, yes it's good-- but it's DUSTY. Okay, maybe I should say that it wasn't properly cleaned before and after transfered from analog to digital.
It's not dusty all over, but in certain scenes you will see obviously more dust specks (looks like snow...) than other scenes. And it's annoying to a certain extend. However, seeing that this film is so clear... it's very forgivable. In fact, I pardon it all together because no pirated version which I have unknowingly purchased will be as good as this.
Sure, this wasn't given the Disney archival footage and sound restoration-- but it's still excellent. (especially the sound quality.)
There aren't many features but I didn't much care for them. There's a trailer... and a game with Bibel (I don't understand this at all...)
In the end, I am very happy that I have obtained the official Japanese version of this classic childhood memory piece. But I still wish that I could be recompensated for some of the shipping and handling cost...
But oh wells.