dq102

I'd love to buy complete ally mcbeal season 1, 2 3 on dvds.

Does anyone know where to buy them at a reasonable price?

Thanks in advance

Hemulen

Ezydvd.com.au has season 1 avaliable..

http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/220040/id=Wu1yn:4WHed

(note of course, that its PAL and region 4.. possibly region 2 as well


Hemulen

AutumnNights

Well, here's an preliminary look at your options ... (Note : almost all the information on the season sets from the different countries comes from the reviews that I was able to find. If you find anything that should be corrected or added, let me know. Thanks ! )

I would say that if you don't care about owning the "Part 2" episode ("Axe Murderer" ( overview / spoiler-filled analysis ) Episode # 32 of the Practice. "Part 1" is episode #20 "The Inmates") in season one, then it looks like the cheapest option is to purchase season one from Australia.

If you DO wish to own that episode, it appears to only be available from Japan in Box Two (it is at the end of disc #6).

(If you need an episode listing and and episode synopses, check out http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet...et/showid-168/ or http://allymcbeal.tktv.net/.
For a listing per episode of the music used/sung, check out http://allymcbeal.tktv.net/music.html )

SEASON ONE<dl><dl><dt>Australia
<dl><dt>Notes :
<dd>Contains 23 episodes and does NOT have the "Part 2" Episode;

<dd>ONLY SOLD AS A COMPLETE SEASON (i.e. Box One and Box Two are NOT sold separately)

ONLY AVAILABLE through http://www.ezydvd.com.au (ONLY 2,000 COPIES AVAILABLE)

<dd>Price (includes shipping and insurance):<dl><dd>$USD 76.3687 = $AU 136.32 + $5.50 for shipping and insurance (Total $AU 141.82)</dl><dt>Spec's :
<dd>Disc type : Dual layer
<dd>Format : 4:3 PAL
<dd>Languages : English Dolby Digital 2.0, French Dolby Digital 2.0
<dd>Number of Discs : 6 for the entire season one (3 discs in Box One, 3 discs in Box Two)
<dd>Packaging : Slip case
<dd>Region Coding : 2,4
<dd>Subtitles : Dutch , French, (English for the hearing impaired)
<dd>Supplements : None
<dt>Reviews :
<dl><dt>Season One - Box One :
<dd><NOBR>http://www.australiandvd.net/dvdhome...256B950002D776</NOBR>
<dd>http://www.dvdblokes.com/index.php?r=4&s=2&c=357
<dd>http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews...?ReviewID=1245
<dt>Season One - Box Two :
<dd>http://www.australiandvd.net/dvdhome.nsf/(reviews_webdisplay)/B432AD43FEE28D57CA256B9600015725
<dd>http://www.dvdblokes.com/index.php?r=4&s=2&c=358
<dd>http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews...?ReviewID=1246
<dt>Season One - Box One & Box Two :
<dd>http://forums.eyo.com.au/showthread....ghlight=McBeal
<dd>http://www.dvd.net.au/goto.cgi?<dd>http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=1343
<dd>http://www.dvdbits.com/reviews.asp?id=940
<dd>http://www.dvdplaza.com.au/forums/sh...15626&bypass=1
<dd>http://www.moviehole.net/allymcbealdvd.html
<dd>http://www.region4dvd.net/reviewallymcbeal.htm</dl></dl>

<dt>Belgium
<dl><dt>Notes :
<dd>Contains 23 episodes and does NOT have the "Part 2" Episode;

<dd>ONLY SOLD AS A COMPLETE SEASON

<dd>Pricing (excluding s&h):<dl><dd>$USD 93.6503 = 103.45 EURO : http://www.dvdkoopjes.com/
<dd>$USD 81.4399 = 89.99 EURO : http://www.dvdzone2.com (do a search for "ALLY MC BEAL". It WON'T show up under a search for "McBeal")</dl><dt>Spec's :
<dd>Disc type : Dual layer (?)
<dd>Format : 4:3 PAL
<dd>Languages : English Dolby Surround , French Dolby Surround
<dd>Number of Discs : 6 for the entire season one
<dd>Packaging : ?
<dd>Region Coding : 2
<dd>Subtitles : English , Dutch , French
<dd>Supplements : None (?)
<dt>Reviews :
<dl><dt>The complete set of Season One :
<dd>http://www.dvdnews-belgium.com/dvd_n...439&stu=1&cre=</dl></dl>

<dt>France
<dl><dt>Notes :
<dd>Contains 23 episodes and does NOT have the "Part 2" Episode;

<dd>ONLY SOLD AS A COMPLETE SEASON

<dd>Average Price (excluding s&h):<dl><dd>$USD 80.9899 to $USD 95.9050 = 89.99 Euro to 106.56 Euro (Does this include any GST ?)</dl><dd>Released Feb. 20 , 2002
<dt>Spec's :
<dd>Disc type : Dual Layer
<dd>Format : 4:3 PAL
<dd>Languages : Dolby Digital 2.0 English, Dolby Digital 2.0 French
<dd>Number of Discs : 6 for the entire season one
<dd>Packaging : ?
<dd>Region Coding : 2
<dd>Subtitles : Dutch , English, French
<dd>Supplements : None
<dt>Reviews :
<dl><dt>The complete set of Season One :
<dd>http://www.dvdrama.net/fiche.php?2176</dl></dl>

<dt>Germany
<dl><dt>Notes :
<dd>Contains 23 episodes and does NOT have the "Part 2" Episode (?);

<dd>Box One and Box Two ARE SOLD SEPARATELY

<dd>Average Price (for Box One or Box Two (excluding s&h) ) :<dl><dd>$USD 44.9546 to $USD 52.1906 = 49.95 Euro to 57.99 Euro (Does this include any GST ?)</dl><dt>Spec's :
<dd>Disc type : DVD 9/dual Layer
<dd>Format : 4:3 PAL
<dd>Languages : English Dolby Digital 2.0 , German Dolby Digital 2.0 , Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0
<dd>Number of Discs : 6 for the entire season one (3 discs in Box One, 3 discs in Box Two)
<dd>Packaging : Amaray box (transparent)
<dd>Region Coding : 2
<dd>Subtitles : English, Danish, German, Finish, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, German for hearing-impaired ones
<dd>Supplements : None
<dt>Reviews :
<dl><dt>Season One - Box One :
<dd>http://www.digital-movie.de/dvd-revi...asp?ArtNr=1530
<dt>Season One - Box Two :
<dd>http://www.digital-movie.de/dvd-revi...asp?ArtNr=1672
<dt>Season One - Box One & Box Two :
<dd>http://www.areadvd.de/dvdreviews/allymcbeal.shtml</dl></dl>

<dt>Japan
<dl><dt>Notes :
<dd>Box One and Box Two ARE SOLD SEPARATELY

<dd>Average Price (for Box One or Box Two (excluding s&h) ) :<dl><dd>~ $57USD to ~ $60USD = 7854 Yen : http://www.cdjapan.co.jp</dl><dt>Spec's :
<dd>Disc type : Single-Sided Dual-Layered
<dd>Format : 4:3 NTSC
<dd>Languages : English , Japanese
<dd>Number of Discs : 6 for the entire season one
<dd>Packaging :<dl><dd>transparent amaray cases; the first three dvds and the last three dvds are each housed in a sturdy cardboard case</dl><dd>Region Coding : 2
<dd>Subtitles : English , two types of Japanese subtitles
<dd>Supplements : None
<dt>Personal Comments :
<dd>Although unfortunately not having a high-end HTF-system means that I can't provide an analysis of the audio/video, I can still say that I was quite pleased with the picture quality and didn't notice any anomalies in the audio or video.
Each episode is divided into five chapters with the credits in chapter six. If you allow the credits to finish scrolling by, the next episode on the disc automatically begins playing.
The menu is adequate but could have been better arranged/designed. It's entirely in Japanese but easy to navigate. Option one will always play just the first episode on the disc. Option two will always return you to the position you left off at (if you momentarily had interrupted play to go to the menu). Option three takes you to a menu where you can choose which episode you want to watch (when you then select that episode, you have to then select and hit "enter" on a button that will appear on the bottom of the screen). Option four takes you to a menu where you can choose your audio and subtitles.
The "Part Two" episode is placed last on disc 6. Whether it's worth spending the extra money just to own this episode is up to you. Personally, I found it to be well-written. However, as far as continuity is concerned, there isn't anything in this episode in terms of plot that is continued in later episodes. (For a very detailed analysis (don't read it if you don't want any spoilers) of the "Part Two" episode, click here )</dl>

<dt>Netherlands
<dl><dt>Notes :
<dd>Contains 23 episodes and does NOT have the "Part 2" Episode;

<dd>ONLY SOLD AS A COMPLETE SEASON

<dd>Average Price (excluding s&h):<dl><dd>$USD 94.2736 to $USD 115.116 = 104.00 EURO to 126.99 EURO</dl><dt>Spec's :
<dd>Disc type : SS-DL
<dd>Format : 4:3 PAL
<dd>Languages : English Dolby Surround 2.0 , French Dolby Surround 2.0
<dd>Number of Discs : 6 for the entire season one
<dd>Packaging : ?
<dd>Region Coding : 2
<dd>Subtitles : Dutch
<dd>Supplements : None
<dt>Reviews :
<dl><dt>The complete set of Season One
<dd>http://www.dvdinfo.be/bespreking/tv-...mcbeal-s1.html or http://www.dvdinfo.be/bespreking.cfm?reviewnr=387</dl></dl></dl></dl>
=========================================================================================
Season Two and Season Three

As of April 30, 2002, it appears that seasons two and three are only available from Japan

<dl><dl><dt>Japan
<dl><dt>Notes :
<dd>Box One and Box Two ARE SOLD SEPARATELY

<dt>Spec's :
<dd>Disc type : Single-Sided Dual-Layered
<dd>Format : 4:3 NTSC
<dd>Languages : English , Japanese
<dd>Number of Discs : 6 for the entire season two
<dd>Packaging :<dl><dd>transparent amaray cases; the first three dvds and the last three dvds are each housed in a sturdy cardboard case</dl><dd>Region Coding : 2
<dd>Subtitles : English , two types of Japanese subtitles
<dd>Supplements : None
<dt>Personal Comments :
<dd>My comments for box set one (I don't own box set two yet) are the same as those for season one.
However, there is an anomaly to mention. For whatever the reason, all four episodes on disc two look as if though I had cranked up the brightness-setting on my TV set. Perhaps this look was intended by the director ? Perhaps it has to do with how that disc was coded ? Anyways, that's the only strange thing I noticed.
</dl></dl>

BUT season two is listed as being scheduled to be released on 06-26-2002 in Belgium :

<dl><dt>Belgium
<dl><dt>Notes :
<dd>ONLY SOLD AS A COMPLETE SEASON

<dd>Pricing (excluding s&h):<dl><dd>$USD 93.6503 = 103.45 EURO : http://www.dvdkoopjes.com/
<dd>$USD 81.4399 = 89.99 EURO : http://www.dvdzone2.com (do a search for "ALLY MC BEAL". It WON'T show up under a search for "McBeal")</dl><dt>Spec's :
<dd>Disc type :
<dd>Format :
<dd>Languages :
<dd>Number of Discs : 6 for the entire season two
<dd>Packaging :
<dd>Region Coding :
<dd>Subtitles :
<dd>Supplements :
<dt>Reviews :
<dt>The complete set of Season Two :
<dd></dl> --></dl></dl>
=========================================================================================
Season Four<dl><dt>Belgium
<dl><dt>Notes :
<dd>ONLY SOLD AS A COMPLETE SEASON

<dd>Pricing (excluding s&h):<dl><dd>$USD 93.6503 = 103.45 EURO : http://www.dvdkoopjes.com/
<dd>$USD 81.4399 = 89.99 EURO : http://www.dvdzone2.com (do a search for "ALLY MC BEAL". It WON'T show up under a search for "McBeal")</dl><dt>Spec's :
<dd>Disc type : Dual layer (?)
<dd>Format : 4:3 PAL
<dd>Languages : English Dolby Surround , French Dolby Surround
<dd>Number of Discs : 6 for the entire season four
<dd>Packaging : ?
<dd>Region Coding : 2
<dd>Subtitles : English , Dutch , French
<dd>Supplements : None (?)
<dt>Reviews :
<dl><dt>The complete set of Season Four :
<dd>http://www.dvdnews-belgium.com/dvd_n...537&stu=0&cre=</dl></dl>

<dt>England
<dl><dt>Notes :
<dd> Box One and Box Two ARE SOLD SEPARATELY

<dd>Average Price (for Box One or Box Two (excluding s&h) ) :<dl><dd>$USD 21.9875 to $USD 41.0707 = 14.99UKpounds to 28.00UKpounds</dl><dt>Spec's :
<dd>Disc type :
<dd>Format : 4:3 PAL
<dd>Languages : English Dolby Digital 2.0 , French Dolby Digital 2.0
<dd>Number of Discs : 6 for the entire season one (3 discs in Box One, 3 discs in Box Two)
<dd>Packing :
<dd>Region Coding : 2
<dd>Subtitles : English, Dutch, French
<dd>Supplements : None (?)
<dt>Reviews :
<dl><dt>Season Four - Box One
<dd>http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/review...asp?Index=2096</dl></dl>


<dt>France
<dl><dt>Notes :
<dd>ONLY SOLD AS A COMPLETE SEASON (i.e. Box One and Box Two are NOT sold separately)

<dd>Average Price (excluding s&h):<dl><dd>$USD 78.1948 to $USD 101.572 = 86.89 Euro to 112.86 Euro</dl><dd>Released : Dec. 5, 2001
<dt>Spec's :
<dd>Disc type : Dual layer
<dd>Format : 4:3 PAL
<dd>Languages : Dolby Digital 2.0 English, Dolby Digital 2.0 French
<dd>Number of Discs :
<dd>Region Coding : 2
<dd>Subtitles : Dutch , French , English
<dd>Supplements : None
<dt>Reviews :
<dl><dt>Box One and Box Two:
<dd>http://www.dvdrama.net/fiche.php?2045</dl></dl>

<dt>Netherlands
<dl><dt>Notes :
<dd>ONLY SOLD AS A COMPLETE SEASON

<dd>Average Price (excluding s&h):<dl><dd>$USD 96.1886 to $USD 115.116 = 106.11 EURO to 126.99 EURO</dl><dt>Spec's :
<dd>Disc type : SS-DL
<dd>Format : 4:3 PAL
<dd>Languages : English Dolby Surround 2.0 , French Dolby Surround 2.0
<dd>Number of Discs : 6 for the entire season one
<dd>Packaging : ?
<dd>Region Coding : 2
<dd>Subtitles : Dutch
<dd>Supplements : None
<dt>Reviews :
<dl><dt>The complete set of Season Four
<dd>http://www.dvdinfo.be/bespreking.cfm?reviewnr=371</dl></dl></dl>

bbq

http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000176O98
http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000176O9I
http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000176O9S

http://www.foxjapan.com/dvd-video/cg...=4988142174321

They are releasing cheaper boxes in Japan. Amazon should have 15% off discounts so each season will cost about 80 bucks.

I hope they will do the same thing for S4 and S5. Both seasons are anamorphic widescreen in Japan and probably 4:3 in other countries, right?

http://www.foxjapan.com/dvd-video/cg...=4988142115126

http://www.foxjapan.com/dvd-video/cg...=4988142115225

http://www.foxjapan.com/dvd-video/cg...=4988142136329

http://www.foxjapan.com/dvd-video/cg...=4988142136428

AutumnNights

That definitely is a great deal! At first I thought you meant that the box one and box two were being re-released (seperately) at a cheaper price. But I see now that it's the entire season one that is being released for ~ $93
(cdjapan.co.jp also mentions this re-release as being a limited edition.)

Also, for anyone wanting to purchase any of the (later) seasons, keep an eye on animejungle.com
I saved a lot of money buying used sets of Ally McBeal from them. The discs were in flawless shape, though the box (housing the dvd cases) showed here and there slight signs of wear'n'tear.I own the Japan-released box one and box two of S4, and yes, all the episodes are widescreen anamorphic. Prior to purchasing them, I looked at the S4 box sets available at the time in other countries, and at that time the Japanese-released set was (and probably still is) the only widescreen release.
I'll probably down the road buy the japanese set of S5 and am confident that it is, indeed, widescreen (though I have not verified this yet)

Also, I have one other thing to add to this thread. At the time of my previous post in this thread, I only owned box one of the S3 set released in Japan. I now have box two, and there is a total of about 20 minutes or so of individual interviews with various cast members (some are as short as ~ 1min. and others are a few minutes long). If I remember correctly, these interviews are on the last disc (in box two S3).

bbq

Did you finally get all 5 seasons?

1st, 2nd, and 3rd seasons just arrived and Amazon's economy shipping only took a week. New re-release would not have individual cases to hold each DVD but still no floaters whatsoever.

Well worth the money to import those DVDs because the licensing costs of music in US would prevent R1 releases. Only R2J can give us that "Part Two" episode of S1 so it really is another bonus.

Any re-release news of S4 and S5 yet? Thank you.

Kumar J

I check it at Fox Japan website and Season 4 and 5 are all out!Same pricing!

bbq

Re-release of season 4 + 5 in January 28th

http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006NKDE4
http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006NKDEE

Links to the covers

http://www.foxjapan.com/dvd-video/cg...=4988142240927
http://www.foxjapan.com/dvd-video/cg...=4988142241023

6 discs * 5 = 30 NTSC R2 Japanese DVDs should cost 400 bucks. Not a bad price for an imported release.