Only Yesterday R2 or R3?

[Worst_Username_Ever]

Question: I'm new to subbed anime. I have a fairly decent anime collection, but I only recently picked up a DVD player capable of playing R2 or R3 releases. Since I can now do that, I want to fill in a few holes in my collection - starting with Only Yesterday.

I'm looking to order either the R2 (http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/code-j/section-videos/pid-1002531655) or R3 (http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/code-c/section-anime/pid-1002679612/) release from YesAsia. My question is: how different are they? Specifically, is there any difference in the quality of the English subtitles? I'm guessing the sub tracks are identical, but I don't really know.

In general, which is the better set?

Thank you.

[Njr Scrawl]

R3s are so cheap its almost worth taking a chance & if you like enough, you save money.

If you want assured quality (video as well) first time though, I'd go for the R2 - also supports Ghibli.

[Worst_Username_Ever]

R3s are so cheap its almost worth taking a chance & if you like enough, you save money.

If you want assured quality (video as well) first time though, I'd go for the R2 - also supports Ghibli.
So are R3 releases generally inferior quality, then?

And how does buying R2 support Ghibli, but buying R3 doesn't?

[chung]

or get the R3 Korean (http://www.dvdasian.com/cgi-bin/dvdasian/24443.html?id=udCJt2LD) release -R2 quality only it's cheaper. English Sub are generally good on R3 Ghibli release.

[Lourdes]

If you can play PAL discs then get the UK release from Optimum, better quality then The R2J and much cheaper (about $20 from HMV or 4CheapCDs).

[Skywise]

If you can play PAL discs then get the UK release from Optimum, better quality then The R2J and much cheaper (about $20 from HMV or 4CheapCDs).

How is the R2UK better?

[Lourdes]

How is the R2UK better?

http://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3782

[DKL]

You know, I asked this same exact question many moons ago...

Thanks for the heads up, duck; sorry you got the shaftzorz, however.

[Lourdes]

That R3 HK release of Only Yesterday was just horrible. I thought and was hoping that the English subs would be ported over from the R2 edition, but it looks like I was wrong. Throughout first half of the movie, strangely enough, I had no problems with the subtitles, but in the second half, everything went to hell. The timing became off, the subs would only appear on the screen of a fraction of a second, quite a few lines weren't subbed, and character dialog was being jumbled, and the subtitle script became grammatically inept. I read online from quite a few people that the R3 release was a "cheaper, quality alternative to the R2." Perhaps they were referring to the R3 Korean edition? This R3HK edition just sucked anyhow. The fact that I was able to enjoy the movie despite how screwed up the subtitles were just shows how good this film is. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to rebuy Only Yesterday, but I really should have gone for the R2UK it looks like.

Rule #1 of DVD buying - don't buy HK discs.

[misc]

>Rule #1 of DVD buying - don't buy HK discs.

Your comment begs to be smacked so here goes:

Do you own any R3HK DVDs or are you playing off the stereotype that R3HK DVDs are bootlegs/bootleg quality? I daresay you do not even own one R3HK DVD to back your comment. And, please don't link to any foreign sites for DVD reviews (most of them out there are full of ignorant users who do not even know what bootlegs are, much less carry a decent discussion without erupting into asinine wars.) I want to hear from YOUR personal experience with any particular R3HK DVD.

I retract my comment. You really do know what you're talking about. Dude, don't come out making generalizations without backing your statments.... :P

[DKL]

That R3 HK release of Only Yesterday was just horrible. I thought and was hoping that the English subs would be ported over from the R2 edition, but it looks like I was wrong. Throughout first half of the movie, strangely enough, I had no problems with the subtitles, but in the second half, everything went to hell. The timing became off, the subs would only appear on the screen of a fraction of a second, quite a few lines weren't subbed, and character dialog was being jumbled, and the subtitle script became grammatically inept. I read online from quite a few people that the R3 release was a "cheaper, quality alternative to the R2." Perhaps they were referring to the R3 Korean edition? This R3HK edition just sucked anyhow. The fact that I was able to enjoy the movie despite how screwed up the subtitles were just shows how good this film is. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to rebuy Only Yesterday, but I really should have gone for the R2UK it looks like.

Rule #1 of DVD buying - don't buy HK discs.
The R3 edition of Girl Who Leapt Through Time was pretty darn good with readable subtitles, fine video and all, so I was mislead into thinking that Only Yesterday would be fine as well afterwards. I really should have found this thread earlier. Can't quite understand how other people who bought the same release had no complaints. Anyhow, it looks like I'm going to have to watch the film through the "way of the shadow." Anyhow, better than buying a bootleg I guess...

Not that it's relevant anymore (given the fact that it's coming out here), what extras were on the DVD?

Were there any interviews with Mamoru Hosoda or something?