Region 4 Winners and Losers

    The Region 1 version of this disc was released in 2003. It has a music video, but it is not 16x9 enhanced, and only has a Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack instead of a 5.1 mix, so one might normally expect the Region 4 disc to win the comparison, right? Well, not this time.

    I purchased this movie from Region 2, way back in 2002 (it was released a lot earlier there than here). The Region 2 disc has a similar cover (the same photo, but different lettering), but it is in a dark opaque keepcase instead of a transparent one.

    Compared to the Region 2, the Region 4 version is missing:

• high quality transfer on a dual-layered disc
• photo gallery (30 photos)
• featurette: Shooting the Movie (6:08) — fairly lame, just film of them staging a few of the scenes, with no commentary or interviews
• interviews with:
  • Robert Isove (director) 3:50
  • Rachael Leigh Cook 2:22
  • Freddie Prinze Jr 2:23
  • Anna Paquin 1:49
  • Matthew Lillard 3:06
  • Jodi Lyn O'Keefe 1:27
  • Dule' Hill 1:58
  • Elden Henson 0:27
  • Tamara Mello 0:40
  • Gabrielle Union 1:11

    There is some distortion in the sound on the interviews with Jodi Lyn O'Keefe (last segment only), Dule' Hill, and Tamara Mello — their comments are still comprehensible.

    The Region 2 version is missing:

• Dolby Digital Trailer: Train

    If you want this movie, I feel obliged to recommend the Region 2 disc — the difference is noticeable (it is a good transfer, with no reel change markings and a lot less grain — I don't know why Roadshow didn't licence this PAL transfer). It doesn't hurt that the disc has been out long enough that it is now being marked down — I had a quick look, and found one site offering it for under 5 pounds (UK).