The Canadian DVD Cover

[grinningfisto]

Ok I know this isn't just me who has been ticked off by this thing. Ky-Wan and I were talking about this earlier.

I'm a little miffed that they had to basterdize the cover of the Revenge of the Sith DVD in the Canadian market.
You see every DVD cover here since they came out is the same as it is in the states. Identical in every way. But this last time, they just had to go and stick french subs on it.

It's the principal that the entire DVD collection has always been in plain english, by itself and there's a certain consistency in the styling of the DVD. Now ROTS sticks out like a sore thumb from the rest of my collection with two titles on the side and that silly white "Star Wars : La Revanche des Sith" below the main title.

What were they thinking?

"You know guys, we've done ok on foreign DVD sales in the past but I just don't think the french market in Canada will recognize our product if we don't tag it in french. I mean I just don't think the Vader helmet and distinct images of the characters on the cover with the lightsaber clash over lava and the giant unmistakable STAR WARS logo is enough to give them the idea of what film this is."

Why are they insulting our intelligence?

I've put up with having french on the packaging of every known food product and having the flight attendants and pilots on Canadian airlines go through the pre flight spiel in french because this is where I live and it's part of the deal. I have cheap healthcare, the government throws money at us left and right and our job market is awesome. Not to mention the weather in the past 3 weeks has been like spring time here.

It's not that I have anything against the language itself. I'd be just as ticked if they put Spanish or Russian or even ebonics on the cover "Badass muthas from space yo."

But I shouldn't have to pay for a second copy of the DVD on ebay or track down a photo printer and print out a second double sided copy of the DVD jacket just to have it match the rest of my collection.

This is just one more example of Lucasfilm messing with stuff they ought not to be messing with.

[Cem-Ji Pobroo]

Here in the US, there's nothing like that on DVD's...yet, but A LOT of stuff here has bilingual (Spanish) on signs, packaging, announcements on airplanes, etc. Too bad you couldn't have ordered this off of amazon.com (amazon.ca probably would have the same packaging as what you got) or ebay for your 1st and only copy. So, I know what you're saying. Maybe (for whatever reason) they didn't want to have French writing on DVDs going to Quebec & other French speaking regions and elsewhere English, so you all got the bilingual. However you mentioned cheap healthcare, govt. throws money at YOU and awesome job market; I may have to relocate.

[grinningfisto]

lol yeah. Well I had my chance to live state side. Did that for about 3 years actually but in the end I came home for a lot of different reasons. If you're going to live in Canada, Alberta is the place to do it.

We're the only province that doesn't pay a provincial tax on purchases. We're the only province that could afford to stand alone as it's own country if we wanted to and it is very prosperous.

The government pays everyone on a regular basis. We get GST (Government sales tax) checks like 3 times a year and just recently everyone who had lived in the province of Alberta since September 05 got a $400 prosperity check because our pronicial gov't felt bad about our heating rates going up. And not just the work force. Every single man woman and child. 2 yrs old, homeless, don't matter. Money money money.

Jobs are also like candy. I was out taking some pictures for a radio contest in town and I had a guy try to recruit me on the spot lol.

Then there's the healthcare thing which Canada has always done very well. I pay $35 a month and it covers everything. I don't even need insurance. Alberta healthcare will pretty much pay for anything that's not considered cosmetic. Well except ambulance fees.

[Jauhzmynn Enz]

Shee, I think I'll move up there. Sounds like a good place. The cold isn't that much of a problem, I cna always add more layers or make wool over tunics lined with silk.:-D I liked Toronto and that's close to Buffalo NY.A few hours trip.:-D

Fisto, what are the pros and cons of living in Alberta compared to were you where here in the states?

[Shatir Lavan]

I gotta say, I'm loving Calgary. I'm a B.C. boy though, I'm here for university, so since my permanent residence is in Kelowna, I don't get $400. Poodoo.

[grinningfisto]

Pros about living in Alberta are all of the above.

While in the US I lived in Davenport IA, and Peoria IL.

Davenport was a hole. The only saving grace about that town is that it's home to a terrific chiropractic college but for the most part it's a farm town that outgrew itself and became a ghetto. I lived right across the street from a crack house though for awhile so I will call that a . . . . character building experience.

It's one of four cities that call themselves the Quad Cities and some of the other towns like Bettendorf and Moline are actually quite nice.

Peoria is a couple hours south of Chicago and that was a quaint little town. But I am a city boy and always have been. The small town vibe was too constrictive for my tastes but everyone has their own thing. Generally Peoria was a nice place.

The US has a better selection of authentic exotic cuisine but only by a small margin. It's also a much better place to work if you are in the medical profession.

In Edmonton since healthcare is standardized a cosmetic surgeon, let's say a boob job guy, might make $200,000 a year. Where as in the US he could clean up raking in closer to triple that, more if he's located properly.

It all depends on what you prefer and what you like to do.

Me, I sell business level copier and fax solutions and in a place like this, where every business is booming and cash rich and everyone needs to blow their budgets on stuff for the office or they don't get the same funding next year, I have an easy time at making a living.

I moved to Peoria for a marriage that didn't work out in the end. After that was all settled I thought about relocating to Colorado (the springs) or Portland Oregon but in the end I chose home for 3 important reasons.

1. I found a kick butt job here that involves working less hours and making 30% more salary than I did state side.

2. There was a lot more excitement and support for my film in this area.

3. My family and friends are all here.

Now I have the 4th reason, a beautiful woman that I have found real happiness with and never would have met had I not returned.

The weather is also nicer here. Everyone has this misconception that Canada is colder than the US. This is very wrong in many cases. I found the midwest to be colder because the windchill cuts right through you.

I still keep in touch with my ex since we're friends now and most of the time it seems the weather is nicer here than in the US. It might have to do with being shielded by the rockys but whatever.

I think everyone needs to get out of their home towns and live somewhere else for awhile. It's amazing growing experience and it gives you a really good sense of self and direction. It would take making it big in hollywood and becoming a major director of studio motion pictures to get me to move out of Edmonton and even then I would still come back to live here whenever I could.

[kivaanzion]

grinningfisto said:

I have cheap healthcare, the government throws money at us left and right and our job market is awesome. Not to mention the weather in the past 3 weeks has been like spring time here.

Try living in Ontario. 30% of my paycheck goes toward taxes to pay for that "cheap" healthcare. 15% tax on almost everything I buy. Job market? Fantastic if you want to work part-time only (a dangerously growing trend in the retail industry). I didn't qualify for a GST refund so the government isn't throwing money my way.

I'll give you the spring-like weather though.

Our country has two official languages: English and French. Eventually all items will have dual labeling. It's progress. I certainly would appreciate dual labeling when I visit Quebec as I only know un pue of French.

[grinningfisto]

Dude, seriously move your butt to Alberta. Get a nice cushy corporate gig and live the good life.

The cool thing about living in Ontario is that your vote is pretty much the only one that counts though lol.

[Schph Gochi]

egad Mark.....
I thought you grew up in the Quad Cities area....lol....
seriously...I thought you knew the Quad City Jedi your whole life....

[grinningfisto]

Nah, I just moved there in 2002, lived there for about almost 2 years then moved to Peoria and lived there for about a year before moving back.

[Cara Drume]

Hmm...sounds like an interesting place to live. I definately want to move out of this sand trap I'm living in. The Star Wars fandom down here is almost nill. There are almost zero local events and the 'lukewarm' costumers are downright pathetic. (not talking about TJA members; talking about the clowns that showed up for Opening Night in Vict.) Plus, the heat in the summer is bad. I burn easily and can hardly go swimming in summertime, even wearing SPF 50, without looking like a boiled tomato; bright red, throughly cooked, and easily peeled!

Only two things are keeping me here; my family and the sunsets. I would like to move, but not terribly far and definately not out of country. Though we do have a few problems, I like the US just fine. I'm considering up in central or northern CA, but not too close to SF; maybe inland a ways. I wouldn't mind living in Marin Co, LOL. Seriously, it looks nice up there.

Sorry for the rant!