Widescreen/Letterbox - Movies presented in a "letterbox" widescreen format preserve the "scope" aspect ratio of their original theatrical exhibition. The accompanying number indicates specific aspect ratio (width divided by height). See Image below.

Pan and Scan or TV Format - Movies presented in pan and scan have been formatted from their original version to fit your screen. See Image below.

Clamshell - Larger protective, plastic casing in which some videos (especially those for children) are packaged.

Slipsleeve - Glossy cardboard casing that most videos are packaged in.

Keep Case - Special plastic packaging with plastic lock in which many DVD movies are offered.

Snap Case - Special cardboard packaging with plastic lock in which many DVD movies are offered.

Jewel Case - Standard clear, plastic, compact-disc style packaging in which some DVD movies are offered.

Subtitled - Displays subtitles in the language indicated.

Dubbed - Dubbed (spoken translation) in the language indicated.

DTS - Digital Theater Systems, a sound format prevalent in movie theaters. In order to hear the DTS soundtrack, you'll need a DVD player with a DTS digital output and a DTS processor.

Dolby® Digital (5.1) - Dolby® Digital is discrete multichannel surround sound. Discrete means that the sound information contained in each of the six available channels can be distinct and independent from the other channels. Dolby® Digital is often referred to as a "5.1-channel" system -- five full-bandwidth channels with 3-20,000 Hz frequency range for front and surround, plus one "low frequency effects" subwoofer channel devoted to frequencies from 3-120 Hz. You will need to make sure your audio system supports Dolby® Digital.

Dolby® Pro Logic (Surround Sound) - Dolby® Pro Logic is a matrixed multichannel surround system, which means that some channels are actually derived from other channels. In this case, the center and surround channels are created from parts of the front right and left channels. The single matrixed surround channel is split and sent to the surround speakers, so both surround speakers play the same sounds.

No Longer Produced - Although the manufacturer no longer produces this title, we may still have this title in-stock. Due to limited quantities, No Longer Produced titles are available on a first serve basis and are not guaranteed to be available at the time of your order.

Aspect Ratios< - The following are graphical representations of different aspect ratios and their relation to the standard TV pan and scan format.

All DVD players and titles are encoded with one of five Regional Codes. The DVD Region Locking system is used to control which DVD movies play on which DVD Players. In order for a DVD title to be viewable, its coding must match the coding on the DVD player. In other words, DVD movies from Region 1 (USA & Canada) will not play on a DVD player encoded for Region 2 (Europe & Japan). Only Region 1 discs play on Region 1 DVD players, etc.

DVD Regional Coding - All of our DVD titles are Region 1 (USA & Canada), which means they they are compatible only with players that are Region 1 encoded.

DVD Region Listing
1 - USA and Canada
2 - Europe, Japan, South Africa, and the Middle East
3 - Southeast Asia and East Asia
4 - Central and South America, Caribbean and Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand
5 - The Indian Subcontinent, Africa, and Countries of the Former Soviet Union

DVD Language Info - Most DVD titles have multiple language capabilities. These include alternate language subtitles (closed captioning) as well as alternate language dialogs (dubbing). These are user selectable settings from within the DVDs menu options. Some popular alternate languages include:

Spanish - contains Spanish version.
Korean - contains Korean version.
French - contains French version.
German - contains German version.
Cantonese - contains Cantonese version.
Chinese - contains Chinese version.
Japanese - contains Japanese version.
Mandarin - contains Mandarin version.

Video Tape Format - All of our movies are available in NTSC format only, and not in PAL or SECAM. This should not cause a problem provided you are using video equipment manufactured for use in the United States. If you are using video equipment manufactured for use in Europe or Australia, or if you take your movies overseas, they may not be useable there.

NTSC is the standard VHS format in North America and Japan. Most of Europe, the UK and Australia use PAL; France uses SECAM. NTSC video tapes will NOT play in PAL or SECAM players, and vice-versa.

Rental vs. Sell-Through
Videos are released by studios in either one of two ways. The first is called sell-through. When a studio releases a video to sell-through, it means that the movie is released directly to the consumer market in the $19.99 to $24.99 price range. The second method a studio will use to release a video is called rental. What this means is that the studio prices the video in the $79.99 to $129.99 price range, and intends the video to be purchased by video rental stores. However, sales of rental titles are not limited to video rental stores. You may also purchase the title at the rental price. It usually takes six months after its video release for a rental title to get repriced at sell-through.