Hi All --
Just received the Prince Sign "O" The Times DVD that was being discussed a few weeks ago.

I purchased the DVD for $15 on Ebay. The disc was shipped from Brazil -- took about two weeks.

First of all, the length is 85 minutes -- same as my VHS. All of the songs are included -- including Sign (although it is omitted from the track listing on the case).

The disc features great animated menus. The look is very professional.

The disc looks and sounds great. Significantly better than my VHS. One problem -- it's not letterbox!

The extras include photographs, a biography (in spanish) and an incomplete discography (does not include Crystal Ball or The Vault. It does include New Power Soul, but none of the other NPG albums).

The packaging is a little odd. Instead of the movie poster cover that is featured on the VHS, the manufacturer instead opts for (what looks like) a photo of a Purple Rain era-Prince.

My belief is that this DVD is a bootleg. There is no mention of MCA Home Video, Cineplex Odeon Films, or The Purple Films Company. I have NO problem with the fact that it's a bootleg -- I already bought the VHS when it first came out. If it ever receives an official release, I will probably buy that as well.

Highly recommended! Well worth the money.

Thanks for letting us know.

So if it's a bootleg (semi-legit?) what was the source for the material?
I see no dropouts on my crappy TV with a cheap DVD-player but the sound is a bit bassy compared to the PAL LD I have.
The LD does have some dropouts. :-/
If I'd have a better TV I could compare resolutions and picture quality better since I can play the DVD and the LD side by side.
Does anyone have an idea about the `story` behind this release?

Udo

I just got it, and for me, it's NO good! the picture is much, much darker than it should be (even though it's sharp), often people are dark silhouettes. (Can you even see Cat during the intro to Hot Thing?) The soundtrack has been reduced to mono on both tracks: Dolby 5.1 and regular Dolby... both MONO!

I have both the laserdisc and the VHS and they are both better...

i'll stick to the VHS

Hmmm. The dark picture I can compensate for with my crappy TV which is mono (dolby 5.1 MONO? why did they do a 5.1 'mix' then?)...
Maybe we should contact the technical department of the Brazilian mag taht made the DVD and tell them what is wrong with this production so they can avoid this for next releases (or reprints?).

- Cover picture too old
- Track listing incorrect
- Dark picture
- Mono sound, bassy
- ...?

starboy126 said:

i was shocked to find it was mono when i got mine, but other people keep posting that theres sounds great, so unless there listening 2 it on a mono television, i dont get it
.

udo said:

- All the words, titles and options are written in Brazillian/Portugese.

As far I was aware there is no option 2 change this.