Where To Buy Movies From Korea, Japan, Thailand, India ?

[henrik2000]

Hi. Is there a good place in Bangkok to buy movie DVDs (or better Blurays) from Korea, Japan, Thailand? Also maybe (but less important) from Thailand, Philippines and India?

I am well aware of the DVD copy shops in MBK, Panthip Plaza and Fortune City, but i don’t need much Hollywood and i believe they have not much else. I only need original quality with English subtitles - Bluray preferred over DVD, no VCD – better more expensive and with good service.

In the shop i might need help from a knowledgable clerk, because i (westerner) might not be able to find the specific Asian movies i am looking for on my own. I’ve had BKK shops before who were not interested in helping me to find a certain DVD or audio CD.

In Bkk, what is a typical price for a Korean or Japanese movie Blueray? If i order it internationally from Yesasia.com, the price comes to 700 Baht or so per Bluray plus shipping. If it is not much cheaper in Bkk, i could as well mail-order and forget the shopping expedition.

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A related question: This December in Bangkok, i also will search for music from Thai artists like Carabao, Thongchai, Loso, Phee Saderd, Siriporn and a few others. I would like to get their new music that appeared since 2010 in high quality (preferrably better than 128 kBps MP3). I have their older recordings.

What would be a good strategy to get the newer recordings of these artists _without_ getting a lot of old stuff along the way?

- I could buy the new original audio CDs. But often i cannot read a word on Thai CDs – not even the year (i know it’s 2555). And the clerks are sometimes not at all helpful in finding specific artists’ recordings from specific times (i do speak enough Thai to explain my wish, but i cannot read). Also actually i prefer hi-q MP3s over audio CD (which i convert to MP3 and discard anyway).

- Of course i could buy pirated collections with 100 MP3s on one CD. But the quality is only medium (i only got 128 kbps so far). And you never know if it’s the newer stuff (whatever the sales person tells you).

- Is there a good internet option?

So what would be a good strategy to get the newer recordings and in which shop?

Thanks for all hints!

[asanee]

you are asking far too much for this site. Ask a Japanese/Korean for those countries, but I do not believe there will be many counterfeit copies-and import will always cost at least, but more likely double the price at home. THai shopclerks wont have any clue-that again needs a JPN/-ese or Kho-lee. Koreatown is @ Sukhumvit-soi 10/12-that big hirise building, Japantown is all along Sukhumvit beyond Asoke-the odd sois.

India: Pahurath, aka as little India-Bollywood and all that. Thats counterfeit from the start.

as for the new ''better'' Thai music-again i do not really think there is that for sale-though counterfeiting on Thai music is never done. I guess all those new online boxes are better for that. But if someone knows better for that-glad to see it too! Best thing is likely to start asking at some serious Thai music lovers. And Thai is not that hard to read-certainky not the well known covers of those well-known musicians (Asanee plus his mate Wasantr are just my favourites.

[henrik2000]

Asanee, thanks for the hints!

[rgs2001uk]

Try this site,

http://www.mangpong.co.th/eshop/movie-list.php?format=dvd&box=s

These stores are in about every shopping mall I have been in, the sign has a red scorpion.

Never seen mp3 for sale in official stores, its usually just original cds.

If you want mp3 best head off to Panthip Plaza.

Your best bet may well be to go to Central World (Erawan) in Bkk, if you are looing for English speaking staff.

Seeing as you already know how to speak Thai theres no need for me to type out what to say.

[henrik2000]

Thanks RGS!

[koolbreez]

The big stumbling block in what you want is the English subtitles. Those are hard to find from the countries you want movies from. In the China Town area is your best bet at the old thieves market section (I know how to get there, but not how to give directions to get there), as that is the area with the largest selection of CD/DVDs, and someone might be willing to help you as you do speak Thai.

[henrik2000]

Koolbreez, thanks for that info and warning!

If there is no English line announcing English subtitles on the package, i will not take them - whatever the salesperson says. I've had it with Hindi movies before that in spite of all insurances there were no subtitles on some oldie DVDs.