El Cosmico here, reporting on a crime against humanity.

Very little in this world really, actually pisses me off. I've come to accept that for the most part, the world is full of stupid people, and a lot of evil. THIS latest tragedy just makes me so pissed, I think it's important to say, in no uncertain terms...

DIE BUENA VISTA, DIE!!! I HOPE YOU PERISH IN FLAME! I HOPE YOU SUFFER LONG, PAINFUL DEATHS! ALL OF YOU! IMMEDIATELY!!!!

Why, you're thinking, would El Cosmico be so pissed off? Well, check out Nausicaa.net...it turns out that Buena Vista, in their INFINITE FUCKING STUPIDITY AND EVIL, has decided that the August 29th Region 1 DVD release of Mononoke Hime will NOT INCLUDE THE ORIGINAL JAPANESE LANGUAGE TRACK. THIS IS AN INSULT TO MIYAZAKI! SHAME ON YOU!

I'm beyond the ability to express anything but anger at this point. Their excuse?

"Because the Japanese office of BUENA VISTA (not Studio Ghibli) requested it. There has been no DVD release of _Mononoke_ yet, and sales of a Region 1 version DVD could still threaten sales of a Region 2 version in Japan. DVD piracy and importation are significant enough problems, regardless of the benefits of region-encoding."

What the fuck? That's the biggest load of bullshit I've ever heard! Either way, people will be buying a disc! Folks, this is obviously another expression of Disney's EXTREME EVIL GREED. They KNOW that all hard-core fans will have to buy BOTH discs. THE PAIN!

Nausicaa.net has a petition about this issue, I URGE you to go and make your feelings about this known. Now. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, because this does not bode well for other Miyazaki releases on DVD. If Buena Vista continues this trend, it seems that all of Miyazaki's masterworks will be released in Region 1 WITHOUT THE ORIGINAL PERFORMANCES THAT MADE THEM SO GREAT, AND FULFILLED THE DIRECTOR'S ORIGINAL VISION. THIS IS UTTER FUCKING MADNESS.

-El Cosmico

mail me at: elcosmico@austin.rr.com