My plea for a DVD player with [loose morals and low standards](http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/i-want-a-cheap-slutty-dvd-player) was answered by many thoughtful readers. I ended up picking the Philips DVP-642 ($49 at Amazon), which not only zips through questionably-recorded dailies, but even Peixe Grande e Suas Historias Maravilhosas, the Portuguese version of Big Fish.
Thanks again.