Lost and OAR
09-07-05, 03:13 PM
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Lost and OAR
Last night, I only watched a few minutes of the Lost pilot episode, because I knew I'd be exchanging my set due to a scratched disc. I knew it would be in an anamorphic widescreen format, and that doesn't really bother me any.
But, just as much as we have widescreen purists here - and I'm among them - we also have the original aspect ratio crowd - who say OAR is really even more important than widescreen.
The reviews of Lost seem to like the fact it's presented in widescreen on the DVD set. BUT, that's not the way it aired, so it's not the OAR as presented on TV.
So what happened? Was it filmed in the widescreen ratio, and blown up to fill the TV screen? Or was it filmed full-frame, and are we therefore missing some stuff on the DVD? Has anyone done any screen comparisons?
If it was shown full-frame on TV, shouldn't it be full-frame on the DVD?
But, just as much as we have widescreen purists here - and I'm among them - we also have the original aspect ratio crowd - who say OAR is really even more important than widescreen.
The reviews of Lost seem to like the fact it's presented in widescreen on the DVD set. BUT, that's not the way it aired, so it's not the OAR as presented on TV.
So what happened? Was it filmed in the widescreen ratio, and blown up to fill the TV screen? Or was it filmed full-frame, and are we therefore missing some stuff on the DVD? Has anyone done any screen comparisons?
If it was shown full-frame on TV, shouldn't it be full-frame on the DVD?
09-07-05, 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Altimus Prime
The reviews of Lost seem to like the fact it's presented in widescreen on the DVD set. BUT, that's not the way it aired, so it's not the OAR as presented on TV.
09-07-05, 03:23 PM
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Like most network primetime dramas, Lost aired simultaneously in 4:3 on the standard-definition feed and 16:9 on the network's HDTV channel. Shows like this are composed for both ratios, with the 4:3 version being a center-extraction from the middle of the 16:9 frame.
The show's producers favor the 16:9 framing, and that is what they've given us on DVD.
Just a nit-pick, but HDTV isn't "anamorphic". High-Definition is natively 16:9 and requires no enhancement for widescreen. DVDs, on the other hand, are natively 4:3, with widescreen discs enhanced for better resolution when played at 16:9.
The show's producers favor the 16:9 framing, and that is what they've given us on DVD.
Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
It was broadcast in anamorphic widescreen HD weekly since the pilot aired last September.
Last edited by Josh Z; 09-07-05 at 03:26 PM.
09-07-05, 03:43 PM
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For the past 4 or 5 years now networks have been doing this... I believe "Alias" was one of the first to take advantage of the technology. HD has become extremly popular in the past couple of years, that is why some shows are only shown in letterbox (like "angel" was) to make people think its HD.
09-07-05, 04:10 PM
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Originally Posted by critterdvd
HD has become extremly popular in the past couple of years, that is why some shows are only shown in letterbox (like "angel" was) to make people think its HD.
09-07-05, 08:11 PM
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Ive heard that Lost was shot with the intention of being shown in 16:9 for HD and SD, but ABC balked at the idea of having a show that didnt fill the screen, so it was basically "pan and scanned" rather than center-cropped like most 16:9->4:3 conversions.
On TvshowsonDVD.com, its really annoying when you see the list of alterations for a show and it has something like "not presented in its original 4:3 aspect ratio"...geez, every scripted show except for maybe 2 or 3 on network TV is 16:9 HD now.
On TvshowsonDVD.com, its really annoying when you see the list of alterations for a show and it has something like "not presented in its original 4:3 aspect ratio"...geez, every scripted show except for maybe 2 or 3 on network TV is 16:9 HD now.
Last edited by ENDContra; 09-07-05 at 08:15 PM.
09-07-05, 08:58 PM
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Originally Posted by ENDContra
Ive heard that Lost was shot with the intention of being shown in 16:9 for HD and SD, but ABC balked at the idea of having a show that didnt fill the screen, so it was basically "pan and scanned" rather than center-cropped like most 16:9->4:3 conversions.
On TvshowsonDVD.com, its really annoying when you see the list of alterations for a show and it has something like "not presented in its original 4:3 aspect ratio"...geez, every scripted show except for maybe 2 or 3 on network TV is 16:9 HD now.
On TvshowsonDVD.com, its really annoying when you see the list of alterations for a show and it has something like "not presented in its original 4:3 aspect ratio"...geez, every scripted show except for maybe 2 or 3 on network TV is 16:9 HD now.
I also agree with what someone else said, if it is on in primetime, it is almost assuredly 16:9 HD at this point. A few reality shows are not, but pretty much any drama or sitcom is. The cartoon based stuff on Fox being the only real exception I can think of right now.
09-07-05, 10:35 PM
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Originally Posted by speedyray
To defend tvshowsondvd a little, they were letting any user post information, but there was so mych wrong they stopped that. Or at least that is what i vaguely remember from one of their news updates.
I also agree with what someone else said, if it is on in primetime, it is almost assuredly 16:9 HD at this point. A few reality shows are not, but pretty much any drama or sitcom is. The cartoon based stuff on Fox being the only real exception I can think of right now.
I also agree with what someone else said, if it is on in primetime, it is almost assuredly 16:9 HD at this point. A few reality shows are not, but pretty much any drama or sitcom is. The cartoon based stuff on Fox being the only real exception I can think of right now.
09-08-05, 12:56 PM
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I saw "Lost" in HD first, then I started watching it on my family's 4:3 screen. After watching the 16x9 version, I always thought the cropping of "Lost" was awkward. I know, it's only me who probably notices. But, it's one of those shows where you can tell it's meant to be 16x9.
By the way, is there any show in the BIG 4 networks which are shown in letterbox for 4:3 screens, like how HBO does it with "The Sopranos?"
By the way, is there any show in the BIG 4 networks which are shown in letterbox for 4:3 screens, like how HBO does it with "The Sopranos?"
09-08-05, 01:07 PM
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By the way, is there any show in the BIG 4 networks which are shown in letterbox for 4:3 screens, like how HBO does it with "The Sopranos?"
09-08-05, 01:32 PM
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For what it's worth, the DVD screeners of the "Lost" pilot episode that were sent to TV reviewers more than a year ago were widescreen, too. That shows that the creators intended it to be that way all along. Few shows, even the ones currently broadcast in dual WS/FS presentations, are presented widescreen to critics unless that is what the creators specifically want.
09-08-05, 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by jarofclay73
By the way, is there any show in the BIG 4 networks which are shown in letterbox for 4:3 screens, like how HBO does it with "The Sopranos?"
09-08-05, 03:56 PM
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Originally Posted by majorjoe23
Isn't Conan letterboxed now too?
