Does Full Screen stop you from buying good DVDs?
#1
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Does Full Screen stop you from buying good DVDs?
I am extremely pleased watching widescreen tvs/movies on widescreen TV. But the downside for me is that It has stopped me from watching/buying tv/movies with good reviews that are shown on full screen. I heard good things about The Wire but didn't get it bec. of this. I started getting Friends season set, but once I got widescreen TV, I actuall stopped my collection at 6, and am have second thoughts of buying the rest. Everbody Loves Raymond, I got the first, but stopped as well bec. it was full frame. But with 4th season getting the widescreen treatment, I restarted my collection once more. Its one feature now that I look at b4 getting new dvds.
Is it just me or does anyone feel the same as well? You just get spoiled with how good movies look when you're watching widescreen.
Is it just me or does anyone feel the same as well? You just get spoiled with how good movies look when you're watching widescreen.
#2
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I think you are a bit nuts. The point is to have picture in its original aspect ratio, not just widescreen only. Widescreen isn't always "right" or better.
Last edited by FinkPish; 03-02-06 at 01:20 AM.
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Yeah, what FinkPish said...
Do you pass on Kubrick movies or Citizen Kane because their OAR isn't Widescreen? I think you've misunderstood the reason we all push for widescreen. What we really want is OAR. No sense in missing out on quality programs (or even Everybody Loves Raymond) just because it's not WS. That's the same as the people who won't buy WS because of the black bars.
Do you pass on Kubrick movies or Citizen Kane because their OAR isn't Widescreen? I think you've misunderstood the reason we all push for widescreen. What we really want is OAR. No sense in missing out on quality programs (or even Everybody Loves Raymond) just because it's not WS. That's the same as the people who won't buy WS because of the black bars.
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Nuts? I was thinking that as well, truth to tell. But I find myself exclusively using my widescreen tv to watch my dvds. Its as close to watching a movie as I can get at home. I just don't enjoy it as much watching these on my old tvs. And watching 4/3 on a widescreen TV really lessens the pleasure of the movie. So even with classic movies, I'll only get them if they get the widescreen treatment. THe only series that I'd probably complete even if its full screen is Seinfeld, as it has been a personal favorite of mine.
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I've wanted to pick up Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Can't Buy Me Love and Just One Of The Guys but they're 4:3 only transfers kept me away.
Last edited by Barry Woodward; 03-02-06 at 02:49 AM.
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Not for TV shows. You can always stretch or zoom if burn in is a concern, but watching a few episodes between normal 16:9 viewing won't do anything. If I refused to buy 4:3 material, I wouldn't have:
The A-Team 1-3
Knight Rider 1-3 (Universal HD during the Olympics was nice, stupid Comcrap!)
Homicide: Life on the Street 1-7
Best of Spin City
Best of Insomniac w/Dave Attell
The Osbournes (Yes, I have all 3.5 seasons. )
Millennium 1-3
Sports Night (complete series)
I'd never give up South Park or Curb Your Enthusiasm just because of the aspect ratio. I'll eventually pick up the first six seasons of The X-Files, too. Why give up great entertainment?
The A-Team 1-3
Knight Rider 1-3 (Universal HD during the Olympics was nice, stupid Comcrap!)
Homicide: Life on the Street 1-7
Best of Spin City
Best of Insomniac w/Dave Attell
The Osbournes (Yes, I have all 3.5 seasons. )
Millennium 1-3
Sports Night (complete series)
I'd never give up South Park or Curb Your Enthusiasm just because of the aspect ratio. I'll eventually pick up the first six seasons of The X-Files, too. Why give up great entertainment?
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Fullscreen doesn't deter me from purchasing discs, as long as it's the OAR. I mean, the X-Files wasn't shot in widescreen until Season 7, or something. I'd rather see the show, or movie, how it was shot, instead of having it cropped.
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If you absolutely can't stand the 1.33:1 aspect ratio anymore on your Widescreen display, you need to be aware of the fact that most Panasonic DVD players include a "4:3 LBX Shrink and Variable Zoom" Mode. With this function you can zoom most 4:3 material up to close to 1.66:1 without losing much from the top and bottom of the 1.33:1 framing. Actually, many TV shows from the late 60's through the 80's that were shot on film were shot "protected" for the 1.66:1 aspect ratio (even including Star Trek: TOS!), so you lose virtually nothing in the way of framing. Keep in mind that you will still see (very small) side bars on your 16:9 display (unless your overscan is around 5%), but you will be filling most of your display.
#11
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Ugh. I watch my DVDs in OAR or as close to it as my TV can display. If that means my HDTV will have burn in down the road, so be it. I am not stretching Casablanca just because I have a 16X9 TV.
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Like the others, I want to see a film in the original aspect ratio that it was made in. Therefore, if a film was WS to start with, I expect the DVD to be likelwise; but all films pre-1953 are FS & that is fine with me.
Likewise, I do not like psedo-Widescreen movies like some company did with "Gone With the Wind".
Likewise, I do not like psedo-Widescreen movies like some company did with "Gone With the Wind".
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Originally Posted by Mayandi
Like the others, I want to see a film in the original aspect ratio that it was made in. Therefore, if a film was WS to start with, I expect the DVD to be likelwise; but all films pre-1953 are FS & that is fine with me.
Except that some movies or tv shows that came out after 1953 that are only availible in full screen i'll still get. (twilight zone, outer limits ect)
but if it was shot in widescreen I'll hold out until it's released in widescreen
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there is a difference between fullscreen and non-OAR!!!!!
jeez, how hard is it to get through your skull?
the only time it is an issue for me is if the film isn't OAR.
jeez, how hard is it to get through your skull?
the only time it is an issue for me is if the film isn't OAR.
#16
If there's a film that I'm only so-so interested in and it's pan & scanned, then yes, I will pass it up. If it's a movie that I really like (e.g. With Honors) and it's doubtful there will be a proper release, I will buy it regardless.
#17
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Originally Posted by matome
If there's a film that I'm only so-so interested in and it's pan & scanned, then yes, I will pass it up. If it's a movie that I really like (e.g. With Honors) and it's doubtful there will be a proper release, I will buy it regardless.
#19
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Originally Posted by DVDGamer
And watching 4/3 on a widescreen TV really lessens the pleasure of the movie. So even with classic movies, I'll only get them if they get the widescreen treatment.
Originally Posted by matome
If it's a movie that I really like (e.g. With Honors) and it's doubtful there will be a proper release, I will buy it regardless.
#20
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I'm all about OAR and if I have a choice will always go Widescreen. One nice thing is my Plasma will use JUST mode to stretch a Full Screen but uses some system to not make things seem stretched. I've been really impressed with it. We watch Standard Dish all the time using JUST. With that said it's helped when I see a TV show that's only in Full Screen or Bambi for instance.
I would much rather watch full screen and JUST mode it then have then slice some of the bottom and top to make the full screen = widescreen like they did with Dark Shadows: The Revival.
I will hold off though on some if I see FS. Mainly the bargain bins you find a lot of FS. I usually pass on those.
I would much rather watch full screen and JUST mode it then have then slice some of the bottom and top to make the full screen = widescreen like they did with Dark Shadows: The Revival.
I will hold off though on some if I see FS. Mainly the bargain bins you find a lot of FS. I usually pass on those.
#22
I'll buy or watch anything that is in it's OAR, whether it's 1.33:1 or 2.35:1. Widescreen isn't important, OAR is important. It pisses me off when a 1.33:1, 1.37:1 movie is cropped to widescreen, or when 2.35:1 movies are cropped to 1.78:1 to fill a widescreen TV (Lion's Gate). I try not to buy anything that has been butchered this way.
Burn in is a concern on a CRT rear projection or plasma TV but not if you alternate your viewing and turn the contrast down to a reasonable level. I watch all my DVDs on 51" Hitachi CRT rear projection TV that is just over 2 years old. No signs of burn-in at all, and I just checked a few weeks ago. I watch 1.37:1 movies like old Hitchcock films without stretching and I turn on black side bars instead of grey. But I watch alot of widescreen movies and always stretch standard definition cable when just casually viewing, it looks like crap anyway.
The next TV or projector I buy won't be susceptible to burn-in, but that will be several years down the road.
Burn in is a concern on a CRT rear projection or plasma TV but not if you alternate your viewing and turn the contrast down to a reasonable level. I watch all my DVDs on 51" Hitachi CRT rear projection TV that is just over 2 years old. No signs of burn-in at all, and I just checked a few weeks ago. I watch 1.37:1 movies like old Hitchcock films without stretching and I turn on black side bars instead of grey. But I watch alot of widescreen movies and always stretch standard definition cable when just casually viewing, it looks like crap anyway.
The next TV or projector I buy won't be susceptible to burn-in, but that will be several years down the road.
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Originally Posted by FinkPish
I think you are a bit nuts. The point is to have picture in its original aspect ratio, not just widescreen only. Widescreen isn't always "right" or better.
His problem is with trying to watch OAR fullscreen shows on a widescreen TV. I guess because there are the "bars" on the sides.
I've often wondered myself what it will be like when I finally do get a widescreen TV. All my widescreen movies will fill or nearly fill the screen, but then everything that's fullscreen will have bars on the sides.
All I can do is hope that the side-bars are as easy to not notice as the top and bottom bars are now as I watch widescreen on my 4:3 TV.
#25
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If I refused to watch any full-frame DVDs on my widescreen TV, about half of my collection would be wasted, due to my love of classic (pre-widescreen) films.
As many others have mentioned - OAR is what is most important.
As many others have mentioned - OAR is what is most important.