Class316

What is the AR?

1.85? http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Stor...+Story+blu+ray

or 1.77? http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Stor...+Story+blu+ray

orangerunner

I don't know, 1.77:1 is an odd number to use since 16:9 should be 1.78:1 (rounded up).

That aside, one of the reviews below mention it is visually the same transfer as the previous one. Even the 2006 Blu-ray.com review ( http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/A-Chri...ay/248/#Review ) is a little unclear as to the aspect ratio.

Personally, 1.85:1 or 1.78:1 is such a slight difference it doesn't really matter for me ... as long as they don't squeeze 2.35:1 scope into 1.78:1 "full-screen".

Josh Z

The movie's OAR is 1.85:1. The Blu-ray is 16:9.

Warner Bros. opens the mattes on all 1.85:1 movies to full-screen 16:9 as a matter of policy. The difference is negligible.

orangerunner

Looking through all of my Warner Blu-ray and HDDVD 1.85:1 titles, they all state 16X9 1.85:1 on the packaging.

If any titles were open matte, they should read 16X9, 1.78:1, the hi-def version of "full screen".

Maybe the packaging information is incorrect? Wouldn't be the first time.

Hi-Def is always native 16X9 regardless of whether the content is framed 1.78:1, 1.85:1, 2.35:1 etc.

You'll also notice a title like A Clockwork Orange is 16X9, 1.66:1, which is framed onscreen with slight pillar bars on either side.

As you said, the difference is negligible.

hanshotfirst1138

WB probably figure that the average person doesn't when know what a film's aspect ratio is, much less know a difference as subtle as the one between 1.78 and 1.85. The difference between 1.78/1.85 and 1.66 is actually a bit more noticeable than the difference between 1.78 and 1.85. Though given how obsessive Kubrick was, maybe that sliver of information is something he would complain about .

Class316

So I guess the non steel book version is the better one, if nothing more cause it's cheaper.

Josh Z

Put it one of those discs and watch it. Warner and Paramount both open the mattes on all 1.85:1 movies to 16:9, regardless of what the packaging says.

Sony, Fox and Disney usually retain the original 1.85:1 with small letterbox bars. Other studios, including Lionsgate and various indies, are hit-or-miss as to what they'll do on any given title.

hanshotfirst1138

Like I said, Paramount and WB probably just assume most people won't even notice.

orangerunner

I checked A Christmas Story HD-DVD (don't have the Blu-ray) and the picture has no black bars running along the top but does have slight pillar bars along the sides.

Maybe the packaging is incorrect or other factors that may cause this could be that not all 16:9 TV screen sizes are perfectly identical. Maybe my TV has a 15.9:9 screen? Some may show a little more, some less?

Another issue might be "overscan", which is on higher-end TVs that allow extra information to be seen around the edges of the picture such as closed captioning etc. Some of these TVs also have a scale tool to regulate more image or less.

Josh Z

From screen shots found on the web, the Christmas Story Blu-ray appears to be open matte on the top and bottom with very tiny pillarbox bars on the sides.