Sorry if this is a repost.

I just ordered Gattaca from the DVD club, it said it was full screen and Widescreen, however when I recieved the dvd it said full screen. I called in and they assured me it was both, so I opened it up and put it in. There is no option to switch formats, but the format on the disc does have some black bars. Is this the widescreen version or something in between?

One side is fullscreen and the other is widescreen. The side with black bars at the top and bottom is widescreen.

So, this is a flipper disc and the OP had no idea even after having it in hand?!
I can't imagine anyone not being able to figure this out, all you have to do is be able to read.

Is this disc not labelled fullscreen on one side and widescreen on the other?

Does it not state on the back of the cover art that side A is fullscreen and side B is widescreen?

No it is not a flipper disc. It is one sided and the back of the case says it is fullscreen.

There are black bars on the screen though, so I am not sure if it is the full picture or if I am missing something. I know this is one of those Sony discs that used to be a flipper with both, but they downgraded it.

The one I got from CH a couple of months ago was the original flipper version with the better-looking artwork. That is the one I was going by...

Yeah, unfortunatelly I guess the new ones have the same UPC, so they haven't changed the listing. I bought this for 2.99 with Funcash, so they probably aren't going to be too helpfull when I try to return it. Does the full screen version of yours have black bars?

What kind of tv do you have?
Where are the black bars, top/bottom or sides?

Don't know... didn't watch it in fullscreen. I'll check it out later for you.

Sorry, should have explained that. I checked in on my regular non-widescreen TV, and it had the bars on top and bottom. They weren't that big, but they were there. It just seemed weird that they have those when the box says full screen. I can't find any word on the net about this either, all the reviews I found still refer to the two sided version with both ratios.

It could be non-anamorphic widescreen. That would look "fullscreen" on a widescreen TV as it would have bars on the side and the top/bottom (depending on the aspect ratio)

Sounds like you have the fullscreen version, and why there are bars on the top and bottom I have no idea!
If it were the widescreen version, the black bars would be much more noticable and larger since the scope of this film is 2.35:1.

Yeah, I thought the 2.35:1 would be more noticable. I've emailed CH, since my phone call didn't do any good, but I'm sure they won't be able to do anything about it. I may just have to splurge and get the 2 disc version at the Walmart dump bin.

There's also the Superbit version which I think is still marked down to $9.99 at Best Buy.

Is there a new edition of this film, with special features?

I have the Superbit, which I purchased because the original flipper didn't have much if any supplements at all. If this was released as a Special Edition, i'd pick it up again.

Well the "new version" is apparantly just the same as the flipper, but with the Widescreen side eliminated and with crappier artwork.

YEA! A release that any DVD fans wants.

Original flipper:

New cover full screen:

Superbit:

And, there is an upcoming SE in the works with a commentary by Ethan Hawke and Jude Law.

Unfortunately this is somewhat common. Re-releases of flippers where the WS is dropped. Frigging idiots.

I'd at least call and see how they handle FunCash returns... since they were wrong in their description, hopefully, they will cut you some slack. Maybe they will let you exchange it for a different disc...

The only trick is getting them to believe me. Yesterday the lady just kept saying "we only have one version and it has both formats".

Columbia is notorious for changing a lot of their flipper discs to one-sided fullscreen versions. So far I've noticed it done to Hero, Last Action Hero and Starman.

Well, I just recieved an email back from CH. I don't think there is anything I can do to get them to believe me that it is fullscreen only. After all, their system says it is both formats. Maybe they are right and I need to flip the disc over to the painted side and that will have the widescreen side.

Don't email them, call them. Nicely explain that is it a completely different cover, that it's been re-released, etc. etc.

Yeah, I think Ill try this again on Monday. It is a lot of work for 3$ though.

Okay, I checked out my flipper copy. The fullscreen side has no bars at all.

And BTW, anytime there has been a problem with CH, I've called rather than emailed them and they almost always straighten it out. If you get a CSR that doesn't want to help, just thank them and try again. You will probably have better luck during normal business hours on a weekday when you are more likely to get an American CSR.

Send CH to this webpage and tell them to read the post dated May 14, 2005:

Sony DVDs with (mostly) widescreen side dropped