After purchasing the Battlestar Galactica box set and watching some of the episodes, I have been noticing something very interesting. Instead of watching them in 4X3, I have been using the zoom feature on my 16X9 monitor to fill the screen. This basically crops the top and the bottom of the image.

Know what? It seems that most shots look like they are formatted for wide screen. Composition seems accurate in most cases. Everything seems to be framed correctly. Even the beginning and ending credits.

With that said though there are some shots that suffer. Not many, but some. It's almost like they forgot to frame it for widescreen correctly a few times.

Lucky coincidence? Probably but it sure is nice watching the series in widescreen. I suggest those with 16X9 TV's to give it try. I think you will like the results.

nah...

Or like maybe they never tried in the first place?

This show was made in 1978. They did not frame it for widescreen. At all. Any shots that look acceptable is just a lucky coincidence.

Bob Wine Sipper doesn't like the black bars on the sides of his widescreen!

just read some of the digitalbits review for the set & who knows, maybe it was filmed with a possible widescreen release. Wasn't the movie (which was widescreen) the pilot? The review also says it was one of the last shows to actually use film instead of video & that they were thinking of doing them as tele-films instead of a series at first. They could have been thinking of releasing it overseas as movies because of Star Wars. Probably not, but who would have thought that V (miniseries) was filmed with widescreen in mind way back then, so just because it was in 78 doesn't mean it's not possible.

As I said in the final paragraph in my post:

I realize that it may be lucky but do you know for absolutely sure it's not? All I know is that it works and adds to the enjoyment of watching the series. That's all.

I haven't seen the DVD but there was a theatrical release back in 1978. I doubt this is the same print that is on the DVD since that was re-edited version with different scenes.

This show was NEVER filmed with a theatrical release in mind. Trust me.

Or don't. Instead, go back and read the dozens of interviews that the creative team (especially Dykstra) have given over the years bitching about the theatrical release of the pilot. He states without a doubt that the effects were created for the TV screen and were never intended to be blown up to theatrical proportions.

Sending BG to the theaters was an afterthough on Universal's part. Basically, they said "Oh shit, we could have made a ton of cash sending this to the theaters instead of TV. Let's put it out retroactively."

It was never intended to be seen at 1.78:1, 1.85:1, or any ratio other than 1.33:1. Just watching the fake 'widescreen' disc they put out should be evidence enough of this. Practically every shot is cramped to the extreme.

Every episode was filmed and framed as a TV show. Which is what it was. All of the telefilms and various theatrical releases happened later, and were imposed by the studio.

I'm honestly confused about this. How does cutting off valid picture information that was supposed to be seen add in any way to the enjoyment of watching the show?

Are we letting the dimensions of our TVs dictate the dimensions of our viewing?

All I said there was a theatrical release--- nothing more.

Which begs the question . . . which is a worse HT sin: A) Buying FF of a movie available in WS or B) taking a FF only release and zooming in to fill up a WS TV?

Things that make you go "Hmmmmmm . . ."

How dare you!!!!!

both are equally bad if you are not watching the OAR.

It is your Tv and you can do what you want ; however liking the "new" aspect ratio does not make it OAR.

another Joe 12 packer thread

Troublemaker.

Heh. Can't fool me. That robot dog is really a chimp in a costume.

My DVD player generates vertical black bars on either side of the picture, so for me, I enjoy the episodes just fine in their original OAR. If the problem is that you're watching them with the gray bars on the sides of the picture (distracting and unwatchable, at least for me), consider getting a DVD player (JVCs and others) that show 1.33:1 material with black bars on the sides.

But in the end, it's your TV and your DVDs, so if you enjoy it in "matted" widescreen format, don't feel guilty about.

I definately remember reading some of Dykstra's interviews way back when re the theatrical release. I recall one of his biggest gripes was the golfball-sized stars visible in the cockpit shots.

Actually, it seems like a number of episodes were edited together into theatrical movies, like the Mission Galactica poster above. They were supposed to be for overseas distribution.
Believe it or not, there was even a Galactica 1980 movie given this treatment by cutting together the pilot, and the 'Cylon ship crashes on Earth' episodes. I've got the tape to prove it!

It wasn't TOO bad, except that they cut in some footage of Baltar and Lucifer from the original series with new dialogue very badly dubbed in. Needless to say, hilarity ensues.

Thank you. That's all that really matters. Sure, watching the series in 4X3 is the proper way but if no vital information is being cutoff on the top and bottom and if proper visual composition is retained, why not watch it in widescreen? Besides, it gives each episode a theatrical feel.

I used to be a purest like some of you. Everything I watched had to be in the exact OAR or else I didn't watch it. After a while I realized this was just stupid and I was missing a lot of good movies. Don't get me wrong, I still think OAR is important, but if the worry about OAR detracts from the enjoyment of the movie or show, it's not worth worrying about.

How? exactly...

HAR HAR! I am stealing that for my sig line!