Joshua Clinard

According to DVD Answers, the new Matilda SE DVD is set for a FULL SCREEN ONLY release. Come on Columbia Tristar! You have REALLY dropped the ball on this one. There is already a DVD of this movie for people who want their freakin screens filled. I have been refusing to buy this movie for 3 years, and I won't buy this new one if you don't release it in Widescreen! In fact, I won't be purchasing ANY of your titles, as this is my MOST wanted Columbia DVD. Please, sign the petition below, so that the home theater community can buy this movie!

http://www.petitiononline.com/matilda/petition.html

You can also call the studio, and write them, here:

Columbia TriStar Home Video
10202 W. Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232-3195
800-860-2878
E-mail: [email protected]

Ghostface180

It's the work of the Trunchbull

Kinyo

NO OAR=NO SALE

JimRochester

What are they f'in thinking? I always thought this was a cute movie. I bought this early on and have been waiting for a WS version since

Anblue

Signed.

AdamComic2

Annie: SE will be Full Frame too.

the narrator

what is the point of putting out an SE marketed towards collectors and not having OAR?.....stuff like this is just ridiculous and shouldn't be happening anymore

muggins

What is wrong with these people?

I mean...seriously...come on.

Revoltor

I doubt little Susie and little Johnny will give a crap about the OAR.

In fact, widescreen would just piss them off. Think of the kids man!

CPS_ Adventures

Oh man, why does this keep coming up? I have waited for this to be re-released for too long now. This is a great little movie that appeals to the kids as well as the parents. Just put it out with the correct ratio and be done with it.

bboisvert

Plus, did you see the specs on this so-called SE?

From DVDFile:

"This new reissue inculdes only a 4:3 full screen transfer (yes, really), Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround tracks, the "My Hollywood Adventure with Aileen Quinn" featurette, an exclusive msuical performance of "It's the Hard Knock Life" by the pop group Play (be very afraid), "The Age of Annie" trivia game, sing-along and act-alongs (don't ask me) and theatrical trailers."

Ummm... okaaaay. I'll stick with my bare-bones widescreen. There's nothing there that interests me even slightly.

Joshua Clinard

Here is a more accurate number, which is directed at thier home video department. Call and complain about Matilda, and Annie.

310 244 7799

Yakuza Bengoshi

Kids are more adaptable than adults. For example, I didn't have much difficulty picking up the metric system in grade school, but I have no clue about it now because adults never bought into it.

Kids will accept widescreen. It's the parents that throw fits at widescreen family films.

Joshua Clinard

I just got off the phone with a represenative from the publicity department at Columbia Tristar. She gave me a new number to call, directed to Allen Furman. I haven't called the new number yet, but I will do so tomorrow. If anyone else calls, report back here what happens. Thanks.

The new number is: 800-860-2878

And any of you guys that have DVD sites, please get the word out about this petition, and enourage your visitors to call CT and make thier wishes known. I have already e-mailed the Bits, DVDFile, and DavisDVD.

Rypro 525

also, this flick was shot in 2:35:1 (the big black bars) so that will really piss off the parents.

milo bloom

I've never seen the flick, but I signed anyways. I feel kinda guilty cause I'm thinking some of CT's DVD mojo went over to those two Godzilla flicks they're releasing uncut and in Japanese. Don't divide the mojo, spread it around!

spongebobkay

The release of Matilda SE has been cancelled by the studio (according to dvdanswers.com). It was scheduled for release in Jan. However, the studio has changed it's mind. I'm thinking they are going to include a Wide Screen version, though I'm not sure. I think the petition & the negative response about the release has worked! Nice!

Tarantino

It's the perfect time to teach kids about widescreen.

Johnny: Mommy, I want Annie!
Mom: No, Johnny...it's not in it's original aspect ratio.
Johnny: What's an or...ratio?
Mom: It's how the movie was supposed to look.
Johnny: How come Annie's not?
Mom: Bastards, Johnny...bastards...damn fullscreen...damn it to hell...

Joshua Clinard

We have some new contact information, so get your e-mails in, and make your voice heard. Not sure if you will get a response or not. If you do, let us know.

[email protected]

For any requests and/or petitions, send all emails to this address. No phone calls, please. To send them via post mail, send them to:

CTHE
Attn: Customer Relations
10202 W. Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232

Here is my e-mail:

To the Home Video Department of Columbia Tristar Pictures:

I have heard that Columbia Tri-Star has announced that a Special Edition DVD of Matilda will be released next year. There is also going to be a Special Edition DVD for Annie. In addition, I have heard that these new DVD's are going to be FULL SCREEN ONLY! This is atrocious! There is already a DVD of Matilda out there for people who just want to fill their screens. You really should consider putting a proper version out there for people who care about the presentation, and who want to see the film the way the Director (Danny Devito) intended it to be seen. I, and a great many other home theater enthusiasts, refuse to purchase ANY DVD that is not released in it's correct theatrical aspect ratio. The future of DVD is Widescreen, because Widescreen T.V.s are infiltrating homes. The prices are getting lower, and in 3 or 4 years, almost everyone will own a widescreen set. I know quite a few other people myself that have HDTV's. Give us an oppurtunity to buy DVD's that take advantage of our Widescreen sets. Do this edition right, and give us a 16x9 widescreen edition. I bought Fly Away Home years ago when it was re-released in Widescreen, and I would love to buy Matilda, and Annie as well! But I cannot do that if they are not released in Widescreen. I will gladly purchase several copies of Matilda, and at least one of Annie, if and ONLY if, they are done right. You can even put both Full Screen, and Widescreen on the same disc, and satisfy both home theater enthusiasts, and people who want to fill their screens.

Thank you for listening!

pdjennings

Sad and sick....

bboisvert

"our research indicates that both kids and families will enjoy the full screen version"

Probably should have mentioned that to the director of Annie before he filmed it 2.35:1.

cloudnin

I think the studio is doing this based on another petition that came to their attention awhile back, to release kids movies in fullscreen only, so that when your daughter asks if you want to watch the SE DVD of Annie or Matilda or what not with her (which would meaning turning off the football game or porn or what not), you can seem nice and say, "Sorry honey, that disc is fullscreen only, which is not the correct original aspect ratio that the director intended, so I won't watch that. But you have fun!" instead of hurting her feelings and explaining to her how those movies are intellectually insulting (unlike Salo), annoying (unlike The Pest), boring (unlike The English Patient), or have the slightest hint of any redeeming qualities, such as killer action sequences (unlike Gymkata).

BizRodian

I feel like emailing them back and saying "**** YOU"

But that probably wouldn't do any good.

Regurgitator

Hey all,

I was about to sign the petition when I read up that Matilda will only be released in FULL SCREEN ONLY! Awesome!

What a relief!

I don't need to sign the petition anymore!

AdamComic2

What?