Everyone here bitches about fullscreen, and I agree, movies were definitely meant to viewed in widescreen. But if studios just released their DVDs in widescreen, w/o a fullscreen release (ala Fight Club, POTC, Pulp Fiction: CD etc.) wouldn't people have no choice but to move to the widescreen version?

It's not like someone is not gonna buy the movie they want because it's only available in widescreen.

You really think so? There seem to be an awful lot of people who won't buy a DVD if it's only in full screen. Why wouldn't it hold true the other way around, as well??

Yeah...I've always thought that DVDs should be released in OAR only. To heck with those full screen lovers.

Deal with it, Joe Six Pack!

Studio's are in this to make money. they want the best of both worlds. I've worked at plenty video stores to know that if a film is only in widescreen, some J6P will not rent it or buy it. why? because there tv is 4:3 and for some reason they feel that there film should fit the screen perfectly even though it's intended for a theater. it wouldn't solve things, it would just make folks who like FS better not buy the item and studios don't like that idea.

Speaking as a pro widescreen advocate, I don't agree films should only be released in W/S.

At the moment, the J6P brigade can be appeased because they can usually find the movie in F/S if they want it.

But if you take that option away completely, they will start bitching and screaming, and the studio's may start listening to them.

These are not the sort of people you would want to bump into in a dark alleyway at night...so don't antagonize them!

Samsung dvd players now have a 'Letterbox Eliminator' feature, this will fit a 2.35:1 film to a 16:9 tv and, I guess to a 4:3. This is a great idea for all those people that watch the black bars instead of the film.

Not to be confused with Auto P&S or zoom.

Herein lies part of the problem. There is no such thing as "widescreen". This term is wrong. Movies are filmed in a certain ratio. That ratio is referred to as OAR or original aspect ratio. Therefore the only way to see a movie as it was made is to view it in OAR. "Fullscreen" is a wrong term too, since the OAR of the film is altered to fit an incorrectly shaped display device.

If you are advocating the release of all films in OAR then I would agree. Calling them "widescreen" only adds to the confusion.

Some people just can't deal with the black bars. A buddy got a 65" or so WS HDTV, and he was complaining that he had to zoom LOTR and other 2.35 movies because of the black bars. I explained why they were there but he said he would rather zoom than see black bars.

I was watching Phone Booth with my GF's uncle and cousin, both FF addicts. The disc was having problems on the WS side on their player, so we watched FF. There is a part where this toy robot walks in from off the frame. The cousin asks where the robot came from and I said "well if we weren't watching a butchered version of this film then you would see the toy dealer at the side of the frame. THAT is why WS is better." They both finally got it, I think.

My wife and I were out to dinner the other night with a couple, and the guy had recently bought a sweet 65" Mitsi widescreen set. It's friggin' huge, and his wife was beefing about the black bars

Meanwhile, I tolerate 2.35:1 DVDs on my 27" Toshiba. Go figure...

VERY untrue. I have heard people say EXACTLY that in stores when they realized only widescreen was available.

Truly the best solution would be to put the FF version on the flip side of the DVD. Of course THEN you have to deal with the "moron factor" of folks complaining that they can't figure out which side is which.

I agree just release DVDs in the movies OAR.

WORD!

Deja Vu.. I've seen this thread 100 times before I think, maybe more.

Excellent, excellent point. The 1953 classic "Shane" is a perfect example to illustrate the OAR vs. widescreen argument.

"Shane" was originally filmed in 1.37:1 ratio and later converted to wider aspect ratio to appeal to the growing widescreen trend at the theaters at the time. Ironically, the widescreen version in this case was the one missing part of the original picture. The DVD thankfully contains the film in OAR (original aspect ratio) of 1.37:1 (as I deem appropriate), not the later converted "widescreen" version. The OAR is what should appear on the DVD, IMHO.

(Please add corrections if I'm wrong about this film/DVD.)

I agree. If all DVD's were OAR, then full screen lovers would have to buy them or simply be satisfied viewing pre-1950's films and television programs on DVD.

"Deja Vu.. I've seen this thread 100 times before I think, maybe more."

Let me guess that you responded to each and every one.

Yeah, but last time he said:

"Deja Vu.. I've seen this thread 99 times before I think, maybe more."

Or... we could all just read the packaging and quit complaining. It's really not that hard. Why can't everyone just have what they want. It's a marketplace full of choices.

The the DVD format was new, OAR was the norm. But then once DVD became more mainstream, the "commoners" started to demand fullscreen, and the studios complied.
If the studios want to make a seperate fullscreen version, that's fine. I'm just happy they continue to make OAR readily available, and that's the one I will always buy.

Well I think more directors should somehow demand their films to be in OAR only,no questions asked.

Seems to have worked for Micheal Bay...& now even Steven Soderbergh from what I have noticed with Solaris stating on the cover that this is the directors approved version & presents the film in the correct aspect ratio,the black bars are normal etc etc.


Sure the P&S morons will complain,but over time,hopefully they will get used to it. Yet if the studio keeps complieing with them. Then all is lost. Just look at Wal-Mart for proof,what a nightmare!!!

I remember reading reviews for the original Scarface dvd online. Was WS only. A few did complain about it having the 'black bars' only. Then along comes the rerelease & sadly this was compromised with a P&S crap release. Most Depalma films on dvd are OAR only expect for a couple cases where both P&S & OAR/WS are on the same dvd.


Meanwhile the same thing happened with the Armageddon dvds being WS only. Look up the Criterion release or the Disney release online & some people complain about it being 'bars only'. Yet that film & all other Bay films are still in OAR only. If you want P&S of those,watch them on tv or VHS. Leave dvd alone & OAR only!

I don't get to pick the actors in a movie, or the director, or the cover art, or the studio...but I can pick the ASPECT RATIO?!?!?!?

OAR only.

As long as studios continue to release OAR, I'll be happy. In all reality choice is the most important thing. Choice is good for the DVD industry as it will please both the widescreen purists and the average person. I only have a problem when there is no choice when it comes to OAR and Pan and scan. Even though I prefer widescreen, I can understand why someone who only has a 15" or a 19" TV wants fullscreen. I think eventually as widescreen TV's become the norm and sales for full frame DVD's drop, studios will begin to phase out pan and scan. In favor of widescreen. In the end the widescreen purists will win.

In the end films will be shown in their proper aspect ratios based on the way they were made.

Oops, thats what I meant.

Exactly, the shape of the movie is part of the movie just like everything else. Choice? The choice was made when the filmmaker decided on an aspect ratio. Your choice is take it or leave it.