I saw the dvd out early at a certain retailer with the intials BB..and was surprised to see the specs listed as 'fullscreen'..and that was all.

Now is their a packaging mistake,or has MGM decided against the widescreen release with making of documentary as originally announced?

...well... as this was originally a made-for-TV movie, wouldn't it have been filmed in fullscreen (remember: this was made twenty-odd years ago, long before "Widescreen TV" was even a glimmer in a TV producer's eye!) ...?...

. . . . . .

Well there are people who claim the laserdisc was in widescreen at a 1:78 ratio..+ included a commentary.

Not sure if it was filmed open matte or not,but those who had the laserdisc claimed,there was additional picture information.

Still it is strange that they announced a documentary on the dvd and now that isn't even listed on the package.

Wasn't the film shown theatrically in Europe? (as US TV movies sometimes are). Maybe it was shot open matte and matted for European theatres? Not sure which version would look better, or be considered more "correct". On the plus side, the matted version might look better composed, or on the negative side, it could matte out headtops, etc.

...I doubt that the LD was 1.78:1... have seen the theatrical version in a Swiss movie theater way back when, but couldn't say for sure what AR - probably it was the "European" 1.66:1, it definitely was NOT "wide"screen though...

. . . . . .

Well I will probably get the dvd anyway,but am just confused with all the contradicting information out there.

Yeah, Hendrik, I was thinking a 1.66:1 ratio too. Probably wouldn't make much of a difference. I guess full screen is technically OAR for a US DVD release anyway.

I seem to recall that there were two versions of this - I thought I saw two diffrent discs at the store the other day.

Or maybe I was just freaking out or something.

Hendrik, check the following link to see that THE DAY AFTER LaserDisc was, in fact, widescreen (though I'm not having success at finding the aspect ratio it offered)...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...5&category=381

Follow up to previous memo: according to a member of this (*ahem*) alternate forum states the aspect ratio of the LD was 1.75:1-ish, for whatever that may be worth.

http://forums.dvdfile.com/interactiv...ad.php?t=43368

Personally, since it was broadcast at 1.33:1, that's my ratio of choice, but it would be a shame if it is, in fact, sans extras...

Yep & if you notice the announcement in the thread,it mentions 16.9 WS,and the documentary..with a $27 retail.

The dvd I saw was only $9.99 at BB.

Is MGM releasing two versions or just decided on one right now?

I didn't even know that this was going to be released yet. I picked it up at BB today for $10. Great movie.

There is no 'CLAIM TO' about it..

I own one of them.

Now, there are TWO DIFFERENT LASERDISC RELEASES.

The 'normal' one and the 'DIRECTORS CUT'

the 'normal' one is full frame and runs 120 minutes.

the DIRECTORS CUT is widescreen, does have a commentary track by Nicholas Meyer, a 'making of' and runs 126 minutes. (and was released to theaters in Europe).

......fullscreen.....



Just kidding!!
Pro-B

So is the director's cut cropped or is there additional information.

For a second there, I thought you were talking about "The Day After Tomorrow", which isn't even in theaters yet. That would be pretty early if the DVD was in stores already. Ha, ha. So, is the new movie a remake of this or something? Never heard of "The Day After".

One of the most controversial and best TV movies ever made - it captivated the nation, generated incredible discussion around water coolers, in the media, etc - a true TV event.

And good enough to stand up to the hype.

in one of those threads, it mentions the english film "the war game" as being much better than the day after. does anyone know if this is available?

Wow I didnt even know this was coming out.

If it is fullscreen and no extras I won't bother since my R0 copy from Brazil is like that.

Ah, well according to imdb.com it was released in 1983. That explains why I don't remember it. I was only 7 years old.. probably not watching much besides Star Wars and Sesame Street at that point..

actually id you want the best Tv film about nuclear war, try THREADS, it is far more graphic, far more relentlessly break, grim, uncompromising, and a damn hearbreaking film, and makes DAY AFTER pale in comparision.

Unfortunately my BB does not break street dates.

THE WAR GAME directed by Peter Watkins is available in an R2/PAL release from U.K. retailers. It was released here n the U.S., and won an Academy Award as Best Documentary, which is very strange since it is a "fake" documentary. Incidentally, it's only 47 minutes long and is perfect proof that "less is more". Powerful stuff!