Gift giving and OAR
 

When buying DVDs as Christmas gifts, what do you do about fullscreen vs widescreen - when you know widescreen/OAR is what's right, but you know the person you're buying for prefers FS?

I refuse to have any friends who think this way so,...problem solved.

I would never buy someone MAR, even if that's what they preffered. I guess I would just get them a title where OAR is the only option. Then they can't complain!

I would never buy someone a fullscreen unless it was the only version available. That said, if I were you, I'd buy whatever version you think the recepient would enjoy the most. In this case, fullscreen.

I was buying some Christmas gift DVDs for my best friend's wife. She and I have been friends for a long time and I know how stubborn she can be (I've known her for 12 years).

So I asked him about the screen format and he hung his head down and whispered "full screen...". He knew how I felt.

So, the way I looked at it was this:

1) They don't have a large TV (and probably won't any time soon).

2) She really prefers full screen.

3) This isn't the time to try to "show her the light". It's Christmas and it's a gift for her and she should be able to enjoy her movie.

When the question of any gift takes that much thought, go with a cheese and sausage tray. ;)

Bravo.

/r

is this for real?

if you knew that somebody would like one version more than another, and you're GIVING THEM A PRESENT, why wouldn't you give them what they would like more?

just because you don't like FS?

talk about SELFISH.

-rolleyes-

if your children want to smoke do you give them a pack of luckies?

yeah, because not watching a widescreen version is just as bad as giving yourself cancer.

ridiculous.

I agree. Well said!

Give them older movies, concert videos, and/or television shows where fullscreen is the correct and only version.

cigarettes can harm you....dvds can not. So bad comparison:D


I do think if someone prefers without a doubt P&S and you are buying them a present. Get the P&S version,or the shit will hit the fan. Besides it is the time of 'giving' over being selfish.

Much like a OAR fan getting a P&S version as a gift,and exchanging that for the O.A.R. version. The same thing would happen if you bought a P&S lover a O.A.R. release.

So the best thing to do,would specify what version you preffer,if someone is buying a dvd gift for you.

It has worked for me so far,that I have never gotten a P&S release!

Of course then again,I never had my relatives buy me dvds for gifts,only my mom & dad who 'get it'. ;)


But yeah,save the O.A.R. stuff for another time,or stop worrying and enjoy films as you like.

Buy them a widescreen TV.

Problem solved.

If I knew someone who wanted a bible for Christmas, I wouldn't buy that for them either. I'd just find something else to buy for them instead. I won't help anyone indulge their issues that I personally think are a bad idea.

I buy widescreen/OAR only. If they do not like it, they can exchange it. By the same token, when I get a FullScreen DVD, I say thank you, but then try to explain why I prefer Widescreen/OAR. I never ask for a reciept etc, I take care of it on my own since it is my preference.

If it is going to be a big deal buy something different. If they say anything about the lack of DVDs, say that you could not buy DVDs in Fullscreen as it was against your values and therefore they will have to buy their own DVDs.

I know there are a lot of people on here who would never (or hardly ever) buy a non-OAR release, and most of the time, it's easy to adhere to.

But it would seem to me that the fullscreen only crowd would miss out on a lot of big titles if they shunned widescreen releases altogether. There's a whole mess of stuff that only comes in widescreen.

wow. I hate fullscreen, and pan and scan where the movement is really obvious (ghostbusters on comedy central comes to mind, good it was a really big movement from side to side) is even worse, but if I knew someone wanted a fullscreen version I'd buy it for them.
some of you people have some issues

Darn...you stole my thunder. That idea popped into my head as soon as I read the post above yours.


But anyway...what size of a TV does your friend have? a 19 inch?

Your posts in this thread are not formatted in the correct aspect ratio.

I suggest you repair that defect in your subsequent posts.

I don't buy people movies.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I view gift giving as a reason to impose my superior taste and personal values into people's otherwise meaningless and vastly inferior lives. So, obviously, widescreen all the way.

Your film library must be very limited. What do you have, A Bug's Life, Milo & Otis and Ants? Sounds pretty dull. :D

I'm glad that we all think the same way.

Buy them movies that come with both Widescreen & Fullscreen options on the DVD, like Elf :D

Fullscreen is often better on a TV smaller than 27" because you're not getting the full movie experience any way, so you might as well not have to squint your eyes.

There, I've said it. Whatchagonnadoaboutitpunk? :D

I disagree, I even watch widescreen on my 13" (and 27" I consider pretty large, actually), but you're entititled to your opinion, even if it's CRAAAZY.

On topic: I buy them what they want, even if it's Fullscreen. I want them to like their present, and not have to return it. Of course, if I am unable to determine their preference they get widescreen.

Is your 13" a widescreen display or are you watching the widescreen movie essentially on a 9.75" screen? Also, what distance are you watching from? For instance, on a nice display up close, a 13" screen isn't that bad (for a portable, etc)

One time at a friend's house, we ordered a pizza. He said he wanted pepperoni, or really anything but mushrooms. But everyone knows that pepperoni is better with mushrooms. So I ordered that pizza anyway.

He didn't eat much of it... So more for me!!!

Win/win! :up:

I just refuse to financially support fullscreen releases. Every time you do that, it adds a little more proof to the studios' books and shows that people *do* buy fullscreen, and I just can't do that.

So I'd buy them a book or something. Anything else. Just won't support fullscreen.

But I wouldn't force widescreen on them either.

Buy them a TV series DVD set.

Problem solved (cheaper!)

I buy people what they want for Xmas since I am giving them a gift.

but for my own personal collection I would never own a full screen DVD unless it was the way the show was shot.

A lot of those are widescreen, too, though.

I don't buy gifts for other people.

Problem never existed.

My parents prefer full screen, but they aren't completely opposed to widescreen. One of the gifts for my Mom is The Passion of the Christ. There was NO WAY that I was going to buy her the full screen version of this beautiful film.

nice :up:

Buy 'em a tape.

I don't think I've ever seen it described as beautiful.




Stew