RocShemp

I think it'd be open matte rather than cropped.

hanshotfirst1138

I don't know if it'd be open matte since I'm not sure if Cameron was shooting Super 35 at that point. In any case, OAR is 1.85, so 1.78 is a negligible difference.

Julie Walker

I think it's open matte, based solely on viewing the film on widescreen VHS back in the late 90's, and comparing a bit of the fullscreen trailer on the tape before the movie. I remember being a bit disappointed with the aspect ratio, mainly since I was blown away seeing Alien in widescreen for the first time. So a merely matted transfer didn't wow me much, but I've learned to appreciate such transfers over the years after learning even more about how films are shot in a variety of ratios/formats.

hanshotfirst1138

I have a pan-and-scan VHS version, maybe I'll check and see if it shows more picture. Either way, it'll have the colors correct.

Josh Z

Super 35 is not the only format that uses matting. Pretty much all 1.85:1 films are shot on full frame 35mm (1.37:1) and matted down. Super 35 was developed in order to matte down further to 2.35:1, because regular 35mm looks really grainy when the center portion is blown up for scope projection.

Cameron's switch to Super 35 with The Abyss corresponds with his desire to start framing for 2.35:1.

hanshotfirst1138

I'll bet neither of them are teal.

Terrier

My own comparisons for Alien (1979):

The 1999 DVD shows the most picture. The 2004 DVD is a bit cropped on all four sides. The Blu-ray is even slightly more cropped.

The colors in the 1999 DVD look natural. Both the 2004 DVD and the Blu-ray are very clearly teal.

Solid Snake

Is the 2004 DVD mucked with? I don't remember that. The BD sure as hell took my attention but I don't remember what that DVD looked like?

Paul_SD

The 2004 and Bd are very close for the most part in terms of color. The biggest differences between those two are in black levels (shadow detail on the Bd is close to being crushed) and the the exterior shots of the various ships now being extremely cartoon colored for some reason.
Here are some caps from the Bd, and modified closer to how they should look in PS (which amounts to dialing back the cyan levels and adjusting the gamma curve)


Originally in the theater, and on most of the previous home formats, the ships were various shades of white/grey. The refinery looked both realistic/plausible and at the same very pedestrian and understated.
It was eerily lunar and desolate.
On the Bd, it's now completely in the realm of hyper stylized fantasy land. No worry about seeing that as a plausible real world future-scape. It's clearly kiddie cartoon time now. I guess younger, modern generations today would get bored and distracted by pedestrian greys and earth tones. Everything has to have a veneer of garish hyper candy coloring (see: Sorcerer) to make any kind of impact ("see how it pops!")

In the the other scenes, like the hallway, the difference between the two may seem minor or even unnoticeable to some people. All I can say is, being visually orientated the differences are as profound to me as someone singing off key or playing at the wrong pitch would be to someone musically inclined. Every note and word may be there, but it just isn't right and it's impossible to get truly comfortable with it.

Why So Blu?

Sheesh, you guys are still bitching about this? Let.It.Go.!

E Unit

Paul_SD

Clarifying and visualizing.

Lt Ripley

Yeah, that gif is pretty much what youngsters think everything is supposed to look like.

RocShemp

I've only watched my BD copy twice but I don't remember the ice palace being so purple.

hanshotfirst1138

This is why you will never triumph, Megatron. You fail to understand that whining is the right of all sentient beings.

Why So Blu?

I'd rather get laid than worry about transfers. I don't give a fuck. The Anthology is as good as it ever will be.

Terrier

But life isn't all about f-uck-ing. Your finest aesthetic senses are denied by the producers. The "chosen people" who sit on Hollywood, and corrupt with their capitalistic porn trash, only want you to hand over your money, and for you to be silent.

Paul_SD

I didn't realize it was an either/or proposition.
Then again, at my age my libido doesn't feel as needy and attention starved as is the case with you young snapperwhiffers. I usually would just rather watch a movie in peace.

Dan

fixed.

hanshotfirst1138

Are the two things musically exclusive ?

Why So Blu?

I have gotten laid while the Aliens Blu-ray has been playing in the background.

hanshotfirst1138

Punch it, Bishop!

orangerunner

"Stop your grinnin' & drop your linen."

Sorry, had to be said.

Why So Blu?

TomOpus

Woman & Why So Blu? -

Why So Blu? - "Game over, man. Game over."

Woman -

Why So Blu? -

Woman -

Why So Blu? -