Screen Ratios

[TrentReznor]

Just wondered what people thought about the way some films are viewed. The question being, do you prefer the full screen or widescreen format. I know about some movies are filmed on different stocks etc, but why is it they are widescreen on DVD and not on Blu-Ray.
Almost Famous,( my fave film ) is in glorious widescreen on DVD but not so on Blu-Ray.. grrr

[lemonaise]

I have to admit to having just a small collection of Blu Ray discs, but I've not come across the same problem you're having. In fact all my films (most Kubricks, the Dark Knight, Hellboy 2) are almost letterboxed on my screen. I was worried my PS3 was squashing the picture vertically.

[fortunesfool]

If the film was shot in the scope ratio (2.35 - 1) it will still be slightly letterboxed even on a widescreen TV as the image is still wider than the TV's.

A film shot in the, now pretty standard, 1.85 - 1 ratio translates to the full 16:9 image of a widescreen TV without losing anything of note.

An older movie, in the academy ration 1.33.1 will sit in the middle of your screen with black borders at each side.

Avatar is an exception to this. It was shot 1.85.1 (hence the full screen dvd) and masked off to 2.35.1 for the cinema. You're actually gaining picture on the dvd and bluray.

That help?

[jaykays hat]

I much prefer the 1:85 ration for home viewing.

[napoleon]

I will go for the Widescreen versions every time!

I remember many years ago, buying the STAR WARS trilogy on video in the widescreen format after seeing A NEW HOPE playing on a television screen at my local HMV, and noticing the difference this format made. The film presentation was exactly the same as I had seen in the cinema on their original release and much preferred to the pan and scan versions as shown on television.

Talking of television films, I wish they would show them in the Anamorphic Widescreen layout so that everybody would be happy. We would have the FULL picture and no black bars at the top and bottom of the screen, which I understand some people hate, although I have never had a problem with them.

[tux1977]

Even harking back to the good old days of VHS, my preference was always widescreen; it let me see so much more as opposed to full-screen or worse still pan-and-scan - why should someone else dictate what part of the picture I should see?!

Strangely, with DVDs I've tended to find that R1 releases are available in separate widescreen and full-screen issues. Again, I always plump for widescreen - all the better if it's anamorphic, but I don't mind too much about which ratio!

[KingofSpain]

... or dropped the ball?

I've noticed that all the Avengers PR video has been presented in 1.85:1 (TV widescreen), whereas everything from the previous 5 movies, including the trailers, were presented in cinemascope (2.35:1)

I know Whedon shot the movie on 4K RED cameras. I can't decide whether or not this was a conscious decision or a major omission. Cinemas aren't currently equipped to present 1.85:1 material to the same quality they can present 2.35:1 films. All cinema screens are 2.35:1 in size so when presenting something like say, The Avengers, they will have to shrink the video and display black pillar boxes at either side of the image, in the same way they do for all the 1.85:1 adverts shown before the feature presentation.

Personally, I prefer cinemascope. Naturally our eyes take in much more horizontally than they do vertically and I for one am particularly gutted The Avengers won't be filling my peripheral vision at ll.

On the other hand, it will look awesome on blu-ray and maximize every single pixel it has to offer.