Why? ! WHY? !

[wwfpooh]

Then how come whenever I see movies in full screen and widescreen, they always turn out like this?

Same. Most of my widescreen movies look like Snowthy described.

 

[Drtooth]

Then how come whenever I see movies in full screen and widescreen, they always turn out like this?

That's a strange one, that is. That one must be artificially made into Widescreen from a Full Frame print.

I mean, I haven't seen that problem in more modern films, since they usually have the original Widescreen print.

But that's bizzarre...

 

[D'Snowth]

That's a strange one, that is. That one must be artificially made into Widescreen from a Full Frame print.

I mean, I haven't seen that problem in more modern films, since they usually have the original Widescreen print.

But that's bizzarre...

I swear, anytime I watch a movie on DVD in widescreen format, THAT'S how they turn out! THAT'S why I hate widescreen so much! THAT'S why I always INSIST on getting movies in fullscreen on DVD!

Unfortunately, SOME movies I've HAD to get on widescreen because there were no fullscreen versions available, and some of these include such modern movies as Radio, The Day After Tomorrow, and 13 Going on 30, and I swear to you that these movies in fullscreen vs. widescreen is EXACTLY as I've demonstrated with that M*A*S*H screen cap. The Day After Tomorrow is the worst because the black bars are even wider, and they take up two thirds of the frame, leaving only the middle third for the picture of the movie... it's like looking through a slit in a cardboard box!

 

[wwfpooh]

Thankfully, most widescreens versions--though cut--omit the bars if the screen is small enough (such as that of a handheld DVD player).

 

[Drtooth]

I swear, anytime I watch a movie on DVD in widescreen format, THAT'S how they turn out! THAT'S why I hate widescreen so much! THAT'S why I always INSIST on getting movies in fullscreen on DVD!

What, the fact that th bars are too big, or the fact that they're artifically widescreen, actually cutting out portions of the video?

I don't care about the black bars myself (and I have a tiny little thing), but if I see some DVD's fake Widescreen, I'll stay away from them.

But that Ghostbusters thing had me swaer off Full Frame the rest of my life. I thought the VHS was getting eaten by my machine.

 

[D'Snowth]

What, the fact that th bars are too big, or the fact that they're artifically widescreen, actually cutting out portions of the video?

Mostly cutting out portions of the picture - you know, kind of like how you've been talking about about Ghostbusters widescreen vs. fullscreen, I've feel the same way about these widescreen DVDs because I've found it's always the black bars cutting out portions of the picture in "widescreen format" and NOT the sides of the TV set cutting out portions of the picture in "fullscreen format".

That, and as I've mentioned, in widescreen format, I find myself concentration on the black bars too much instead of the movie itself... you know it's like you're in a beautiful meadow full of large, mature trees, brightly colored flowers, birds singing in the background... and then there's a turned over trashcan full of rotten fruit and stuff and you find yourself busy focusing on that rather than the rest of the picture.

 

[wwfpooh]

I thought the VHS was getting eaten by my machine.

Well, machines DO eat VHS's after so many viewings.

 

[D'Snowth]

Well, machines DO eat VHS's after so many viewings.

That's why God invented headcleaners... to keep those machines lubed up to prevent stuff like that from happening.

That, and depending on how well kept the tape has been kept.

 

[wwfpooh]

That's why God invented headcleaners... to keep those machines lubed up to prevent stuff like that from happening.

That, and depending on how well kept the tape has been kept.

Point taken.

 

[frogboy4]

Did you read any of the article link I provided? It explains some of that. Those "full frame" portions that you are seeing that appear to be chipped away in the widescreen video version were - not seen in theaters and - not intended by the director. There's actually a picture that demonstrates what is done and an explanation about it if you rare interested in the actual answer.

http://www.muppetcentral.com/articles/editorials/widescreen.shtml

I’ll counter your garbage can metaphor with my own:
The amputation of a widescreen panoramic film to meet a much more square “full frame” monitor shape is like going through the world with racing horse blinders on. It creates a claustrophobic feeling that inhibits any peripheral vision.