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Widescreen aspect ratios!


Goldsmithfan
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This is a completly random question, but I'm curious as to what widescreen aspect ratio the people of JWfan like the best. I'm sure that most people will either pick 2.35:1 or 1.85:1, but we can't forget about the weirdos out there like 1.66:1, 1.78:1, 2.20 and 2.40:1.

I'm a 2.35:1 guy myself. It allows for a great sense of scope (no pun intended) and looks better to my eyes than 1.85:1 or the others, well except 2.40:1.

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2.35:1 is definitely my favorite, particularly when it's a movie that's either epic or classy. I don't mind a less wide aspect ratio for a comedy or smaller film as much, but overall, 2.35:1 is my favorite.

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2.35:1. It give it more of a cinematic, epic feel to me. And the fact that a lot of TV shows are shot in 1.85 nowadays doesn't help (or is that hurt?). Ever since the DVD craze started I've been surprised how many films Spielberg has shot in 1.85.

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Yes--cinematic! That's a great word for it.

And speaking of that--since TV shows are being shot in widescreen, why don't they just start airing movies in their original aspect ratio all the time?

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2.35:1 for movies, definitely. The thinner aspect Bond movies (the first three, then Live and Let Die, The Man With the Golden Gun) just don't have that spaceous feel that the wider angle ones have. 2.66:1 is too wide I think. It may have looked great on the big screen, but Ben Hur is always a bit of a strain to watch on even the biggest of TVs.

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It doesn't really matter to me what genre of movie it is, I will pretty much always want it as wide as it comes. (as long as I've got a big enough screen of course)

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I like what's best for the film.

i think to many movies these days are being filmed in Super-35 and released at 2.35:1 and it may not be appropriate for the subject.

Neil

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Indeed 2:35 when it's appropriate and suitable. They shouldn't use it and stick to 1:85 when that's better for the film itself.

Incidentally, they showed Ben Hur on TV this weekend, full screen!

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I like what's best for the film.

Obviously.

i think to many movies these days are being filmed in Super-35 and released at 2.35:1 and it may not be appropriate for the subject.

Not entirely sure about that. But I loved seeing a film like Ghostbusters in Panavision. It gives the movie so much more gravitas, when it's really just a perfect joke from beginning to end.

- Marc, who loves Ghostbusters.

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Incidentally, they showed Ben Hur on TV this weekend, full screen!

Ouch! I'd take the 2.66:1 "tiny images" ration over full screen any day! Those incredible shots of the chariot stadium would look awful in full screen :D

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I confess I am totally lost. Obviously, when getting a DVD, I only buy widescreen formats and shun the truncated versions, but I cannot tell the difference between those formats watching a movie.

It also seems obvious that some movies call for a specific format rather than another.

Could you post pictures to illustrate your preferences, please?

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Great article with effective examples...I know some people who should definitely check that out. I still have at least one cousion who always asks for full-screen versions. :baaa:

Ray Barnsbury

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Sadly there are still people out there who don't get it when it comes to widescreen vs full screen.

My wife had a co worker who used to invite herself over to watch our widescreen TV and she always complained about letterboxed films, saying it gave you less picture. I finally got tired of trying to explain and told her if she wanted full screen she didn't need to waste her time coming over.

Haven't seen her in years.

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Sadly there are still people out there who don't get it when it comes to widescreen vs full screen.

My wife had a co worker who used to invite herself over to watch our widescreen TV and she always complained about letterboxed films, saying it gave you less picture. I finally got tired of trying to explain and told her if she wanted full screen she didn't need to waste her time coming over.

Haven't seen her in years.

I know what you mean. My brother David is the same way. He prefers full-screen instead of widescreen because of the "black bars" even though he knows the differences. A lot of times I just wanted to smack my brother upside the head for that...

After showing my parents the differences between full screen and widescreen, for the most part they hate full screen now, unless it was originally filmed that way. I always see my dad buying widescreen movies now.

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Unfortunately, my entire immediate family hates wide-screen. They do know that full-screen is losing half of the movie, they just don't care. *sigh*

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Theatrically I always prefer 2.39. At least it uses an entire frame's resolution and is just unsqueezed. 1.85 movies only use up part of the screen (with black bars physically on the print) and have to been zoomed to fill the screen, resulting in less detail, more grain, and more jumpiness).

It is true though that even for 2.39 movies people often get cheated out of a good resolution picture when the stupid filmmakers use Super-35 (since only part of the frame gets used so it requires a blow-up).

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