Widescreen -v- Letterbox

[GulPlum <hp@plum.cream.org>]

Monika Huebner wrote:

> It's interesting, though, that Warner hasn't included the 
> fullscreen version on the European release
> of the DVD, but only the widescreen version. This undermines the
> argument that it would be difficult to explain the black bars to 
> children, unless they think European children won't mind. 

Err.. I don't know about Germany, but here in the UK (and I know the 
same is the case in the USA), there are two versions of the DVD: one 
widescreen and the other "full screen". I know from a friend who 
manages the audio/visual department at a local big supermarket that 
lots of people brought back fullscreen versions bought in error (the  
widescreen packaging has a yellow band across the top 
saying "Widecreeen Edition"). A suggestion has been put forward that 
as most DVD releases are ONLY in widescreen format, it's the full 
screen versions which should be tagged, as they are not the norm. :-)

(My personal suggestion for a phrasing of the tag would be "WARNING: 
This version of the film is NOT the the one you saw in the cinema!")

> I don't 
> know in which format the video is, but in general the video version 
> would rather be full screen in Germany.

AFAIK, the VHS release is available ONLY as the "full screen" 
version, in every market.

Says something about those unwilling or unable to update their 
hardware... :-)

> But what about "artefacts" in the "matted" area? In the past, 
> directors were said to be rather careless in this regard and didn't 
> care too much about filming equipment being visible in the area 
> that wouldn't be shown in theatres.

The popularity (to studios) of Super 35 has meant that film 
directors/ cinematographers are generally (but not necessarily 
always) aware of artefacts outside the "cinema" frame but still 
in "full screen" shot so the appearnce of booms and mikes is getting 
increasingly rare. Ths certainly seems to be the case with Columbus 
and his collaborators. 

-- 
GulPlum AKA Richard, who would like to apologise for any typos/non 
sequiturs due to having imbibed half a bottle of brandy to compensate 
for toothache. My idiot dentist won't see me until Thursday. I shall 
refrain from posting until then - I still have 2 bottles of brandy 
available. :-)