There are some things in life I will most likely never understand. One of these things has really come to light as of late. At a recent trip to the video store to pick up some used DVD's, I stood next to a woman purchasing the film Drumline. Now, all jokes about the film aside, the clerk informed the woman the only version they had in stock was widescreen. The woman went nuts. "Why would I want to watch a movie where all their heads are cut off?"
Thankfully, I managed to contain myself and slowly removed my body from the counter, leaving with my widescreen copy of "Road to Perdition." Had I stayed, my immediate question would be: "Why in the blue hell did you buy a freakin' DVD player in the first place?" This is probably the same person who bought one of those RF modulators to hook her new $25 DVD player up to her 13' TV with a 35 foot coaxial cable. I'm not criticizing anyone's entertainment set-up, but it bewilders me why these people even own a DVD player in the first place.
I'll openly admit that for YEARS I watched full screen movies. That VHS copy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II was a goldmine for me in my younger days. I'll even go back now and watch it to give myself a laugh. When you begin to think about it, isn't it all obvious? Theater screens are rectangular and your TV's square, how else can the entire picture fit? Why do full screen movies have black bars on widescreen TV's? Hell, why do you think they make widescreen TV's in the first place? It's made even worse by movie companies.
I remember walking into a local mass-electronics chain (Bust Buy or something like that) and there is a massive standee for the Indiana Jones box set. 600 copies, at least 500 of them are full screen. Maybe it all starts with the directors. Don't these people care that their movies are being butchered for the masses?
Article comments
1 - Ken Edwards
And no I am not going to link the Full Screen version :P
2 - Nyx
If people want the fullscreen they probably should use the zoom button. Sure, it will look like shit and they'll miss a lot, but they'll miss a lot with the crap fullscreen version, anyway.
And I think tv shows like Angel and The Sopranos which are broadcast in widescreen are showing people the superiority of the format.
3 - Jim Carruthers
In the adding insult to injury department, the Red Green movie, "Duct Tape Forever" is only apparently available in the butchered pan & scan format, but the "making of" extra feature has clips from the movie in widescreen.
A lot of the "full-screen" conspiracy seems to be because of the teevee networks. I asked the producer of TVO's Saturday Night At The Movies why they broadcast pan and scan versions of widescreen movies, and the answer was that is what they are supplied by the distributors.
Apparently, the studios want to provide you with a sub-optimal experience if you are watching a movie on your teevee.
4 - JR
"Angel" is broadcast in widescreen? How come I never noticed that?
5 - Jim Carruthers
Widescreen teevee broadcasts depend on your local station.
For example, "Tru Calling" is widescreen, but the local Fox affiliate in Buffalo doesn't broadcast in widescreen, they show the cropped version.
So, if you aren't seeing "Angel" in widescreen, complain to your local station.
6 - Johno
Get this... my local video store will NO LONGER carry ANY letterboxed versions of films, and have sold off their existing stock.
Why? Because every time they order, say, The Two Towers in both letterbox and in pan-n-scan, they are deluged with yahoos who want their money back because they don't understand why their movie is playing between two black bars. Where's the rest of my movie?, they ask. Where's the rest of my movie? Where are my pants? Maw, have you seen my teef? Where's my teef?
The complaints are such a drag on their business that they refuse to put up with it anymore.
The only thing keeping me from being a fuck-'em-all conservative is that I believe people are too stupid to take care of themselves, and the only thing keeping me from being a bleeing-heart liberal is that people are too stupid to rate my attention. Is that harsh of me?
7 - Michelle
I am looking for the Lion King in a full screen version. Does anyone know if they made one? If you know where I can find one please
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They won't let me put an email address here in full!
thank you!
Michelle
[Michelle: there are good reasons for protecting people.]