New to viewing DVDs

[cpgoose]

Hi,

My family is new to the whole DVD scene. We just got a home dvd
player, and started renting movies. (We also just got a new 32"
tv, which is nice, too).

THe problem is that some of the dvds we rent don't take up the
whole tv, and it's so annoying. I saw there's an option for the dvd
player to set it to 4:3 PS, but some of the dvds don't fill up the whole
screen while others do.

Is this the way it used to be, and now dvds are coming in
full screen, or is it just full for some and not others.

I was excited to get into the DVD scene, but it's a little dissappointing
that we're only using 1/2 of our brand new tv.

Any suggestions?

[Baldrick]

Yes, most new dvds are only released widescreen.

read here why
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/anamorphic/aspectratios/widescreenorama.html

[sean madison]

this is just an assumption so i may need some backup or someone to tell me im wrong, but isnt most or all movies that are recorded, recorded in widescreen so it records more of an area?

See, with widescreen, it shows more of the left and right hand art of the movie, whereas if u take that same movie and play it full screen, some of the video will be cut off on the left and right hand side.

Also, if u encode a movie that is in widescreen and u decide to make it fill the whole screen for the output mpg file, everything WILL be stretched thinner on a vertical aspect.
(not as much as those old western movies, hehe) but very noticable.

I actually, believe it or not encode all my movies using widescreen no matter if it was made that way or not, BUT u gotta be careful.
You dont want too much widescreen or you will have movie stretched too far horizontally.

In my opinion, i think widescreen just looks more professional cuz most dvds use it.
DVDs are professionally made so u know. thats why i do it.
I just dont do it all the time; i do take in consideration i cant do it too much so it wont distort the aspect ratio of the movie.

[cpgoose]

Well, I can see what you're saying, but in a way, I still
think it sort-of stinks. I realize it's fancier, and shows
more, I just think it would have been better if you had
the option to decide on each dvd.

It's weird that if you add up the black on the top and
bottom, that's HALF of the tv! It would make me almost
want to rent the VHS so I can fill the whole tv screen.

Oh well.

[sean madison]

its true, i was and probably many others were just like u how u feel bout widescreen
Give it about a month or so and u get used to it and love it.

I can give u an example.
The worse dvd widescreen had ever taken up before was the dvd armageddon.
OH MY GOD, it was aweful.
WAY too much widescreen, its good to have a big tv when watchin dvd so u can actually see the movie again, hehe

[Greg12]

Amagedden was horrible, way to much widescreen.


i can deal with most 1:85:1,

i really don't like 2:35:1


I really like normal tv format.

[kinneera]

I've come across a number of discs that were double-sided (DVD-10?), so if you flipped the disc physically you got either fullscreen or widescreen. Some dual-layer discs also allow you to choose, although not as frequently.

Food for thought...if you watch a 2.35:1 movie cut for fullscreen, you're losing close to 50% of what the director intended you to see. Would you cut off half of the Mona Lisa and still consider it a painting?