DVD Movie Formats

[lennyt]

I understand the Wide Screen format with the black bar on top and bottom, but whats with some of the movie rentals that I receive with the two large black bars that take up half of the screen??

[Baldrick]

???

visit http://www.widescreen.org/widescreen.shtml

[yoda313]

Do you have a widescreen tv? That could be a full screen dvd that isn't taking up the full screen.

A little more info might help us give you some direction on this.

[kush]

Maybe he's referring to the ulta-widescreen CinemaScope (?), ie: 2.35:1? (while viewing on a 4:3 monitor presumably)

[Bjs]

Not all dvd player's are made the same .

Example title : alien's vs predator

Centrex - normal small black bar's
Hyundia - normal
Pioneer - normal
Xms888 - abnormal , large black bar's

Then there is unusual menu behavior .

Centrex - played whaling station history , stationary menu
Hyundia - same , played motion menu
Pioneer - no history clip , motion menu
Xms888 - similar to flash back to and fro , static menu .

Centrex - zoom mode (number stay's on screen)

All other's - dissappear's shortly .

[Krispy Kritter]

There are different aspect ratios for widescreen, so not all "widescreen" movies will display the same.

The link posted above has some good information.