widescreen vs. full screen

[jonas more]

The only thing I hate more than a full screen movie is a FAKE widescreen (where they take a full screen movie and cut the top and bottom off to make it APPEAR widescreen)

The last few movies I have bought have been fake widescreens. I can't get a refund... they will only exchange for the same title.

Is there any way of knowing which are real BEFORE I buy them???

Isn't this FALSE ADVERTISING???

[fartt]

i would rent them from the library first.
that way u wont have to pay to preview (blockbuster,etc)

[Craig Tucker]

Or buy from stores that will give refunds with no arguments. eg it is the policy of many of the supermarkets here to give refunds wherever possible, the customer is always right.

[Conquest10]

the customer is always right.

that's something that has seemed to disappear here in the US.

[Craig Tucker]

And you brought us "Have a nice day"

God I hate that.

I have never visited the states (would like to at some time), but have friends and relatives who have. I have been told that people who work in the service industry - particularly in main tourist areas - are so courtious and polite that its sickening.

I suppose thats not quite the same thing as the customer is always right though.

[g_shocker182]

I have never visited the states (would like to at some time), but have friends and relatives who have. I have been told that people who work in the service industry - particularly in main tourist areas - are so courtious and polite that its sickening.

Service with a smile . Where was the relative talking about(what tourist area)?

[MOVIEGEEK]

The policy here in the US regarding CD's,DVD's and software is if you open the package(break the seal) you own it and they will only exchange.

[Craig Tucker]

Orlando

[Craig Tucker]

The policy here in the US regarding CD's,DVD's and software is if you open the package(break the seal) you own it and they will only exchange.

Many of the stores here sell DVD's with no shrink wrap packaging. Usually it is just the case which is on display, you take that to the checkout and they then put the DVD in it. Another method is to attach a locking jacket to the case for security which is removed at the till.

[rvl123]

Orlando

It makes more sense after you said this.

Orlando is where Disney World is. They treat you well and suck your money...

[jonas more]

When our local Wal*Mart first started carrying DVDs, they were locked up behind glass. It didn't take long before they were putting them out on shelves... I guess it became too big a pain when sales started increasing. Now they have a 'security device' in the case to keep people from stealing them (an alarm goes off if you carry one that has not been de-activated out the door).

Our local library doesn't carry movies and the local video stores carry full screen DVDs most of the time.

I just wish I could get my money back since the movies are not as advertised but, as stated above, if the seal is broken, I am stuck with it!

[ktnwin]

I hate FAKE widescreen movies too. When playing on a regular 4:3 TV, it's alright because it appears to be widescreen but when playing on a real wide screen TV, you have to expand in both directions to fit the movie on it. And then the subtitle will be partially cut off from the screen !!!

[g_shocker182]

Orlando

It makes more sense after you said this.

Orlando is where Disney World is. They treat you well and suck your money...

You can have fun with your kids at Disney World, just buy the toys for them at Wal-mart. We Americans know where to get the best deals. Just look at Orioles baseball games: you can buy a soda for $4, or go to walmart for a 2liter for 75 cents.

[Craig Tucker]

No, I prefer the milton one. He just looks so gormless

[flaninacupboard]

when playing on a real wide screen TV, you have to expand in both directions

Ahhh, i get it. you're on about non-anamorphic discs.
I thought you meant movies shot 4:3 and then matted to 1.85 for cinema release.

Over here discs are marked as "enhanced for 16:9 televisions" if they're anamorphic.

[pbhalerao]

Or buy from stores that will give refunds with no arguments. eg it is the policy of many of the supermarkets here to give refunds wherever possible, the customer is always right.

Well Craig, In the US they do not take back the movie item and refund the money, if you have opened the seal. Till that time, they will take it back.

Once the title has been opened, they will exchange it only (if found defective). Jonas More has a reason to be pissed off but he cannot fight the system.

What is the system in UK?

[Craig Tucker]

Depends on the store.

But many stores sell DVD's with no protective seal anyway, the DVD is put in the box when you buy it. So if it is returned it can be resold without someone complaining that it has been opened.

You can return CD's and DVD's to most of the supermarkets here and get a refund.

[pixel]

jonas more, if the packaging did mislead you, you should argue this at the store you got it from that it is a rip-off and you would never even watch it and they may eventually give you a refund.

[rallynavvie]

So in the UK you could buy a DVD, bring it home and watch it and make your own copy, then bring it back and make like it never happened? So that's where piracy comes from

Over here in the States the reason they won't let you return movies, music, or programs is because you could have taken it home, copied it, and are returning it having got what you wanted from it. Most stores don't even allow store credit on returns like that. The only way they'll allow the return is if it's still in its unopened packaging, and not because it would be harder to sell because it was opened but because it may have been copied. At the same time: buyer beware.

Craig: if you don't like curteous salespeople than don't visit the Midwest while you're here. Up until recently Minnesota has been "obscenely nice" to visitors. Yeah, that's right, I used those two terms together. I work in a sort of service industry, and while I am known to deal well with customers I don't always give them the benefit of the doubt. I pretty much tell them how it is and what's going to happen and if they don't like it they can try someplace else. I learned that method of service from the Scots

[flaninacupboard]

no you didn't! if you'd learned customer services from scotland you'd just tell all your clients to "fook off!!"

Most places will take stuff back if it's in their bag, and you say "oh, i bought this for someones birthday, and they already had it" or at the very least they'll exchange it.
It does irritate me however when i buy a disc from somewhere who leaves empty cases on the shelves and the discs in their drawers, and i get home and find fingerprints on the disc! grrrr!

[pixel]

So in the UK you could buy a DVD, bring it home and watch it and make your own copy, then bring it back and make like it never happened? So that's where piracy comes from

No, I'm saying that because he was misled by the packaging of the DVD and got a DVD that he didn't want, so he should return it to get a refund so he can go somewhere else to get the version of the DVD that he actually wants.

I am not into piracy, that's why we all have to pay over-the-top prices for software/video/games because the companies lose so much from people copying their material. But I believe as he was misled by the packaging, and doesn't want to waste his money on a film that he never wants to watch, so he should have the right to return it.

Doesn't matter, I have changed my above post.

[Craig Tucker]

Craig: if you don't like curteous salespeople than don't visit the Midwest while you're here. Up until recently Minnesota has been "obscenely nice" to visitors. Yeah, that's right, I used those two terms together. I work in a sort of service industry, and while I am known to deal well with customers I don't always give them the benefit of the doubt. I pretty much tell them how it is and what's going to happen and if they don't like it they can try someplace else. I learned that method of service from the Scots

Its not that I don't like courtious people, far from it, and I think it should be encouraged in the service industry. But there is a point where courtiosness becomes sycophantic and smarmy.

[jonas more]

jonas more, if the packaging did mislead you, you should argue this at the store you got it from that it is a rip-off and you would never even watch it and they may eventually give you a refund.

Good point... the packaging IS misleading so I may try and see if I can exchange for the full screen version if I can't get a refund (if the only versions available are full screen and fake widescreen)

But the bigger question is, what can be done about these movie companies claiming the disc contains the same aspect ratio as its theatrical release but it clearly doesn't. I mean, if someone can sue McDonalds, Burger King,... for their weight gain (I know, that case was thrown out of court), it seems that someone would start some type of legal action against these production companies for selling crap versions of movies under false pretenses.

My point is, they KNOW what they are selling is crap but they continue doing so because they know we can't get our money back.

[flaninacupboard]

what??
they -are- the right aspect ratio. they're just not anamorphic, and if the package doesn't say anamorphic, they haven't misled you in any way. yes, the pack says widescreen, and it is. it's just not anamorphic.

[g_shocker182]

You can return CD's and DVD's to most of the supermarkets here and get a refund.

Dont you guys in England have electronic specialty stores? Here you can only get food at supermakets. Computer stuff from Best Buy or Circuit City.

[Craig Tucker]

Sure we have specialist electronic stores. But supermarkets sell just about everything these days, and quite often cheaper. What about WalMart in the states. Our Asda is now called Asda WalMart.

[g_shocker182]

Sure we have specialist electronic stores. But supermarkets sell just about everything these days, and quite often cheaper. What about WalMart in the states. Our Asda is now called Asda WalMart.

Cool. Yeah, Walmarts becoming a IMMENSE business, and it does sell everything except produce stuff (it does sell candy, chips, soda, the stuff which is the reason other countries call us fat-greedy-americans).

[Craig Tucker]

What do you mean by produce stuff

[g_shocker182]

What do you mean by produce stuff

Apples, Oranges, corn. We buy these at places like Giant or Safeway (our supermarkets)

[Craig Tucker]

All the major supermarkets here sell fresh produce.