Aspect Ratio II

Are there really that many widescreen movies that won't fill up a 16:9 screen without using "Zoom" to take away top & bottom black bars, and thus losing content?

I was hoping getting a 16:9 HDTV would alleviate most of this, but it doesn't seem to be the case.

Why can't there be one standard so that we don't have to choose between losing content, or viewing it with annoying bars?

Are there really that many widescreen movies that won't fill up a 16:9 screen without using "Zoom" to take away top & bottom black bars, and thus losing content?

I was hoping getting a 16:9 HDTV would alleviate most of this, but it doesn't seem to be the case.

Why can't there be one standard so that we don't have to choose between losing content, or viewing it with annoying bars?

Because movies are made for movie theaters and there are two aspect ratios for movies; 1.85 and 2.39. That also means that there are wider screens in some theaters than in others.

Each director decides the shape of his movie. It's a creative decision.

Television - that is when there are no choices. First it was 1.33, now it's 1.78.

Because movies are made for movie theaters and there are two aspect ratios for movies; 1.85 and 2.39. That also means that there are wider screens in some theaters than in others.

Each director decides the shape of his movie. It's a creative decision.

Television - that is when there are no choices. First it was 1.33, now it's 1.78.

If there are only 2, 1.85 and 2.39, then why do some show fine using the "Full" setting?

If there are only 2, 1.85 and 2.39, then why do some show fine using the "Full" setting?

The AR of an HDTV is 1.78. That is very close to the 1.85 AR that some movies are shown in.

The issue arrises when you have to take a 2.39 AR movie and show it on a 1.78 display. Only two ways to do that:

1. Letterbox the image using less verticle resolution to create the image. (No longer 1920x1080 . . . now 1920x800). Retains all the image content except now, what was widescreen in the theater is now "short screen" on your HDTV because you are not using the entire display to create the image.

2. Adjust the image by either zooming the image losing actual image content from all four sides or use the Pan & Scan method where a man sits at a station and looks at the images and decides what is the main action within the scene. Then he becomes the camera man and moves the camera to the left or to the right to only show a 1.78 block of image content from a 2.39 AR image. Still losing image content.

So do you want The Magnificent Seven (#1) or would you rather have The Magnificent Five (#2)

The AR of an HDTV is 1.78. That is very close to the 1.85 AR that some movies are shown in.

The issue arrises when you have to take a 2.39 AR movie and show it on a 1.78 display. Only two ways to do that:

1. Letterbox the image using less verticle resolution to create the image. (No longer 1920x1080 . . . now 1920x800). Retains all the image content except now, what was widescreen in the theater is now "short screen" on your HDTV because you are not using the entire display to create the image.

2. Adjust the image by either zooming the image losing actual image content from all four sides or use the Pan & Scan method where a man sits at a station and looks at the images and decides what is the main action within the scene. Then he becomes the camera man and moves the camera to the left or to the right to only show a 1.78 block of image content from a 2.39 AR image. Still losing image content.

So do you want The Magnificent Seven (#1) or would you rather have The Magnificent Five (#2)

Thanks for further explaining, I'm guessing the majority are being filmed in 2.39?

Thanks for further explaining, I'm guessing the majority are being filmed in 2.39?

2.35 or 2.40 they are pretty close and yes many films are done in those aspect ratios.

Most action movies are shot in 2.40:1 these days. Many of the comedies/dramas are shot at 1.85:1. I would say it is probably close to half each way when taking into account all movies made as a rough guess, but if someone likes mostly action movies it will seem like most are shot in 2.40:1.

Most action movies are shot in 2.40:1 these days. Many of the comedies/dramas are shot at 1.85:1. I would say it is probably close to half each way when taking into account all movies made as a rough guess, but if someone likes mostly action movies it will seem like most are shot in 2.40:1.

Yeah, that is probably why it seems that way for me, but heck I got the Wall-e bluray edition only because I read it was one of the more visually impressive animation movies in HD and even it had bars.

Yeah, that is probably why it seems that way for me, but heck I got the Wall-e bluray edition only because I read it was one of the more visually impressive animation movies in HD and even it had bars.

How big is your display?

How big is your display?

It's the Panasonic, TC-P58V10.

Yeah, that is probably why it seems that way for me, but heck I got the Wall-e bluray edition only because I read it was one of the more visually impressive animation movies in HD and even it had bars.

You seem to have only one problem: you're watching movies on a television; you need a good projector, thats all.

Upon further review, I see they have these aspect ratios listed on the cases of the bluray movies that I own. Is there a known website that lists these specifics for various movies?

Upon further review, I see they have these aspect ratios listed on the cases of the bluray movies that I own. Is there a known website that lists these specifics for various movies?
Pretty much any review site will have aspect ratios. Amazon.com lists the aspect ratio on their product pages.

I've never found "bars" annoying. The aspect ratio on the screen should be what ever the director intended it to be; which is why pan&scan was always so horrid.