Which do you prefer, letterbox or pan and scan?

[WDWHound]

I have heard there is a possibility that Lilo and Stich will be release only in pan and scan format in November. Blockbuster has stated that people seem to prefer pan and scan over letterbox. This confuses me, because I think letterbox is the only way to go. You lose so much of the picture with pan and scan.

Which do you prefer when you watch a video, letter box or pan and scan?

 

[janette]

Is this both the VHS & DVD version? I thought DVD's had both options sometimes.

I think many people don't really understand the wide screen format and with a small TV it does look a little weird. I prefer the wide screen but do wish we had a better TV to watch them on.

 

[WDWHound]

Janette - DVD's frequently do have both options, but it adds costs and takes up room that could be used for extras. Tapes are almost always released in pan and scan. Those tapes that are in letterbox usually cost a little more.

 

[Ricola]

I honestly can't understand the other side of this debate. Don't people WANT to see all of the movie?

 

[WDWHound]

Ricola - Many people don't understand letterbox. They think the "bars" at the top and bottom of the screen indicate a problem with the DVD or the TV. I have a friend who hates letter box because she feels it makes the picture too small to see.

 

[Ricola]

Oh, I have heard the arguments, I just don't understand being willing to throw away almost HALF of the picture in some cases. If they started selling only half of the LENGTH of a film, you can bet people would complain.

 

[helenabear]

On my old 19" TV, I hated letterbox. The TV was not big enough to handle that and the movie usually was too small to be able to see it nicely. Now that we have a bigger TV, I personally don't care either way. Letter box is nice, but I won't complain if I don't have it now on a movie.

 

[denisem]

Nothin' but letterbox for me.

I recall seein' a program on PBS (maybe?) that showed clips of some classic movies (The Graduate, How the West Was Won, Bladerunner) in both versions... was truly amazing how the original effects were lost in pan and scan....

Denise < ---- but also concedes letterbox on a 20" TV screen is annoying....letterbox only works well on big-screen.

 

[janette]

I don't really have a problem with them not releasing a letter-box VHS since the format is now becoming dated they may not be selling many.

I would have a problem with them not releasing a letter-box version on DVD. I think the demand is there, Isn't the point of having that huge TV that it's like having the theatre at home.

 

[MosMom]

It depends for me...if we are upstairs in our bedroom I like it to fill the whole screen because we are in bed and the TV is only 19". It is hard for me to see anything when it is letterbox. Maybe it's my wretched eyesight. In the basement we have a 35" and I prefer letterbox.

 

[Sharon A.]

We have a widescreen tv so I very much prefer letterbox.

I'm not a big fan of Lilo & Stitch so I don't mind if that movie is pan and scan unless it's the start of a trend. I hope the Beauty and the Beast DVD release is letterbox.

 

[supercarrie]

I prefer letterbox. Once I got a DVD player, I noticed the difference, and don't want to ever go back to pan and scan.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

I hate pan & scan!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Letterbox, Don.

 

[wdw4us2]

LETTERBOX!

Every time I have this debate with someone, I simply offer a demonstration.

I show "Grease" - the scene with "Look at Me I'm Sandra Dee" in the pan and scan format, first. I then show the same scene in letterbox. People are always amazed at what they don't see with pan and scan.

It works every time!

Lisa

 

[glo]

To be honest..I like the letterbox on the large TV's, but since my largest TV is 32 inches, I will take whatever comes my way. I am not that picky.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Is this English? I have no idea what letterbox and pan & scan mean. But then again, I got excited at WalMart last night over the new technology of the revolving bag holder. (Have you ever SEEN those??! Then we went to Stop & Shop and scanned our own order! Whoa!)

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by MaryAnnDVC
....I have no idea what letterbox and pan & scan mean....

http://rinkworks.com/movies/articles/letterbox.shtml

 

[Serena]

Well, I learn something every day.

 

[Zurg]

Originally posted by Ricola
I honestly can't understand the other side of this debate. Don't people WANT to see all of the movie?

AMEN!