Widescreen or Full screen?

[DisMN]

We recently discovered to our dismay that our local video store now carries only full screen versions of movies. We try to only watch widescreen.....can't figure out why the store isn't carrying them and the teenager at the counter couldn't tell us either.

Are you partial to widescreen or full screen? I'd sooooo much rather see the whole movie, from side to side.


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[Blondie]

My DH says the same thing.

One time I bought a DVD and it was in full screen. Well, there was hell to pay for my little screw up!

 

[Brianne]

Definitely widescreen, especially since our tv is a widescreen.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Widescreen is the only way to go -- why pay full price for only 60% of the movie?

 

[Micca]

Widescreen please

 

[cardaway]

Sadly the market for full screen movies is huge. I never fail to see people picking up the full screen version when available. Reatilers will tell you that both sell well, but they order at least 60% full to 40% wide whenever both are available.

Personally I will only go for what the orignal aspect ratio is, which means I do have some full screen stuff, but only when it's the correct ratio.

 

[kejoda]

My DH says the same thing.

One time I bought a DVD and it was in full screen. Well, there was hell to pay for my little screw up!

I"ve lived that nightmare before. Good thing it wasn't opened. The lady at the return desk said she wanted to make a sign to tell women to double check of they didn't want a divorce.

 

[sweet angel]

Sadly the market for full screen movies is huge. I never fail to see people picking up the full screen version when available. Reatilers will tell you that both sell well, but they order at least 60% full to 40% wide whenever both are available.

Personally I will only go for what the orignal aspect ratio is, which means I do have some full screen stuff, but only when it's the correct ratio.

We've had the full screen v. widescreen debate, but I have no clue what the outcome was!

How do you know if it's the "original aspect ratio"?

 

[FlyingBelle]

Ok - call me an outsider, but I prefer the full-screen. Wide screen makes me want to squint. We have a big tv, but I prefer to use the entire screen. Why should I have to look at two black bars on the tv?

 

[paigeandmorgansmom]

widesreen....you get used to the black lines.

 

[cardaway]

How do you know if it's the "original aspect ratio"?

There are sites like IMDB but it's not 100% accurate. Many DVD's actually say so in the scecs on the back. Most of the DVD's I have from MGM and WB say if it's the original aspect ratio or modified to fit your screen (fullscreen/pan and scan).

There also isn't a lot of modifications done beyond going all the way to fullscreen. Basically they rarely chop just a litte off, they go between original and fullscreen.

If it's widescreen it's usually correct. If it's fullscreen they are pretty good about telling you it has been modified. In fact I think it maight be a law that they have to tell you, but sadly it's before the movie starts, not on the box.

And lastly, if it has been made since the 1970's it's original aspect ratio is almost always going to be widescreen. Only a couple directors like Kubrick have filmed movies with any other ratio in mind.

 

[cardaway]

Ok - call me an outsider, but I prefer the full-screen. Wide screen makes me want to squint. We have a big tv, but I prefer to use the entire screen. Why should I have to look at two black bars on the tv?

Then buy widescreen and magnify the image. In most cases you would lose less picture than buying fullscreen.

 

[FlyingBelle]

Magnify the image? I've never heard of that...

 

[Blondie]

widesreen....you get used to the black lines.

True, I don't even notice them anymore!

 

[monarchsfan16]

Full screen. I hate the black bars, and I don't find the picture to be "distorted" as my stepfather says. I also don't notice a loss in the images

 

[sweet angel]

There are sites like IMDB but it's not 100% accurate. Many DVD's actually say so in the scecs on the back. Most of the DVD's I have from MGM and WB say if it's the original aspect ratio or modified to fit your screen (fullscreen/pan and scan).

There also isn't a lot of modifications done beyond going all the way to fullscreen. Basically they rarely chop just a litte off, they go between original and fullscreen.

If it's widescreen it's usually correct. If it's fullscreen they are pretty good about telling you it has been modified. In fact I think it maight be a law that they have to tell you, but sadly it's before the movie starts, not on the box.

And lastly, if it has been made since the 1970's it's original aspect ratio is almost always going to be widescreen. Only a couple directors like Kubrick have filmed movies with any other ratio in mind.

Interesting. Thanks.

 

[mtemm]

widescreen, definitely. for me, that would mean time to switch video stores.

 

[scrump]

Only widescreen for me!!

 

[FlyingBelle]

DH is watching a show on whales on WTTW right now and it's in wide screen (black bars, driving me crazy!).... so, if you have a wide-screen tv - does it know and eliminate the bars, or is it just stretched out???

 

[CourtasanSatine]

It depends on the film for me since my dvd's are a mix of the 2