-=- Widescreen or FullScreen -=-

Right, but does it actually hurt the story at all?

Look, I'm not saying widescreen isn't superior - It is. I buy almost all my dvd's widescreen if I can.

However, what I don't get is this over the top demonizing of fullscreen, like if a movie's fullscreen it looses all value and becomes unwatchable or something. Which isn't the case. Fullscreen, for the most part, changes VERY little, and what it does change doesn't usually hurt a movie in any noticeable way for the viewer.

You are right, in some cases fullscreen can go against what the director intended, but does having the camera pan a little bit really hurt the film as much as some people act? Does cutting out some background that no one would notice really hinder the film that much?

It seems people just follow the cliche of being diehard widescreen fans for little/no reason, just to follow in the footsteps of other elitest movie goers who think that liking fullscreen somehow makes a person a second rate movie goer or something.

Originally posted by BackFire
It doesn't sound elitest and snobby, it IS elitist and snobby. Just thought I'd clear that up.

If you're a true fan of movies it shouldn't make that big a difference whether it's full or widescreen. It's the movie itself that's important, not the presentation.

Also, the comment of "anyone who wants to see a film fullscreen shouldn't watch movies" is a statement surprinsgly below your level of intelegence, CA.

As said above, if you're watching a movie on a small TV, then widescreen can greatly reduce the size of the viewing screen and hinder the experience rather then enhance it.

If you're a true fan of movies, I'd think you'd want to see them in their intended format, being OAR and Widescreen. Naturally, there are tons of movies that were filmed in Fullscreen, i.e. "Evil Dead". I do NOT want to see "Evil Dead" in Fullscreen, which is why I sold my Anchor Bay DVD and got the Elite release.

The whole "small television" deal, I don't even bother considering. That said, my remarks had nothing to do with my intelligence, as it did my level of understand, and tolerance. Sure, you have a small television, you'll want Fullscreen, but otherwise..what's the excuse for Fullscreen movies that were shot in Widescreen? Unless you like seeing 2/3'rds of the same movie you saw in the theater..I don't get it.

Originally posted by BackFire
Right, but does it actually hurt the story at all?

It seems people just follow the cliche of being diehard widescreen fans for little/no reason, just to follow in the footsteps of other elitest movie goers who think that liking fullscreen somehow makes a person a second rate movie goer or something.

I'm a purist that likes to see movies the way they were intended to be seen, and that's pretty much it. People that swear by Fullscreen usually have invalid reasons for championing the way movies are offered by STUDIOS and not the PRODUCERS/DIRECTORS. They don't like black bars, it makes the movie small, they want the movie to fill up their television, etc, etc, etc. The people that personally seek out Fullscreen versions are just casual movie watchers, which there are tons of, and for every one of those, there's a diehard purist who thinks Fullscreen is unnecessary. It's no wonder why so many Fullscreen DVD releases get the Bonus add-on's at places like Wal Mart, because they don't sell well, and for good reason.

If you saw the movie at the theatre and liked it, why the hell would you want to see it in a totally different way than the first time? The black bars were there too.

You guys ever hear of the Letterbox and Widescreen Advocacy Page?

"You just spent four years writing what you consider to be an excellent novel. Remove one paragraph and the whole story would fall apart. Would you appreciate having Reader's Digest come to you and tell you that they will distribute your book only if you remove 40-50% of the story?

You just took weeks or months painting what you consider to be a superb painting, comparable to the classical masters. How would you feel if the museum that is interested in your painting said that they want you to cut off about 40% of the painting just so it can fit on a wall segment next to a door?

Film makers and studios have to face this type of disrespect on a regular basis. The widescreen process is the only method by which film makers can preserve their movies in their original aspect ratio; and as artists they should be supported in their desire to keep their original works as they intended them to be.

The Letterbox and Widescreen Advocacy Page supports the film makers' rights because defending the widescreen process is defending the rights of artists to have their movies seen in the way that they originally intended to be seen."

Originally posted by Wolfie
And a great sig line it is!

I was looking at your avatar... so widescreen cuts off the top and bottom? A friend of mine is a fullscreen supporter because he'd rather get the top and bottom than the sides.

It's all about widescreen. I get mad when a DVD I want is only available in fullscreen. And then annoyed when I watch a DVD and find out I accidently picked up the fullscreen version.

Think of the Green box in 3-D. Fullscreen is still taking the top and bottom of the Widescreen picture, just magnifying what's in that box, leaving the sides out, as well as supersizing the middle.

Originally posted by BackFire
Right, but does it actually hurt the story at all?

As I said in my first post in this thread that "Its more of an artistic argument cause it doesnt really interfiere with the story-line or the plot."

So no it does not really hurt the tyhe story at all. But if you are into the Story, then grab a book and read that. Simply cause you want the story.

However if a movie director strives, with his DP (Director Of Photography) to make beautiful shots that include the artistry of the Set, The Extras and the Postures of the main actors, he does so in amplitude that gives an extra 'umf'.

I have been on movie sets of Gladiator, count of monte cristo, troy and the recently filmed Munich and there are already pieces from the laterals and top and bottom parts of the shot that are 'cut' off. The extra cuttings done when applying anti-anamorphic aspect ratio weaken a shot. No More. Widescreen (anamorphic) was done to immerse the viewer in a more realistic experience and, possibly, to make broadcast films less enjoyable if watched on a regular TV set.

also humans see more wide then they do tall, so it just plain makes sense.

CA, there are some perfectly valid reasons why people like fullscreen. For example, It does greatly increase the size of the picture, unless you're watching on a screen specifically designed for widescreen. Some people don't care about what's going on on the sides of the screen and would rather sacrifice that for a large image of what they see as important.

Like I said, I'm well aware of the blatant advantages of widescreen and prefer it myself, my problem is with this elitest and condescending attitude about it, making very foolish and incorrect generalizations about the people who like fullscreen, honestly, these types of comments should have no place in the mind of a reasonable person. Let them prefer what they want, doesn't affect you, so there's no need to insult them with generic and over stated cliche simplifications of their preference. It's quite small minded, in all honesty.

CGC, I care most for the story of a film, being drawn in and caring about the characters and what's happening to them, it's my primary concern when watching most movies, the visuals generally take a back seat for me. Of course, this doesn't mean I don't CARE about them, I do, just not as much as the story and plot. So, because of this state of mind, I can watch either format without being bothered, always have, always will.

Originally posted by forumcrew
also humans see more wide then they do tall, so it just plain makes sense.

woah, GOOD POINT!

i didn't realize that until just now, lol.
😂

I would rather Widescreen but if i dont mind watching in Fullscreen.

But if i had i was going to buy a DVD and there was a Widescreen and Fullscreen version to choose from i would pick the WIdescreen.

Sometimes I find in fullscreen movies that the ratio is off balance. Someone's face would appear longer and thinner. That's another reason I prefer widescreen, it's not tampering with the original shot.

Also, I would rather see a full picture of a character and a background than a closeup of someone's face.

I can see why people with smaller TVs would prefer fullscreen. Really, I don't see much of a difference. I used to have a TV twice the size of a GameBoy. Widescreen movies never bothered me on that.

Widescreen for me.

The only excuse for fullscreen is if you have a really small screen, which I dont, so bring on them black bars. 😄

Originally posted by Wolfie
And a great sig line it is!

I was looking at your avatar... so widescreen cuts off the top and bottom? A friend of mine is a fullscreen supporter because he'd rather get the top and bottom than the sides.

It's all about widescreen. I get mad when a DVD I want is only available in fullscreen. And then annoyed when I watch a DVD and find out I accidently picked up the fullscreen version.

No no no no no no no NO

Widescreen DOES NOT cut off anything, Widescreen, you get the whole picture...

FULLSCREEN is Cut off, With FullScreen, both sides get chopped off.

Originally posted by BackFire
Yeah, I'm sure that the viewers of the fullscreen version of Sparticus are really going to miss that black shadow that is surrounding the characters in the widescreen version, as they'll miss the extra 2 shitty looking birds and tree trunk that can only be seen in the widescreen version of whatever the **** that second movie is.

Sparticus!?!?!?!? Thats Ben Hur!!!! A Classic!! I mean Come on 😛

When you have full-screen, things just seem a lot closer and bigger, and I don't like that at all.

So I'm all the way for widescreen. Every movie I rent is in widescreen.

It's got to be FULL-SCREEN!! Wide-screen SUCKS!! 😱

Widescreen 😛

Full screen I hate those two black strips on the top and bottom while watching my favorite movie they are so annoying.jm

I agree,its annoying as hell.they need to get rid of that crappy idea. 😠

Widescreen, definately.

Originally posted by Jackie Malfoy
Full screen I hate those two black strips on the top and bottom while watching my favorite movie they are so annoying.jm

I used to feel this exact same way until I realised half the bloody pic gets cut off on full screen.. Now it's widescreen all the way.

widescreen😄