I know we've had a thread like this before, but that was a few years ago, and I bet some of you have changed your opinions since then.

When watching a movie at home, which do you prefer? Widescreen (http://www.widescreen.org) or "full-screen"/pan & scan (http://dvd.ign.com/news/16377.html)?

My vote, of course, goes to widescreen. I've been in love with widescreen since 1995, when I was taught what it is and that the "black bars" aren't really bars at all, but unused space. Even before the days of DVD, I was one of the few snobby dorks you'd see in the widescreen VHS section of Suncoast.

Even when a film is shot in open matte (http://hkfanatic.com/widescreen/matte/matte.php), I prefer to watch a movie in its original theatrical aspect ratio.

If you still don't fully understand why you might like widescreen better, here's (http://www.widescreen.org/widescreen.shtml) a great demo, provided by widescreen.org.

So which is it, Sitcoms Online members? Widescreen or Fullscreen? And why?

Defintely Widescreen because you're able to see the movie just the way it looked in the theatres.

Widescreen. Years ago I would have said fullscreen but that was because I was used to watching stuff on TV.

Here is an example (http://www.widescreen.org/widescreen_matted.shtml) of the dangers of full screen open matte.

I like widescreen better too.

It depends on the ratio of the movie. A movie such as 2001 needs to be seen in widescreen. A film such as As Good as It Gets doesn't suffer that much in full screen.

All movies should be viewed in their original theatrical aspect.

Granted that stinkers and some comedies don't suffer that much, but you need the whole view to be fully aware of the film's intention.

Even if that intention is not so important or relative.

Originally posted by Brian
Widescreen. Years ago I would have said fullscreen but that was because I was used to watching stuff on TV.

Same here. In the past I never gave it much thought, but the more I've read on the subject, I realize wide is the way to go. I have alot of movie dvds and when there's a choice between wide and full, I'll buy wide...and keep dreaming of the day I'll eventually get a widescreen tv.

I much prefer widescreen.

Widescreen without a doubt.

Fullscreen. I've tried widescreen, but I simply can't take it. We have a big screen tv. I forget, but I think it's 60 inches or something, so those black areas above and below are too obvious.

I tried the demo, thanks for that AKA....but my husband won't go for it either. I know I'm missing parts of the movie, but I can't take a foot of those black bars.

If they could do away with them, I'd go for widescreen in a minute.

Widescreen, because I like to see the movie the way it was in theatres, but the black bars still bug the **** out of me everytime I watch one.

DVD's should come with the option to view a film in widescreen or fullscreen.

I got the Indiana Jones DVD collection for Christmas, but it was in fullscreen. I went right out and exchanged it.

As dlemond said, for some films, it doesn't matter if you see it in widescreen. Action films and sci fi epics deserve widescreen.

Originally posted by TJL
DVD's should come with the option to view a film in widescreen or fullscreen.


Some of them do. I have a couple DVDs where you can choose either one.

Widescreen, although sometimes when the ratio is really big I want to see both versions. It really depends. Sometimes all you're getting is extra background with fewer closeups... but ultimately I do want to see the widescreen versions. Anyways, I'm such an old film buff that most of my favorite movies came out before the widescreen format anyways :p

Fullscreen.

AKA.

tsk tsk.


Such a smart man.... with such a dumb question.


Widscreen of course!!
I will NOT open a DVD unless its in the OAR, or fullscreen is the only version available.
But when theres a choice -- I always go for widescreen.


And as somebody else said....
I too dream of getting a widescreen TV.

Just wait until you get an HDTV, Janice. It'll be worth it! Anamorphic widescreen DVDs will fill your whole TV, with little-to-no unused space. I'm currently saving my money for one (god bless unemployment checks).

And sorry to ask such a dumb question, Barwars. ;)

haha


Hey AKA, you seem like you know alot about DVDs.

The next "format" will be HD-DVD right??


Does that mean Ill need an HDTV to use it?
(Ive read that itll be able to play regular DVDs.... I pray they keep that feature)

Originally posted by barwars88

Hey AKA, you seem like you know alot about DVDs.

The next "format" will be HD-DVD right?

There is a newer Hi-Defination video format called the Fluorescent Multilayer Disc (http://www.sysopt.com/articles/c3d-spot/) (FMD). Which is capable of hold something like 20 hours of video one side of the disc. It's pretty interesting stuff. I don't know when it'll be available to the consumer market. But right now, an FMD player costs roughly around $35,000. :)

I prefer wide screen. Full screen is okay if I like the film, but wide screen is better. In the original format it feels like I'm watching the film in the theater, even though it's actually on my tv.

Wide screen

Full Screen

Widescreen.

I DONT CARE BECAUSE I DONT WATCH MOVIES BECAUSE I HATE MOVIES THE END

Originally posted by safety pin
I DONT CARE BECAUSE I DONT WATCH MOVIES BECAUSE I HATE MOVIES THE END

If you watched movies, what movies would you hate more, widescreen or fullscreen movies?

;)

Originally posted by barwars88
haha


Hey AKA, you seem like you know alot about DVDs.

The next "format" will be HD-DVD right??


Does that mean Ill need an HDTV to use it?
(Ive read that itll be able to play regular DVDs.... I pray they keep that feature)

Yes, you'll need an HDTV to use HD-DVD, and they will be backwards compatable with first-generation DVDs.

By the time they hit the market, though, HDTV will be more commonplace in homes than it is now.

For me it all depends on the size of the TV screen. At my house we have 3 TV's that are only 13 inch ones so a widescreen is SO freakin' small, but our big TV which is a 27" is better for a widescreen. I personally don't mind both- at first when I saw movies on TV that were widescreen that bother me, but now since watching DVD's with them I don't mind it.

widescreen

Originally posted by TJL
If you watched movies, what movies would you hate more, widescreen or fullscreen movies?

;)
HAHA TJL. U THNK UR SO FUNEY. I HATE EVRY1 & EVRYTHNG, NT JST SUM.

SO THER. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

;)