Anyone noticed the increasing number of 2.35:1 (theater aspect ratio) being zoom down to 16:9 (1.87:1) after the opening credits are shown then zoomed out for the end credits? This is like the old 4x3 P&S crap that went on pre widescreen TVs. The worst part I've noticed on some of CH3 HD movies along with this is the sped up end credits that run twice as fast as they do on the DVD version. No doubt to get more revenue time in the next hour.. This zooming problem appears also to be happening on Sky movies channels 1 & 2
It's not something I've personally noticed as I don't watch movies on TV.
I have noticed however that virtually all DVD's these days are now 2.35:1 whereas most use to be 1.85:1 or 1.78:1 - I wonder when somebody will deliver us a 2.35:1 TV?
I remember this question/issue was raised a few years ago (I believe it is that old) and I think it was because Sky NZ prefer to purchase 1.78:1 (16:9) crops of movies where possible and use letterboxed versions only when a 1.78:1 crop isn't available. I don't know about the reasons the FTA broadcasters might have. From a technical point of view, I don't think these are pan'n'scan (which involves a crop and manual left-right scan process), but a simple centre crop of a 2.35:1 frame.
Personally, it's not that much of a surprise that it's done because I know of many people who complain when they see a letterboxed cinemascope movie on their brand new widescreen TV. Personally I perfer OAR transmissions with the picture the way it was designed to be shown, but others prefer that the full vertical resolution of their investment be put to good use. Like sbiddle, I don't watch movies on TV so it doesn't irritate me that much.
One other thing to note is that some movies are shown at 1.78:1 unmatted which means they're not cropped, but the areas above and below the picture are revealed to convert a 2.35:1 frame into a 1.78:1 frame by adding previously concealed picture elements. In this respect, the TV transmission shows more than was there in the cinema release. Whether this added information is useful is debatable since the DOP probably composed the frame with a 2.35:1 shape in mind, so the exposed content above and below the frame is often a bit of dead space, but I'm sure that's not the case all the time. At least it's a lesser form of butchery than cropping.
Movies shot in Super35 can be transmitted in this unmatted way. Gladiator is one that I know has a 1.78:1 release, and the visual effects were obviously rendered at that aspect ratio for TV transmission I would assume. The Dark Knight is another that has unmatted sequences for the IMAX parts.
last i heard philips were pulling out of the TV markets in most countries... NZ being one of them. don't hold your breath waiting for this model to arrive here...
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