[opendtv] Re: Once again The Ten Commandments is on ABC tonight in stunnig 4:3
- From: Mark Schubin <tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2005 11:19:29 -0500
>What makes you think that is the correct aspect ratio?
>
>I didn't say it was correct, just much more pleasing to
>watch on a 40 inch 16:9 TV because it makes full use of the TV
>screen,
>
Well, if that's the criterion, then since the VAST majority of TV sets
in the U.S. are 4:3, a narrower aspect ratio makes full use of many more
screens.
>All this is to say that there is much more that could have been seen of
>the original film on ABC tonight if they had
>played the DVD I was running and making scene by scene comparisons with.
>There would have been more of the original frame, and greater detail
>overall by playing the DVD.
>
>
As I pointed out in my correction to my message, the "original frame" of
a VistaVision movie is much closer to 4:3 than to 16:9. The
specification was 1.472 x 0.997 inches. That's 1.42:1. 4:3 is 1.33:1.
16:9 is 1.78:1. The DVD, by truncating the top and bottom, offers much
LESS of the original frame than a 4:3 extraction would by truncating
tiny amounts of the sides. In fact, VistaVision vertical "flat" release
prints had a full 4:3 aspect ratio. All other aspect ratios truncated
top and bottom.
Only if ABC somehow started with a widescreen extraction and truncated
the sides would they have offered less of the original frame. Your next
comment suggests they may have done that.
>What ABC aired showed about 1/3 less of the frame horizontally than is
>on the DVD, and what is
>on the DVD is certainly not the entire original 8 perf 2:1 VistaVision
>camera negative frame.
>
>
If so, then I share your condemnation.
TTFN,
Mark
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:
- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at
FreeLists.org
- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
unsubscribe in the subject line.
Other related posts:
