OAR for Brother Bear

[BasilOfBakerStreet427]

Through rumors I've read,is Brother Bear in 2.35:1 scope widescreen,or 1.66:1 CAPS widescreen?

[Jake Lipson]

Strangely enough, it's both. According to reviewers, including our own Maerj, in the beginning of the movie it is standard 1.85:1 theatrical format (presumably, this is 1.66:1 cropped for theaters to 1.85:1.) However, it does not fill up the entire screen. Then, after Keani is transformed int oa bear the screen goes black and when the black is replaced by more images the ratio is full 2.35:1 CinemaScope and fills the theater screen.

[Maerj]

That is absolutely right! It was almost like Wizard of Oz, at first it is sepia tone in the real world, then color for when she is Oz. In Brother Bear it is 1.85:1 until the big event, then it fades to black, the curtains open and the picture returns in glorious 2.35:1 widescreen. It was a very cool idea.

[Luke]

Cool. They did that for Galaxy Quest, too. Actually they went from 1.33:1 to 1.85:1 to 2.35:1 on that one.

[BasilOfBakerStreet427]

One more to mention:The Horse Whisperer.Rumor has it,the film starts in 1.85:1,then about 20 mins. in,the film becomes 2.35:1.

[2099net]

Strangely enough, it's both. According to reviewers, including our own Maerj, in the beginning of the movie it is standard 1.85:1 theatrical format (presumably, this is 1.66:1 cropped for theaters to 1.85:1.) However, it does not fill up the entire screen. Then, after Keani is transformed int oa bear the screen goes black and when the black is replaced by more images the ratio is full 2.35:1 CinemaScope and fills the theater screen.

Perhaps it's cropped by design? As I have said before just because the equipment Disney use forces them to shoot at 1.66:1 it doesn't mean it should be seen 1.66:1 - after all Titanic was shot on Super 35 in a 4:3 ratio and the bulk of the full frame showing is open matte, but it doesn't mean it was meant to be seen that way (and I doubt you would push for a 4:3 showing Jake)

Cool. They did that for Galaxy Quest, too. Actually they went from 1.33:1 to 1.85:1 to 2.35:1 on that one.

But the Galaxy Quest DVD is either 4:3 windowboxed or 2.35:1 isn't it? I don't think it opens up in space, like the theatrical showing did. So what will be Brother Bear DVD choose to do?

[Jake Lipson]

That's my concern. I hope Disney will release it properly, with the opening scenes windowboxed to 1.66:1 (or, if the animators want it too be seen in 1.85:1, then windowbox that) in a 2.35:1 frame, and then just get rid of the windowboxing when it goes 2.35:1. This is sort of simmilar to what was done with The Sorcerer's Apprentice segment on the Fantasia 2000 DVD.

[Luke]

But the Galaxy Quest DVD is either 4:3 windowboxed or 2.35:1 isn't it? I don't think it opens up in space, like the theatrical showing did. So what will be Brother Bear DVD choose to do?

4:3 is windowboxed and then it just goes into 2.35:1 instead of staying in 1.85:1 for about 20 minutes. That just wouldn't work well in an anamorphic transfer - or even a non-anamorphic transfer, without having excessive black space.

[2099net]

That's my concern. I hope Disney will release it properly, with the opening scenes windowboxed to 1.66:1 (or, if the animators want it too be seen in 1.85:1, then windowbox that) in a 2.35:1 frame, and then just get rid of the windowboxing when it goes 2.35:1. This is sort of simmilar to what was done with The Sorcerer's Apprentice segment on the Fantasia 2000 DVD.

As Luke says, this would never fly with the general public. Black bars on the top and the sides? No way will Disney do this.

The only hope is a collectors set with 2 transfers on the same disc? One windowboxed, one not?