Next message was again automated. It said, (and I'm paraphrasing here), "If you are calling to request that we release a title on video or DVD, please press 1. <b>If you would like to learn the difference between "widescreen" and "full screen," please press 2.</b>"
I wasn't sure if I heard right and had them play the recording over again. But they did say it. So, suprised and intrigued, I pressed 2 just to see what they'd say, even though I of course didn't need the lesson.
An automated recording explained about different aspect ratios and then talked about how in a widescreen form you see all of the theatrical image, the way it is reccomended you see it, but in a fullscreen version the picture fills the screen but it causes you to loose up to 50% of the theatrical picture because they have to cut off the sides to make the image fit the entire screen. At the end of this, the recording said, "If you would like to see an example, please see disc two of Sleeping Beauty."
My guess is they put it up there as a response of sorts to the people who called complaining about not being able to buy Pirates of the Caribbean in fullscreen (which I'm sure there were a lot of), but whatever the reason I'm very very suprised and glad they did it (although they'll probably have to tweak it in a week or so when Sleeping Beauty goes out of print because they really can't refer people to it if it's out of print.) I kneeled there at the phone for a minute or so after hearing this message and thought, "Oh my God, WOW, is this the same studio I'm calling to complain about removing the widescreen option on dual releases?"
Unfortunately it was, and I took care of that.
I then pressed 0 and talked to a nice represenative, and camly and politely stated my position on the policy change. I explained my knowlege of the policy and said kindly that I thought it was wrong to deprive customers of a choice because they were buying the product late after the release date, and I added that they would loose my sale if my preferred format was not available at the time when I intended to purcasee any given title. She asked me what format I preferred, and I said, "Widescreen, always. I think movies should be seen as they are properly framed." She said that as far as she knew if a title was released in multiple formats it stays that way, but I told her that it had come to my attention from a website that I trust very much that the policy had changed and she took my name, address, phone number and comments and said she would forward my message to the marketing department. She thanked me for the call and hung up.
So there's the pleasnt suprise of the day. For once recently, Walt Disney Home Entertainment did something we DVD fans should not only approve of but applaud them for! WOW. Bravo, Disney, and keep up the good work!