DVDizzy Forum

Can someone please give me the cliffnotes version of which is better and why... I've seen a lot of DVD's that offer both seperately and I don't won't to buy one version when I should have been getting the other. If it makes any difference, I just have a regular DVD player and a regular T.V. (no flatscreen, widescreen, HD etc..)

thanks,
msadrakula

That depends on what you'd rather see in your screen...

For most of the movies, the fullscreen reframe is pan&scan most of the time, so it's just cutting the right and the left of the original image for it to fit your TV screen. It's bigger than you you see in widescreen (it's zoomed). And with the widescreen version on a regualr TV, black barr at the top and the bottom of the screen may disturb you, and it may be worse when the image is wider than the "classic" widescreen aspect ratio (like Brother Bear).

However, for the Pixar films, the reframing process is interesting 'coz for the the fullscreen version, they cut the right and left of the image BUT, are redrawing the characters to make them closer to one another for you to see all the importants elements; they don't justt cut for the image to fit your TV. Plus, they cut at the sides BUT they add animation at the bottom and the top of the image, so what you see in the reframed version of the Pixar films has never been seen before, in theater ! And tihs adding enables the version not be too zoomed like with the pan&scan process.

For the Pixar, it's up to you : either you prefer the original wide version or the fullscreen with all-new animation and moved character.
I think that's great 'coz you can see the movies in the ratio you prefer, without loosing anything !

http://www.widescreen.org/examples.shtml

Check this site out it has loads of screengrabs from DVDs and VHS comparing the two and showing you how much of the picture you lose with *Shudder* pan and scan.

Just to add my two cents...

If you are not a serious film buff (as in, you don't need to see the entire film frame... you were always happy with the fullscreen VHS tapes over the years), then you would probably be happier having your entire screen filled up with the fullscreen version. You will be missing some of the frame, but most of the time it's not that big of a deal to the casual viewer.

If you want to see the entire film frame, and don't mind black bars on the top and bottom of your screen, then choose widescreen. This would allow you to see everything the director wanted you to see in a shot.

And you already got a fantastic rundown of Pixar's films.

The differences have already been pointed out really well. I always go for wide screen even though I don't have a fancy TV....yet. I may get one in the future and what would be far more anoying than the black bars on the top where nothing is missing, is the black bars that would be on the side where there should be movie. I'm honestly betting that my DVD's will outlive my current T.V.'s. Even if a new format comes out I'll still have a DVD player. So what T.V. you'll have 5-10 years down the line is an important factor too.

I would like to thank everyone for their input and time... it has been extremely helpful. I just wish they all came w/ both versions that way I wouldn't have to worry about it.

thanks again,
msadrakula

msadrakula, this is one of those things that is purely subjective. Personally I prefer widescreen no matter what, but you should also do a little homework on a film-by-film basis, i.e. a film originally released in Cinemascope would be enjoyed more I think by viewing in a widescreen format.

My advice to you is that the recent Sleeping Beauty Special Edition DVD release from last Fall has, as one of it's bonus features, a comparison between full screen and widescreen, so if you've got that DVD look for that bonus feature, or if not, they probably have it available for rental at your favorite video rental store.

Well fullscreen is a way to go but if you want the whole picture you must get widescreen.
Like what Luke says "Foolscreen"

I suggest you go widescreen even if you prefer the fullscreen version...you can always use the zoom function on your dvd, just like the Lion King package says!
Plus, in a few years we're all going to have to upgrade to High Def, which is widescreen, just to get cable. It's a scam to sell more of those widescreen puppies.

Actually, you don't have to switch to HD, you have to switch to Digital. But with the booming popularity of 16:9 sets, it is a safe bet that the 4:3 TV broadcast will be fading away, although I doubt it will be gone for another ten years at least.

Anyone who buys FOOLscreen dvds (when the OAR is widescreen) should not be allowed to operate a dvd player.

Ciaobelli wrote:Anyone who buys FOOLscreen dvds (when the OAR is widescreen) should not be allowed to operate a dvd player.

Damn straight!

Ciaobelli for president! (Or at least head of Disney marketing)

People that like P&S VHS should not be allowed to purchase a DVD player only after they take their WIdescreen LIcense class!

I don't really care if a dvd is widescreen or fullscreen as long as i am getting all of the picture! it's OAR!

FOOLSCREEN IS CRAP! WS ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL THE WAY

Ciaobelli wrote:Anyone who buys FOOLscreen dvds (when the OAR is widescreen) should not be allowed to operate a dvd player.

hehe...i guess that i shouldn't be allowed to operate a dvd player then because i lyke full screen better than wide screen. those black thingys r annoying and ws and fs don't look anydiffrent except for the annoying black thingys.

Churafairy wrote:

Ciaobelli wrote:Anyone who buys FOOLscreen dvds (when the OAR is widescreen) should not be allowed to operate a dvd player.

hehe...i guess that i shouldn't be allowed to operate a dvd player then because i lyke full screen better than wide screen. those black thingys r annoying and ws and fs don't look anydiffrent except for the annoying black thingys.

that's where you're WRONG! you should pop in disc 2 of sleeping beauty and watch the WS to FS comparison!

MickeyMouseboy wrote:

Churafairy wrote: hehe...i guess that i shouldn't be allowed to operate a dvd player then because i lyke full screen better than wide screen. those black thingys r annoying and ws and fs don't look anydiffrent except for the annoying black thingys.

that's where you're WRONG! you should pop in disc 2 of sleeping beauty and watch the WS to FS comparison!

eeew, sleeping beauty? That made me sleepy, hehe.

i didn't watch sleeping beauty in fs and ws but i did watch monster inc in fs and ws. it didn't look any diffrent except for those annoying black bar thingys.

Churafairy wrote:[eeew, sleeping beauty? That made me sleepy, hehe.

i didn't watch sleeping beauty in fs and ws but i did watch monster inc in fs and ws. it didn't look any diffrent except for those annoying black bar thingys.

That's because, as Jordan stated in his reply, Pixar recomposites the film for 1.33:1 so that you're not getting a compromised fullscreen version. That is the exception to the rule, as most other animated and live action reformats do lop off information on the sides. For the most drastic examples, take a look at Brother Bear, Atlantis, or the aforementioned Sleeping Beauty.

Churafairy wrote:

MickeyMouseboy wrote: that's where you're WRONG! you should pop in disc 2 of sleeping beauty and watch the WS to FS comparison!

eeew, sleeping beauty? That made me sleepy, hehe.

i didn't watch sleeping beauty in fs and ws but i did watch monster inc in fs and ws. it didn't look any diffrent except for those annoying black bar thingys.

well that's because pixar movies are reformatted for no picture lose. but other movies you do loose picture