I have a widescreen monitor, yet some DVDs have blacks bars on the top/bottom?

[Eeezee]

I was just starting to watch Batman Begins in Media Player Classic, but there are black bars on the top+bottom of the screen!

My 32" monitor supports 1360x768 and 1280x768 resolutions. The bars are HUGE - it's not like I'm talking about a few millimeters, they're maybe an inch and a half of the top and bottom of the screen. What gives? I have a widescreen monitor, most widescreen content plays fine, why does Batman Begins have these bars all of a sudden?

I would zoom, but that cuts off the left/right portions of the screen - I shouldn't have to zoom on a widescreen movie!

 

[s44]

Because a true widescreen movie (anamorphic or Super 35) is 2.39:1, not 16:9.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: s44
Because a true widescreen movie (anamorphic or Super 35) is 2.39:1, not 16:9.

Why the hell did they do that???

 

[s44]

Are you serious? Because that's how movies have been made since the 50s. Have you ever actually seen Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, etc in the theater?

Regular 35mm movies are in 1.85:1, which is close enough to 16:9 that they usually open matte or pan&scan the difference.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Eeezee

Originally posted by: s44
Because a true widescreen movie (anamorphic or Super 35) is 2.39:1, not 16:9.

Why the hell did they do that???

You're just realizing this now? Most blockbusters are shot in 2.35:1 or close to that.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: s44
Are you serious? Because that's how movies have been made since the 50s. Have you ever actually seen Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, etc in the theater?

Regular 35mm movies are in 1.85:1, which is close enough to 16:9 that they usually open matte or pan&scan the difference.

Yes, I've seen all of those movies in a theatre. No, I had no idea that televisions were not produced with the same aspect ratio as most blockbusters. Would it have been so hard to help me without the sarcastic little quip? Gee, I'm sorry I'm not an expert and that I've never cared to notice the visual difference between 16:9, 1.85:1, and 2.29:1 aspect ratios :roll:

Who came up with the idea of producing televisions in 16:9 if most blockbusters are shot in 2.35:1 or 1.85:1? Is there some technical reason that they don't produce televisions with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio?

I hate the internet.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: Eeezee

Originally posted by: s44
Are you serious? Because that's how movies have been made since the 50s. Have you ever actually seen Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, etc in the theater?

Regular 35mm movies are in 1.85:1, which is close enough to 16:9 that they usually open matte or pan&scan the difference.

Yes, I've seen all of those movies in a theatre. No, I had no idea that televisions were not produced with the same aspect ratio as most blockbusters. Would it have been so hard to help me without the sarcastic little quip? Gee, I'm sorry I'm not an expert and that I've never cared to notice the visual difference between 16:9, 1.85:1, and 2.29:1 aspect ratios :roll:

Who came up with the idea of producing televisions in 16:9 if most blockbusters are shot in 2.35:1 or 1.85:1? Is there some technical reason that they don't produce televisions with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio?

I hate the internet.

Because not all movies are 2.35:1 or any other aspect ratio. Filmmakers can choose their aspect depending on their style, so some of them ARE 16:9, while others are wider.

If TVs were 2.35:1, then you'ld be complaining that there were bars in the sides of the screen for anything "less wide".

You're always going to have black bars no matter what aspect ratio you choose for a TV (unless you either crop or strectch the picture (watch a movie on TBS HD to see obvious stretching being done).

 

[cubby1223]

Next figure out why widescreen computer monitors are 16:10 ratio.

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: Eeezee

Originally posted by: s44
Are you serious? Because that's how movies have been made since the 50s. Have you ever actually seen Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, etc in the theater?

Regular 35mm movies are in 1.85:1, which is close enough to 16:9 that they usually open matte or pan&scan the difference.

Yes, I've seen all of those movies in a theatre. No, I had no idea that televisions were not produced with the same aspect ratio as most blockbusters. Would it have been so hard to help me without the sarcastic little quip? Gee, I'm sorry I'm not an expert and that I've never cared to notice the visual difference between 16:9, 1.85:1, and 2.29:1 aspect ratios :roll:

Who came up with the idea of producing televisions in 16:9 if most blockbusters are shot in 2.35:1 or 1.85:1? Is there some technical reason that they don't produce televisions with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio?

I hate the internet.

2.35:1 would look stupid for tv shows. 1.85:1 is pretty close to 16:9. either way, you get a lot more picture and less black bars on a 16:9 than a 4:3.

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: cubby1223
Next figure out why widescreen computer monitors are 16:10 ratio.

Easy,

16:10 is best compromise between the widescreen and 4:3.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: BassBomb

Originally posted by: cubby1223
Next figure out why widescreen computer monitors are 16:10 ratio.

Easy,

16:10 is best compromise between the widescreen and 4:3.

Uh, then why didn't they make TVs 16:10?

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: Slick5150

Originally posted by: BassBomb

Originally posted by: cubby1223
Next figure out why widescreen computer monitors are 16:10 ratio.

Easy,

16:10 is best compromise between the widescreen and 4:3.

Uh, then why didn't they make TVs 16:10?

Because ATSC resolutions are 16:9, and the TV manufacturers didn't want people calling them asking why the HDTV isn't using the fullscreen. Sounds oddly familiar, no? ;-)

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: Slick5150

Originally posted by: BassBomb

Originally posted by: cubby1223
Next figure out why widescreen computer monitors are 16:10 ratio.

Easy,

16:10 is best compromise between the widescreen and 4:3.

Uh, then why didn't they make TVs 16:10?

Because ATSC resolutions are 16:9, and the TV manufacturers didn't want people calling them asking why the HDTV isn't using the fullscreen. Sounds oddly familiar, no? ;-)

Just imagine how many people out there never change their DVD player to output in widescreen. Those are some REALLY huge "black bars".

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: s44
Are you serious? Because that's how movies have been made since the 50s. Have you ever actually seen Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, etc in the theater?

Regular 35mm movies are in 1.85:1, which is close enough to 16:9 that they usually open matte or pan&scan the difference.

yep. and the original Star Wars was actually shot in 70mm...so that one is Wiiiiiiiiiiide.

I'm surprised OP didn't know this earlier, being that 2.35:1 has been around long before he was born, and rather standard, I'd imagine.

 

[evenfall928]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
I'm surprised OP didn't know this earlier, being that 2.35:1 has been around long before he was born, and rather standard, I'd imagine.

Age has nothing to do with it. I had to explain this whole thing to my fiance when we bought our plasma a couple of months ago...and he's 7 years older than me. =P

 

[Sunrise089]

Originally posted by: evenfall928

Originally posted by: zinfamous
I'm surprised OP didn't know this earlier, being that 2.35:1 has been around long before he was born, and rather standard, I'd imagine.

Age has nothing to do with it. I had to explain this whole thing to my fiance when we bought our plasma a couple of months ago...and he's 7 years older than me. =P

I was about to make a sarcastic comment that "that's because you were dealing with a girl"...and then you blew my %&#* mind

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: Sunrise089

Originally posted by: evenfall928

Originally posted by: zinfamous
I'm surprised OP didn't know this earlier, being that 2.35:1 has been around long before he was born, and rather standard, I'd imagine.

Age has nothing to do with it. I had to explain this whole thing to my fiance when we bought our plasma a couple of months ago...and he's 7 years older than me. =P

I was about to make a sarcastic comment that "that's because you were dealing with a girl"...and then you blew my %&#* mind

I was thinking the same thing.... then I finished reading the post

 

[newnameman]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: s44
Are you serious? Because that's how movies have been made since the 50s. Have you ever actually seen Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, etc in the theater?

Regular 35mm movies are in 1.85:1, which is close enough to 16:9 that they usually open matte or pan&scan the difference.

yep. and the original Star Wars was actually shot in 70mm...so that one is Wiiiiiiiiiiide.

I'm surprised OP didn't know this earlier, being that 2.35:1 has been around long before he was born, and rather standard, I'd imagine.

Star Wars was not a 70mm production.

 

[tw1164]

Originally posted by: Slick5150

Originally posted by: Eeezee

Originally posted by: s44
Are you serious? Because that's how movies have been made since the 50s. Have you ever actually seen Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, etc in the theater?

Regular 35mm movies are in 1.85:1, which is close enough to 16:9 that they usually open matte or pan&scan the difference.

Yes, I've seen all of those movies in a theatre. No, I had no idea that televisions were not produced with the same aspect ratio as most blockbusters. Would it have been so hard to help me without the sarcastic little quip? Gee, I'm sorry I'm not an expert and that I've never cared to notice the visual difference between 16:9, 1.85:1, and 2.29:1 aspect ratios :roll:

Who came up with the idea of producing televisions in 16:9 if most blockbusters are shot in 2.35:1 or 1.85:1? Is there some technical reason that they don't produce televisions with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio?

I hate the internet.

Because not all movies are 2.35:1 or any other aspect ratio. Filmmakers can choose their aspect depending on their style, so some of them ARE 16:9, while others are wider.

If TVs were 2.35:1, then you'ld be complaining that there were bars in the sides of the screen for anything "less wide".

You're always going to have black bars no matter what aspect ratio you choose for a TV (unless you either crop or strectch the picture (watch a movie on TBS HD to see obvious stretching being done).

You're right, movies on TBS HD do look like shit.

 

[Auric]

May I recommend a double feature of The Bridge on the River Kwai and Ben-Hur which sport 2.55 and 2.76:1 aspect ratios respectively?

Your cheesy little so-called widescreen display is not. Get over it already.

A 32" 1.78:1 display (i.e. HDTV) showing common 2.40:1 widescreen content produces the equivalent image height of a 19" SDTV showing native film/TV content. Ergo, it's quite small.