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In Reply to: Harry Potter...is fullscreen really superior to the widescreen DVD? posted by cfraser on May 27, 2002 at 14:34:19:
If you have a widescreen HDTV, then it's a moot point because you'll want the full bredth of the film as originally presentation. Now admittedly, in it's WS aspect ratio Harry Potter isn't going to be as visually spectacular as it was on a theater screen due to the reduced size, especially when it comes to some of the more subtle visual effects such as the various paintings which come to life. However, it's still the same well constructed movie regardless of whether Chris Columbus composed the shots with 4:3 academy or WS formats in mind and indeed some of the effects shots with conrasting perspectives are bound to be more impressive in WS.AuPh
Follow Ups:
If you go to the link mentioned above and view the original shots from the film, it is clear that there is information missing as a result of cropping in both versions. You have a choice of poison here, but that's what it is. Makes you wonder how often this really happens-if it's happening quite a bit, then "widescreen" may be not much more than a "perfect sound forever" marketing ploy.
IMHO, the WS is still superior although I can see where a director who wants to allow for standard academy framing (4:3) might justify this viewpoint for the benefit of those who don't own HDTV (i.e., the majority of folks). OTOH, when you go to a movie, just about any movie unless it's a re-release of a pre-1953 non-WS film, do you view it in 4:3 Academy standard or one of the WS modes (1.85:1, 2.35:1 or 2.75:1, etc.)? Yep, you saw it in WS! See my point? This is the converted aspect ratio you should have the film in on your HDTV; if it isn't being provided then it's the fault of the studio producing the DVD version or someone else (i.e., the director or producer, perhaps) who has an agenda. The "agenda" may be as simple as a sneaky way of selling as many copies of both versions as is humanly possible. However, I'm of the opinion that the confusion this creates does a disservice to both DVD collectors, who happen to own an HDTV, and those consumers contemplating the purchase of an HDTV.AuPh
I'll agree with you on your last point of the whole thing being a disservice to collectors and consumers; I'm not so sure in this case that the widescreen version is better (guess you'd have to compare still frames of the whole movie to do that-a little tedious, obviously). I just don't see the point of shooting the movie, then hacking a major part of the information away, then promoting it as "widescreen" as if it's some kind of techno wonder. Kind of misleading IMO.
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