Wrong/strange aspect ratio (on discs)?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Galaxy of Terror
Bellator86 — 11 years ago(December 07, 2014 11:36 AM)
I'm a little confused.
IMDB says the original aspect ratio for this is 1.85:1 (theatrical release). I also find this information elsewhere. I have a DVD (IPD10558) in 4:3 (1.33:1), which I obviously assume was in some way cropped from the theatrical 1.85:1 version. Shout Factory also has a DVD, and it is also in 4:3.
However, Shout Factory also has a Blu-ray of it, which is in 16:9 (1.78:1). So I assumed this was more true to the original aspect ratio, since it is closer. But then I see some screenshots of the Blu-ray, and it is actually cropped from the 4:3 version I have.
So my question is: was the original movie actually in 4:3? This means the Blu-ray was cropped for 16:9 TVs, which is common, and my DVD is in the original. This makes sense. Or was it originally in 1.85:1, meaning my DVD is cropped on the sides, and the Blu-ray cropped both on the sides and top/bottom? The Blu-ray is a lot prettier than the DVD, so they couldn't have used the DVD cut as source of transfer. So what the heck. -
Tuco-Benedicto-Maria-Ramirez — 11 years ago(February 09, 2015 02:28 AM)
It was probably shot open matte. So, it is shot in the academy ratio (1.33:1) but framed for cinema projection (1.85:1). Then, when the film is shown in the theatre, the projectionist would matte the film (block the top and bottom of the screen) to show the 1.85:1 ratio. Many films were shot this way. I've not seen the Blu-ray yet, but I would imagine it is true to what was shown in cinemas.
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Bellator86 — 11 years ago(February 09, 2015 05:54 AM)
Ah yes, that makes sense, I hadn't thought of that. A while back I contacted Shout Factory's customer support with the question, which in turn sent the question to the DVD producer. He said that he was "sure it was run theatrically at 1.85:1" which I took for it being shot in it, but it could very well mean it was matted instead. Thanks.