So maybe this isn't an issue (and it really isn't), but I noticed that Ice Age 2 has slight black bars on the top and bottom of my 16:9 display, whereas Corpse Bride doesn't.

Now, this isn't some rant about black bars (I actually love 2:35:1 ratio the best..), but I wonder - if both movies are supposed to be 1:85:1, how come there's a difference in the picture size?

Thanks in advance.

Warner Bros. opens the mattes on all of their 1.85:1 movies to expose a smidge of extra picture at the top and bottom, filling the 16:9 screen. Apparently Fox does not.

The difference between 1.85:1 and 1.78:1 is a few scanlines and does not affect the compositional intent of the scene.

I don't have the same findings as you (unless I'm confused! :) ). You say Warner opens the mattes, but there isn't that extra picture in Ice Age 2. There are bars at the top and bottom. Corpse Bride is the movie that fills the entire 16:9 display.

Ice Age 2 is not a Warner title; it's a Fox title. Hence, no open mattes and no extra picture information, unlike the Warner release of Corpse Bride.

Ahh ahh. Yes, sorry got my companies mixed up. :) Just seems so odd that they can both be the same aspect ratio, and are not, at the same time!

Ahh ahh. Yes, sorry got my companies mixed up. :) Just seems so odd that they can both be the same aspect ratio, and are not, at the same time!

Try measuring the actual aspect ratios of "2.35:1" movies sometime. You'll find they can vary anywhere from 2.1:1 to 2.4:1.