Letters from Iwo + Scope setup = screwed?

At least some of the new Studio Canal releases allow user to control the placement and font size of subtitles so it's technically possibly with HD DVDs / HDi.


Wouldn't it be quite unexpected if they had used burnt in subs on this one as they will definitely use the same transfer in different countries including Japan etc. and it's not common these days to have burnt in subs.

By far, most of the subtitles I saw were in the black bar at the bottom. Isn't that good? Sometimes when the subtitles went to 2 lines, the 1st line was on the bottom of the picture. Most of the times, it worked out pretty well to me.

That's sad... I was looking forward to see this film.

I won't be purchasing this title then. Thank you for the info.



Quote:
Originally Posted by karlw2000 /forum/post/0


By far, most of the subtitles I saw were in the black bar at the bottom. Isn't that good? Sometimes when the subtitles went to 2 lines, the 1st line was on the bottom of the picture. Most of the times, it worked out pretty well to me.

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Karl, that is the problem.


using a constant height projection setup (requiring a different lens), there aren't black bars - the image is scaled using the original aspect ratio to fit the height of the screen.


for those lucky few having constant height setups, they can't see the subtitles at all (since the "black bars" don't exist). the OP is lamenting the fact that they chose to put the subtitles in the black bars, but not provide a method for moving them. Note that a constant height setup is more like a real theater - and how the original title was designed to be seen - there are no black bars, the titles are on the screen.

Thanks for the clarification leibniz. I didn't understand the problem. It does sound like a nice feature to be able to move the subtitles.

Just out of curiosity, for those with 2.40:1 set-ups, what happens when you watch a 1.85:1 film? Is the screen cropped?

I HATE burnt-in subtitles.



Quote:
Originally Posted by KyaDawn /forum/post/0


Just out of curiosity, for those with 2.40:1 set-ups, what happens when you watch a 1.85:1 film? Is the screen cropped?

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You get a smaller picture and black bars to the sides instead of top and bottom. Makes it easier to mask the pillarbox with curtains.


After going with a 2.35:1 setup, I found myself watching scope movies in my HT exclusively and any media that is 16:9 I watch it in my plasma in the family room.



Quote:
Originally Posted by BuGsArEtAsTy /forum/post/0


I HATE burnt-in subtitles.

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I wonder if this is true with Apocalypto on BD...

Gary, I know you have a VP50. For Letters from Iwo Jima, set an Active AR of 2.17:1 and increase the Vertical Pan to +38. It's certainly not ideal, but those are the settings that gave me the largest picture with legible subtitles.

How about an HTPC? Does PowerDVD do it properly with HD-DVD?



Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh Z /forum/post/0

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What movie is this? I see its an HD DVD, but i don't recognize the cover or the content.


Adam



Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary Murrell /forum/post/0


Josh thanks for the tip, I did just that right after I posted this thread, we think alike regarding the VP50

better than nothing I guess, I wonder how the BD is in this regard ?

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BD is about the same. Discs like House of Flying Daggers and Curse of the Golden Flower are similarly burdened with subtitles half-in/half-out of the picture. Depending on the font size of the particular disc, you may need to adjust the Active AR and Vertical Pan settings for each movie.


The latest wave of HD DVDs from Studio Canal in Europe allow you to manually adjust subtitle size and position using the letter keys at the bottom of the HD DVD player remote. Sony claims that they will offer a similar function on some future Blu-rays, but it isn't active yet.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh Z /forum/post/0

I was hoping someone would notice that.


Anyone want to guess?

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Foreign copy of Resident Evil?