[Alan Gouger]

This movie was shot in super 35mm so I hope we are seeing open matt.


I wonder if it will be in scope on Direct.

 

[DVM]

What you just posted sounds really interesting, but I have no idea what it means


Is there an "Idiot's Guide" on how to translate that information to newb?


Dave

 

[darinp]

I just compared about the first minutes of the DVD to the Dish Network HD-PPV version. Looks like they opened it up vertically just a hair to go from 2.35:1 to 16:9, but mostly cropped the sides. I would say 75%-to-25% or 80%-to-20% cropping to opening from what I saw.


Really disappointing. I got a 5000+modulator and ordered Dish partially because of this movie (I already had a 169time with DirecTV). And I've invited people over for tomorrow night to watch it on my SX21. After watching what I did I think I would watch the DVD, which to me means that I should wait for the extended version. The regular DVD looks pretty clean from my Momitsu V880 even compared to this HD version, so the extended version should probably look better (2 disks). It is possible that I would notice more detail on the HD version over the current DVD version with longer viewing, but it didn't seem real obvious to me in switching back and forth. However, on my screen the objects were smaller from the DVD version.


Maybe I'll see if people want to see "The Transporter" from D-Theater instead.


--Darin

 

[CycloneGT]

He speaks in riddles.


I think he means that the Original Aspect Ratio of the movie should have left black bars on the top/bottom of his 16:9 screen. But when watching LOTR:TT he did not see them. Either the HDTV movie is zoomed in to fill up the screen, or if the movie was filmed in Open Matt, then the top/bottom portion is addiontal material to what was shown in the theaters.


Then he goes on to wonder if DirectTV's HD-PPV of LOTR:TT will have the black borders on the top/bottom.

 

[gpflepsen]

Home Theater and HDTV Geek Speak for Dummies is due out by Dec. '03. Will make a good stocking stuffer.

 

[DVM]

Cyclone - Thanks for the translation! I sort of envision posts from Alan as statements from the dali lama - not really intended for mere mortals like me! I'm glad one of the initiated is looking out for us peons, who still have a number of re-incarnation cycles to complete. OK - I think I've stretched this metaphor to the breaking point, so I'll move on


gpflepson - I'm all over that stocking stuffer! 'Course, the wife already thinks I'm a geek for trying to explain things like resolution, aspect ratios, and compression artifacts when she just wants to watch the movie. Maybe a little more knowledge is not necessarily a good thing.


Dave

 

[William]

Quote:

Originally posted by DVM What you just posted sounds really interesting, but I have no idea what it means Is there an "Idiot's Guide" on how to translate that information to newb? Dave

Remember people who are interested in learning info are not idiots. Here are a couple of good references.

 

[Matt_Stevens]

This is a terrible disappointment. Everyone needs to call into DISH and complain. Don't be a lazy bum, just call. If we do not speak up now about this, it will become habit on DISH's part.

 

[Alan Gouger]

Sorry guys for not being a little more thoural in my explaination.


Regarding the "Idiot's Guide" thats how I feel when I have to hit the PC forum for some advice.

 

[hdtvmaniac]

What the hell's Dish thinking??? I for one, won't even bother purchasing this. I was intending to, but now that I know they're not presenting it in OAR, they can forget me purchasing any movies on HD-PPV, since it seems they've abandoned showing movies in OAR. I didn't think they'd resort to this.


It's bad enough HBO does this, I just don't understand why Dish would do such a thing. I'm getting pretty angry at this. Pretty soon, there won't be any movies to watch in OAR, and all movies will be cropped to fill the screen. I can't wait until HD-DVD comes out, because it seems like the only decent HD material I'll find on satellite is sports games, shows in HD, and the 1.78:1 - 1.85:1 AR movies since you don't have to worry about those being cropped so much. I don't have the HD movie channels to see some *******ized version of big movie hits. And I certainly don't expect this kind of thing on a pay-per-view channel like Dish HD-PPV.

 

[CoolCanuck]

I've already sent Dish several emails just today about this issue (including a link to this thread so they can see how many people are NOT going to purchase this HDPPV movie if it's not OAR). I also intend to call to complain and urge other forum members to do so.


Like hdtvmaniac mentioned, it's bad enough that we get this on HBO-HD, but when I'm paying 5.99 for a single movie viewing on Dish I fully expect the HDPPV channel to be OAR all the time.

 

[Alan Gouger]

when I'm paying 5.99 for a single movie viewing on Dish I fully expect the HDPPV channel to be OAR all the time.



100% correct!

 

[jagouar]

Quote:

Originally posted by Alan Gouger when I'm paying 5.99 for a single movie viewing on Dish I fully expect the HDPPV channel to be OAR all the time. 100% correct!

I agree but I bought it anyways because to me it looks at least twice as clear as the dvd.... you can really tell the detail on the "far away" shots. I know OAR is important to me but clarity and color are more important to me that OAR.

 

[Alan Gouger]

jagouar


Because its an ala cart we should be getting it all

 

[hdtvmaniac]

One of the main reasons I even bought an HDTV set is so I could see a movie on my TV shown as close as possible to what I see in a theater. Unfortunately, with the constant cropping of movies by cable companies, I'm left without much use for my HDTV. I refuse to watch a cropped presentation of a movie, especially when the fact that it's cropped would just keep me from enjoying the movie to begin with. I HATE the idea of images being cut off to fill the screen, and I also HATE the idea of a picture being zoomed in to fill the screen because it cheapens the value of that image. You lose some of the detail if you zoom in on a picture like that, and that goes against the whole reason why people buy HDTV sets.


By the way, anyone know when HD-DVD will finally come out? Other than sports shows and TV shows, I don't think there are a lot of movies worth watching in HD at this time, given the lack of quality releases compounded with the fact that most of the releases, if not all, are cropped or zoomed in. I really hope that any future HD movie channel doesn't choose to do what Hbo and Dish HD-PPV are doing.

 

[jagouar]

Quote:

Originally posted by Alan Gouger jagouar Because its an ala cart we should be getting it all

I realize that but people saying they wont buy solely because its not OAR are pretty stupid IMO, theres alot more benefits to HDTV other than OAR. And even with the non-OAR it looks better than any dvd. DVD looks good but HDTV looks great.

 

[CoolCanuck]

Forgive us stupid folk for wanting to see a movie exactly as the director intended it (or even as the theater-going audience saw it). You are right -- everything should just be 16:9.


Ok, seriously now, the big issue I have here is that this is establishing a new precedent for Dish HD-PPV. While I haven't necessarily enjoyed their selection of movies in the past, there have always been several things to count on and expect (i.e. DD 5.1, nice HD transfer, and yes even OAR).

 

[deArgila]

Quote:

Originally posted by hdtvmaniac By the way, anyone know when HD-DVD will finally come out?

I saw in a recent interview in some magazine (widescreen review?) with some bigwig having something to do with sony's blu-ray (forgive my ignorance on the specifics) that they were expecting to release HD-DVD late 2005.


By the way, in the interview, the guy refused to refer to blu-ray as "HD-DVD", saying that it was a completely new format with a new name. Hmmmmmm.


Among other points of interest:


1. nothing definitive on component outputs

2. 1080p "likely"

3. possibility of higher resolution sound


But the general theme was - "nothing is yet determined."

 

[hdtvmaniac]

Quote:

Originally posted by jagouar I realize that but people saying they wont buy solely because its not OAR are pretty stupid IMO, theres alot more benefits to HDTV other than OAR. And even with the non-OAR it looks better than any dvd. DVD looks good but HDTV looks great.

I could say the same thing for those who will buy a movie regardless of its presentation/quality. You're paying $6 for a movie that isn't even complete in its own right. You're paying $6 for a movie that is nowhere near the ideal image quality that it should have, either.


Seriously, if a movie isn't very good, no matter how good it LOOKS, it's not worth purchasing. It's the same thing with quality/presentation, when something like HDTV is concerned. Sure the movie MAY look better than a dvd, even if it fills the screen, but it isn't anywhere near the quality that it SHOULD be. It's not worth paying for, then, and if you pay for it you're only endorsing that practice. What's the point of watching sub-par HD?

 

[jagouar]

Quote:

Originally posted by hdtvmaniac I could say the same thing for those who will buy a movie regardless of its presentation/quality. You're paying $6 for a movie that isn't even complete in its own right. You're paying $6 for a movie that is nowhere near the ideal image quality that it should have, either. Seriously, if a movie isn't very good, no matter how good it LOOKS, it's not worth purchasing. It's the same thing with quality/presentation, when something like HDTV is concerned. Sure the movie MAY look better than a dvd, even if it fills the screen, but it isn't anywhere near the quality that it SHOULD be. It's not worth paying for, then, and if you pay for it you're only endorsing that practice. What's the point of watching sub-par HD?

The same could be said about spending 20 bucks on the DVD, compared to non-OAR HDTV it is substandard. Yet people have no problem buying the DVD and many do. I do. I really cant wait for HD-DVD as well but the fact is its not gonna be consumer friendly for quite a while. And Im not talking about it being released, look how long it too for DVD to become mainstream. Also there should be a standard.... Most eveything is standardized these days. Really the only thing that isnt is computer technologies and DVD/HDTV/TV broadcasts. But at least HDTV had the sense to get it right with 16x9. If there was a standard there would be no need for HBO and dish to crop things and half the bitching on this forum wouldnt exist.