Aspect Ratio

[beast0117]

I'm pretty comfortable with most of the terms and specifics of HD and Blu-Ray, but I seem to get lost a lot on aspect ratio.

I understand 4:3 for TV and generally 16:9 for a theatre, but so many DVD/Blu-Ray titles differ in there aspect ratio. I'm confused; aren't these all (movies at least) basically 16:9 (not counting full screen DVDs) because they were released in a theatre?

How does one aspect ratio make for a higher review or better watching than another?

Thank you.

You can email me directly at flubber0504@hotmail.com

[Deadset]

This link explains it fairly well.

[blu-bee]

Nice link, Deads3t. I also found this article (as linked through crackinhedz sig) to be helpful.

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by beast0117

I'm pretty comfortable with most of the terms and specifics of HD and Blu-Ray, but I seem to get lost a lot on aspect ratio.

I understand 4:3 for TV and generally 16:9 for a theatre, but so many DVD/Blu-Ray titles differ in there aspect ratio. I'm confused; aren't these all (movies at least) basically 16:9 (not counting full screen DVDs) because they were released in a theatre?

How does one aspect ratio make for a higher review or better watching than another?

Thank you.

You can email me directly at flubber0504@hotmail.com

The only way an aspect ratio would impact a review or watching experience is if it was changed from the original aspect ratio (or OAR) to something else. During the days of 4:3 tv, Pan and Scan or "fullscreen" movies were coming out which were just zooming in and/or chopping off the sides of the picture. You weren't getting the full experience as the director intended.

The movies aren't 16:9, though they are anamorphic widescreen. That link will help with that, but basically movies are shot with different filmstock. That allows for different choices and freedoms, giving the director the option to go for a wider or more "epic" ratio, or to bring in one that allows for closer scenes- 1.87:1 or 1.75:1 are used a lot of times for comedies, for example. It all depends on what the director wants, but the goal of home viewing is to protect and display the OAR to duplicate the director's intent.

[bageleaterkkjji]

Originally Posted by aramis109

1.87:1 or 1.75:1 are used a lot of times for comedies

1.78:1 or 1.85:1

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by bageleaterkkjji

1.78:1 or 1.85:1

Oop thanks for the correction.

[3Dfan]

Originally Posted by aramis109

The only way an aspect ratio would impact a review or watching experience is if it was changed from the original aspect ratio (or OAR) to something else. .

Actually there are some movies which impact the viewing experience when watching them on tv in their original aspect ratios.

These are certain multiple aspect ratio movies.

Such as "Brainscan" and "Galaxy Quest".

Plenty of others also, although not the majority.