DARK KNIGHT/PS3 Aspect Ratio Query...

[DNYCE]

Howdy all... New to this site, so my apologies if this topic has already been addressed... I'm also just now beginning to play with all my HD stuff....

Playing "The Dark Knight" BRay on my PS3 I noticed some aspect ratio changes in certain scenes:

The beginning bank robbery scene of the movie filled the whole screen of my 52" LCD, but in the very next scene, it displayed it in letterbox... I saw this occur with several other scenes and became puzzled as to why the shift in aspect ratios, and began to second-guess my hardware.

I began to surf this site and read its forums on aspect ratios and quickly learned a lot from what aspect ratio is listed in the back of the dvd boxes and which ratios fill the whole screen and which don't. The details on the box for the video display for the Dark Knight BR read:

"1080P High Definition 16x9 Variable 2,4:1 and 1.78:1 (IMAX Sequences)"

(I understand the first & last , but the "Variable 2,4:1" part confuses me)

So, please correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding of this is that the scenes in which I see the whole screen filled is because ONLY those scenes are IMAX sequences, and as soon as those scenes are over, the ratio drops (is that an appropo term?) to a 16x9 letterbox ratio? If what I surmise is correct, then gee, why not display the whole disc in that IMAX aspect? Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.

Has anyone else noticed this? Is my hardware OK? And what is the "Variable 2,4:1" mean?

Thank you in advance.

[Midnightsailor]

Welcome to Blu-ray. This is almost the way the film was shown in IMAX. You are correct in your thinking. The IMAX footage is 1.78:1 and will fill your entire screen. The rest of the footage was shot on 35mm and is in the aspect ratio of 2.40:1.

edit: Click the link in my sig for more information on aspect ratios.

[andyman1970]

Nothings wrong with your hardware. This is the way director Chris Nolan wanted the BD version to be presented as some of the scenes just looked better in the IMAX ratio. Usually the more action oriented ones.

[ShelbyGT500]

Just a quick note if you watch the extras on the first disc it explains the whole IMAX film process and why they didnt film the entire thing in IMAX.

Variable 2.40:1 just means its switches from the 1.78:1 to the 2.40:1 and back. Your hardware is perfectly fine its just the way Nolan wanted it to be seen.

[ascian]

For those who don't care to watch the IMAX special feature, the main reasons cited for not using IMAX through the entire feature boiled down to the equipment.

Setting the mis-en-scene (shot composition) was extremely tedious in terms of lighting, and then camera placement, essentially the whole camera crew got a crash course in IMAX. Maneuvering was also a problem as the equipment is larger and heavier than traditional cameras. Cost also comes into play.

I don't recall if this factored into the limited use of IMAX (as opposed to shooting the entire film as such), but Nolan wanted to use the IMAX shots to increase the drama and presence of the scenes in question. Especially later in the film, in the hospital scene, and my favorite, the chase, this really succeeded.

**Minor Movie Spoiler**

When Batman swerves to avoid the Joker at the end of the chase scene and the camera does an extended shot of the Joker approaching the unconscious Batman.... WOW. The whole face-off at the end had that much more oomph, but that in particular was a great shot. Just fantastic.

** End Spoiler**

Personally, I watched the movie before the extras as I assume most do. Being my first time to see the aspect shift, I was impressed by the addition these shots made to the film. When I later heard them say it was for the dramatic tension, I can only say "mission accomplished" b/c that was exactly the reaction I had.

[DNYCE]

Thank you everybody for shedding some light and for the additional information!