The Criterion Collection

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I was sooooooo ignorant about aspect ratios in those days and my first experience with a letterbox film on VHS (Manhattan) had me cursing about wasting my rental money on it. “Seeing more with those damn bars on the screen, my a$$!” It took a display of a Laserdisc player in Tower Records showing the difference of quality of VHS to LD to really get my attention. After that I did my research on OARs in film and then realized what they meant about seeing “more.”

Funny, I first learned about that when reading the review in Roger Ebert's movie guide where there was a blurb about the VHS being released in widescreen. At that time I was a teen watching all my movies on VHS on a little 12" screen in my bedroom so that would have been a tough sell for me. I don't think I watched a film in proper AR until DVD came out.

Originally Posted by postmodel

When I was at my in-laws we were watching something that was in 4:3 and my father in law went on this weird rant about how with technology today “why am I looking at a square on a rectangular screen?” My brothers/sister-in law were all high and mighty in agreement then when I explained why it wasn’t filling up the screen and if it did why it would be an issue the room went silent and felt so awkward.

In other words...many people would rather watch a stretched or zoomed in image than black bars. So I agree with you completely.

I think many of us have had moments like that. This past Christmas we were are a family gathering at my brother-in-law's house and he was showing us all his home set-up (in the living room, above the fireplace of course ) and he starts playing a bit of The Two Popes. And as I'm watching it, it looks weird like a cheap, shot on videotape thing. And I ask my wife, who had already seen the film, if the whole film looks like that, did they shoot it documentary style or something? Then it dawns on me, the dumb f*ck has the motion smoothing on and doesn't even notice the difference.

[dragon53]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Slim is already part the Collection from being in Dr. Strangelove.

I know---I got DR. STRANGELOVE in the last B&N Criterion sale.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by postmodel

In other words...many people would rather watch a stretched or zoomed in image than black bars. So I agree with you completely.

The way I've heard it phrased goes something like, "I paid a lot of money for that TV, and I want to see every pixel being used."

[ditcin]

I first learned about aspect ratios when I was 6. My family was watching THE ROBE on TV and the screen was squeezed for the main title. It then turned letterbox as curtains opened showing the Roman gladiators, then quickly filled our Zenith B&W TV. I spoke out loud asking what happened to the picture. My mother said it the difference between the way the movie was in the theater and on TV.
Squeezed pictures, especially for main titles happened a lot when I was little. It became normal to see, and I understood the TV was square and the theater screen was rectangular so it made sense to me.
Years later when Laserdisc became available it was a dream come true and so different to see films made before I was born in a way I never dreamed possible.

[Reddington]

Beaver's take on The Great Escape:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film9/blu-r...pe_blu-ray.htm

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

This past Christmas we were are a family gathering at my brother-in-law's house and he was showing us all his home set-up (in the living room, above the fireplace of course )

What is it with this?

Watch any HGTV renovation/makeover show, and 90% of the homeowners can't wait to whack a TV six feet in the air above a fireplace.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Reddington

What is it with this?

Watch any HGTV renovation/makeover show, and 90% of the homeowners can't wait to whack a TV six feet in the air above a fireplace.

They want to recreate the experience of being in the front row of a movie theater.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by belcherman

They want to recreate the experience of being in the front row of a movie theater.

I guess so. I've never done that, although I have sat in the second row a couple of times when all other seats were taken. Too uncomfortable on the neck.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by Reddington

What is it with this?

Watch any HGTV renovation/makeover show, and 90% of the homeowners can't wait to whack a TV six feet in the air above a fireplace.

It really drives me crazy. Yet, I won't argue with anyone. It's their house, and they can do what they please.

I can almost understand it being done in older homes, since there is no other place to put a 65" screen. But new homes should be built to accommodate that without resorting to placing the TV above the fireplace.

Not to mention the fact that it just looks awful.

[cjamescook]

Originally Posted by postmodel

When I was at my in-laws we were watching something that was in 4:3 and my father in law went on this weird rant about how with technology today “why am I looking at a square on a rectangular screen?” My brothers/sister-in law were all high and mighty in agreement then when I explained why it wasn’t filling up the screen and if it did why it would be an issue the room went silent and felt so awkward.

The one thing I've heard that works is to cut out a 16x9 outline of a present-day TV screen and a 4:3 image representing an old TV or movie picture. Then ask them to position them so they get what they want. The answer, of course, is they can't.

You can sometimes emphasize your point by mounting the 4:3 on a piece of black paper.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by regeyer

It really drives me crazy. Yet, I won't argue with anyone. It's their house, and they can do what they please.

I can almost understand it being done in older homes, since there is no other place to put a 65" screen. But new homes should be built to accommodate that without resorting to placing the TV above the fireplace.

Not to mention the fact that it just looks awful.

Apart from it looking pretty tacky, I'd be concerned that somehow the heat emanating from the fireplace might do damage to the TV.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by dwk

I want Night Nurse!

I want all her pre-code era films. I loved Night Nurse. Missy and Joan Blondell could wake me at 3am to check my vitals any time they want. 💕

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by belcherman

They want to recreate the experience of being in the front row of a movie theater.

Would that be a burning movie theater?

[cjamescook]

Originally Posted by regeyer

It really drives me crazy. ...

I can almost understand it being done in older homes, since there is no other place to put a 65" screen. But new homes should be built to accommodate that without resorting to placing the TV above the fireplace.

I have seen wall-mount brackets for widescreen TVs that fold down. It allows you to leave the TV above the fireplace, against the wall, when you are not using it. When you want to watch it, just give it a tug so it telescopes down into the room to be at a more normal viewing level/angle.

[theater dreamer]

I am absolutely giddy that The Lady Eve is getting a blu. I want all of this month’s titles. The War of the Worlds release saves me from importing the Aussie issue. And I’m finishing Marriage Story tonight, and will be ready to buy it.

Killer month, Criterion! I just hope they change their mind on the Sturges cover. The DVD uses the poster art, and it’s beautiful.

1870B806-8BC2-416B-8A39-061EB01390C5.jpg

This caricature commissioned for the blu-ray is just terrible. Things like that don’t normally bother me, but for this film, it sure as hell does. And I let Criterion know it.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by cjamescook

I have seen wall-mount brackets for widescreen TVs that fold down. It allows you to leave the TV above the fireplace, against the wall, when you are not using it. When you want to watch it, just give it a tug so it telescopes down into the room to be at a more normal viewing level/angle.

When I want to watch it? In my house, the TV would never leave the "watch" position. And forget about ever having a fire while you watch TV.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by octagon

And while we're on the subject, where the hell are our jetpacks and flying cars?.

At least we finally got the old futuristic staple of video calling on the telephone. With that we even outdid Dick Tracy!

[critterdvd]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

Apart from it looking pretty tacky, I'd be concerned that somehow the heat emanating from the fireplace might do damage to the TV.

This is a legit concern actually. My family has a small lake cabin and the only place to even fit a TV is directly above the fireplace, which also happens to be the only source of heat of the majority of the building. In 7 years we've had to replace the TV 3 times because of the heat messing with the unit. But like I said the place is so small it's literally the only place to place a TV in the common area. We've just stuck to buying whatever 40inch costco happens to have on cheapest sale whenever it goes out....

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

I am absolutely giddy that The Lady Eve is getting a blu. I want all of this month’s titles. The War of the Worlds release saves me from importing the Aussie issue. And I’m finishing Marriage Story tonight, and will be ready to buy it.

Killer month, Criterion! I just hope they change their mind on the Sturges cover. The DVD uses the poster art, and it’s beautiful.

Attachment 238546

This caricature commissioned for the blu-ray is just terrible. Things like that don’t normally bother me, but for this film, it sure as hell does. And I let Criterion know it.

The cover art is similar in style to the cover art for The Palm Beach Story (same artist), although the caricature is more exaggerated on The Lady Eve.

[Elvis_Tangerium]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

This caricature commissioned for the blu-ray is just terrible. Things like that don’t normally bother me, but for this film, it sure as hell does. And I let Criterion know it.

I emailed as well. Awful and does not suit the film at all. Tied with The Palm Beach Story as the ugliest cover they've ever released.