Wrong Aspect Ratios

[Kage]

Has anyone bought a film on iTunes and noticed that it’s in the wrong aspect ratio? If so, does that bother you and request a refund from iTunes or do want enjoy the film even though it has the wrong aspect ratio?

[dunnbluray]

Originally Posted by Kage

Has anyone bought a film on iTunes and noticed that it’s in the wrong aspect ratio? If so, does that bother you and request a refund from iTunes or do want enjoy the film even though it has the wrong aspect ratio?

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=301393

Which movie did you purchase?

[jibucha]

yes :: although it was only one showing of a movie that previously and since has shown properly

which? :: it was Wonder Woman (Dolby Vision)

when it did, i immediately compared it to my disc copy; difference in every aspect was considerable and disturbing

after about an hour, while i was comparing/diagnosing, it returned to its proper aspect ratio (resolution and cropping were 'very apparent')

this has only occurred once :: since then, proper displaying of content occurs

conclusion? :: in this instance, the cause was the internet (bandwidth), which is what can be expected if you have insufficient bandwidth or reliable internet performance :: this is just one of many reasons that i do not support streaming and do support discs

your situation? :: i would expect that your internet performance is the cause, but it would only be so if it occurs with every movie, every time (of course, at times as was my experience)

to be clear, if this is a bandwidth or quality of delivery issue, Apple will degrade the performance (aspect ratio & resolution, etc) placing a priority on 'at least' seeing the movie

personally, i would never 'enjoy' a compromised experience

Apple (refunds) :: if you contact customer support (recommended) - (request a transfer to iTunes Billing for a refund); keep in mind that if you contact them within 60-days, you should not have an issue with a valid reason (dissatisfied with performance as expected) :: if beyond 60-days; don't bother, as they are unable to process beyond that time frame (it's how their system is set up)

Originally Posted by Kage

Has anyone bought a film on iTunes and noticed that it’s in the wrong aspect ratio? If so, does that bother you and request a refund from iTunes or do want enjoy the film even though it has the wrong aspect ratio?

[Yaristaman]

Yes,

Jaws 2 and Superman the Movie on the UK store were both in 1.85:1 rather than 2.35:1. Funnily enough though the 3 hr cut of Superman in the extras IS in the correct ratio.

I reported the problem to Apple and had a refund on both within 24 hours.

[avs commenter]

I noticed The Avengers was full screen and not the expected widescreen version

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

I noticed The Avengers was full screen and not the expected widescreen version

The Avengers is 1.78:1 on iTunes, which is the correct aspect ratio.

[Kage]

Bicentennial Man is also in the wrong aspect ratio. It should be 1.85:1 in iTunes, but it is 1.66:1. I contacted iTunes support about it last week and they refused to give me a refund.

[heynongman]

Originally Posted by Kage

Bicentennial Man is also in the wrong aspect ratio. It should be 1.85:1 in iTunes, but it is 1.66:1. I contacted iTunes support about it last week and they refused to give me a refund.

A few months ago I started checking the OAR of everything I watch after noticing Appaloosa was pan and scanning. There are tons of movies in the wrong aspect ratio. It’s usually 1:85:1 movies cropped to 1:78:1 so it’s not really all that noticeable, but there’s an alarming amount.

[PCFan]

Originally Posted by heynongman

A few months ago I started checking the OAR of everything I watch after noticing Appaloosa was pan and scanning. There are tons of movies in the wrong aspect ratio. It’s usually 1:85:1 movies cropped to 1:78:1 so it’s not really all that noticeable, but there’s an alarming amount.

Some of my purchases from iTunes are in 1.66:1 when the original aspect ratio is 1.85:1, for example Bagdad Cafe and Bicentennial Man. Apple support told me that the studio told them that 1.66:1 for Bicentennial Man was what the studio intended for iTunes. I ended up watching Bicentennial Man through Amazon since it was in the the original aspect ratio there and it ported over since it's Movie Anywhere compliant. I buy from iTunes because I rather use iTunes as a preferred digital provider. It's been over two weeks since I purchased Bagdad Cafe from iTunes and have not received a response from Apple for that one. I would not be surprised if the studio intended it to be in that aspect ratio for iTunes as well.

[Kage]

Originally Posted by Kage

Bicentennial Man is also in the wrong aspect ratio. It should be 1.85:1 in iTunes, but it is 1.66:1. I contacted iTunes support about it last week and they refused to give me a refund.

I still haven't received an response from iTunes support. I may have to write a email to Tim Cook about the content quality issue with iTunes movies and tv shows.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by heynongman

A few months ago I started checking the OAR of everything I watch after noticing Appaloosa was pan and scanning. There are tons of movies in the wrong aspect ratio. It’s usually 1:85:1 movies cropped to 1:78:1 so it’s not really all that noticeable, but there’s an alarming amount.

No. 1.85 films aren't cropped to 1.78, they're opened up to 1.78 with a little bit of extra height. 1.78 is larger than 1.85, not smaller. This is perfectly fine. I guarantee you that due to projector distances and parallax distortion that they were never shown in any theater at exactly 1.85:1. I discussed this once with Robert A. Harris (the film restorian) and he had no problem with this. And if he doesn't, then I can't because he's the expert. In fact, the only Blu that I own that was originally 1.85 and isn't 1.78 is "The Big Lebowski".

And it's similar with 1.85 films shown at 1.66. 1.66 is a larger image than 1.85 and more height is shown. If the films in question are from the 1950's or a foreign film, 1.66 might indeed be the correct aspect ratio. And people shouldn't blame Apple. If Apple has a film at 1.66 that should be 1.85 it's because that's the master they were sent by the studio. Blame the studio. Apple has nothing to do with it - they don't modify aspect ratios.

[Kage]

I have many films from Warner Bros that should have an OAR of 1.85:1, but the viewing aspect ratio is 1.78:1. Does anyone know why Warner Bros prefers to modify the OAR of 1.85:1 to 1.78:1?

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by Kage

I have many films from Warner Bros that should have an OAR of 1.85:1, but the viewing aspect ratio is 1.78:1. Does anyone know why Warner Bros prefers to modify the OAR of 1.85:1 to 1.78:1?

Same reason Paramount and The Weinstein Company do it: overscan. When played back on TVs with overscan compensation off, these 1.78 framed movies look close to 1.85. Since overscan compensation is available on many displays, you get slightly more picture information for nearly all of these.

1.85 is usually soft matted to that AR, so to achieve 1.78 the mattes are nudges slightly opening up the frame and offering more picture information. Very few 1.85 framed films are cropped to 1.78.

[harpolini]

Just bought Earth Girls Are Easy because it was only sale but it's cropped to 1:85:1. Very disappointing. Does iTunes ever go back and update/upgrade files and is there an easy way to tell (like a date in the description or something?)

[-Gonzo-]

Originally Posted by harpolini

Just bought Earth Girls Are Easy because it was only sale but it's cropped to 1:85:1. Very disappointing. Does iTunes ever go back and update/upgrade files and is there an easy way to tell (like a date in the description or something?)

No different to the DVD widescreen release then.

Buy Earth Girls Are Easy - Jim Carrey, Geena Davis, Jeff Goldblum - Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.85:1; Number of discs: 1;

iTunes only host what’s provided to them via the Studios/Distributors, if there is a different aspect ratio version available then the studio/distributor would need to provide it.

[harpolini]

Originally Posted by -Gonzo-

No different to the DVD widescreen release then.


iTunes only host what’s provided to them via the Studios/Distributors, if there is a different aspect ratio version available then the studio/distributor would need to provide it.

The text description on the DVD box is incorrect stating "presented in a "matted widescreen format preserving the 1:85:1 aspect ratio."

I've provided screencaps from my Artisan DVD copy and iTunes version below. What is most infuriating is the iTunes version contains the opening credits in correct aspect ratio then switches to a cropped 1:85:1 version.

DVD

[Show spoiler]

iTunes

[Show spoiler]

[Yaristaman]

Originally Posted by harpolini

Just bought Earth Girls Are Easy because it was only sale but it's cropped to 1:85:1. Very disappointing. Does iTunes ever go back and update/upgrade files and is there an easy way to tell (like a date in the description or something?)

As I noted above Jaws 2 was in the incorrect 1.85:1 ratio. It's now been redone in the correct 2.35:1 ratio.