Wrong 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.