FEAR CITY (Shout Factory)

[Eastmancolor]

Originally Posted by AndrewFM

I got the 101 films disc today. Think the movie is likely the same versions Shout put out - however, while the uncut version plays in the correct aspect ratio, on my set up the main theatrical cut plays full 16x9, which is to say the 1.57 ratio is stretched to fill the whole image, so everything looks fat and distorted. The uncut version is my preferred choice so it’s not a big deal to me, but it seems like someone ****ed up somewhere.

The problem with 101's uncut version is the image for the uncut inserts is squeezed, not to mention the aspect ratio for the rest of the feature is wrong as it should have been 1.85 not 1.57. The default standard release cut, which is stretched out and distorted, is unwatchable. This needs a recall.

[LeSamourai.]

Originally Posted by Eastmancolor

The problem with 101's uncut version is the image for the uncut inserts is squeezed, not to mention the aspect ratio for the rest of the feature is wrong as it should have been 1.85 not 1.57. The default standard release cut, which is stretched out and distorted, is unwatchable. This needs a recall.

I ordered via HMV click and collect and am glad I have not yet picked this up. Thank you.

[LeSamourai.]

Originally Posted by Eastmancolor

The problem with 101's uncut version is the image for the uncut inserts is squeezed

How much of the run-time do the inserts account for?

Originally Posted by Eastmancolor

not to mention the aspect ratio for the rest of the feature is wrong as it should have been 1.85 not 1.57.

Does this mean that a portion of the frame is cropped/less image is visible than what was originally released, or that more of the frame is visible than the intended aspect ratio?

[balthazar_bee]

Originally Posted by LeSamourai.

How much of the run-time do the inserts account for?

You can check it out here: https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=962085

I have the disc that has forced French subtitles on the unrated version, so I almost always opt for the theatrical cut. The differences constitute more of a curiosity than a substantial move in quality one way or the other.

Originally Posted by LeSamourai.

Does this mean that a portion of the frame is cropped/less image is visible than what was originally released, or that more of the frame is visible than the intended aspect ratio?

The framing looks fairly natural in its boxy form, maybe a bit roomy at the top and bottom; I never got the sense that we were losing any information on the sides.

[LeSamourai.]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by balthazar_bee

You can check it out here: https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=962085

I have the disc that has forced French subtitles on the unrated version, so I almost always opt for the theatrical cut. The differences constitute more of a curiosity than a substantial move in quality one way or the other.



The framing looks fairly natural in its boxy form, maybe a bit roomy at the top and bottom; I never got the sense that we were losing any information on the sides.

Many thanks for your reply, friend.

[Darren75]

Managed to cancel my 101 order. It was due to arrive tomorrow but hadn't actually been dispatched yet.

That was close.

[raphph]

Literally came to this thread whilst watching this movie to see if anyone had noticed or complained about the UK 101 Films release being stretched in the Theatrical Version aspect ratio. What a mess. Also two version of the film on the same disc without branching? What an encoding mess…

[Met]

Skipping the 101 Films release and not paying the crazy prices for the Shout release...

[Curator]

I preordered this on Amazon but shipping seems to now be delayed indefinitely. Wonder if 101 has put a hold on it or advised of issues? Would be good to have a statement from them about the problems that have been raised above and if they intend to address them.

[Nitroes]

The 101 gets a fairly good review https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Fear-...353933/#Review

I already have the Australian disc but I might update now.

[Curator]

Watched the 101 release and enjoyed it a lot. I simply couldn't discern the stretching issue on the theatrical cut that a lot of people are talking about, and I was looking for it going in having read this thread. I'm normally quite sensitive to even slight aspect ratio distortions so I'm positive I would have spotted something as wildly stretched as has been suggested in this thread. If it's there then it's either not as noticeable as to make it unwatchable or perhaps variable TV settings are handling it differently.

The uncut version is a more jarring watch because the inserts are standard definition and definitely not the same ratio as the rest of the film.

[LSK]

I bought the 101 and watched the uncut version last night. I liked the film but those inserts didn't look too good and I didn't feel they were essential to the film.

The 1.66:1 ratio looked good on this version and I checked the TC afterwards and found, in the scenes I checked, that picture information was the same in the frame. There's a particular scene around six minutes in, where the framing in both versions cuts off the top of a head in this scene and this leads me to believe that the 1.78:1 framing could be stretched. I saw a few other scenes with that framing and if it is indeed stretched it's not something that bothers me.

[russweiss1]

I purchased the 101 release after I read a few people complaining about the AR. I've found that minor things tend to get blown out of proportion in this forum so I generally don't pay much attention. If it's a title I want I'll see for myself.

[snipemonkey]

Originally Posted by russweiss1

I purchased the 101 release after I read a few people complaining about the AR. I've found that minor things tend to get blown out of proportion in this forum so I generally don't pay much attention. If it's a title I want I'll see for myself.

Same. I went ahead and ordered it, if only because I don't care about the R-rated cut, but also because this is not a title I expect to see get another release any time soon. I'll be happy to be wrong on that, but I'm not waiting another decade because I decided to skip it yet again.

[Met]

I might bite and order it. The old OOP Shout disk goes for too much and the Director's Cut(which is supposedly the version to watch) of the 101 looks pretty much identical to the Shout Blu Ray.

[amputd]

Only $119 on Amazon.

[MifuneFan]

Since this is bumped, SF has the newere release on sale for $17.98. It's unlikely to go lower. 733 copies remaining.

https://shoutfactory.com/products/fear-city