Movies with incorrect aspect ratio

[88mph]

Thought I'd start a thread for people to report any streaming movies on Amazon which have the wrong aspect ratio; as a warning to others if they are thinking of purchasing it.

Not sure if there are region differences so worth stating the country too.

I'll go first ...

Deer Hunter (UK). 1.85:1 but should be 2.35:1 (or thereabouts)

[KINGDANGER]

The Abyss is presented in 4:3 instead of theatrical 2.39:1.

[Drooch]

Proof Of Life is incorrectly 1.85:1 on iTunes and Prime, but correctly 2.35:1 in the PlayStation Store.

[Hilliard]

The World's Greatest Sinner is letterboxed there in 1.85, but it should be 1.33 for correct aspect ratio.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

I believe The World's Greatest Sinner is one like many flat widescreen productions where it was shot in 1.37 but framed to be masked down to a wider ratio. Ether ratio would be fine.

Originally Posted by Drooch

Proof Of Life is incorrectly 1.85:1 on iTunes and Prime, but correctly 2.35:1 in the PlayStation Store.

Which regions? Proof of Life was shot Super35, so 1.78 would be gaining more top and bottom than what is seen in 2.35.

[Drooch]

Originally Posted by SpaceBlackKnight

Which regions? Proof of Life was shot Super35, so 1.78 would be gaining more top and bottom than what is seen in 2.35.

I don’t know about regions, but different platforms have different ratios. I always want the theatrical framing unless I’m watching on a 4:3 TV (which is never) in which case an open matte version can look good.

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by SpaceBlackKnight

Which regions? Proof of Life was shot Super35, so 1.78 would be gaining more top and bottom than what is seen in 2.35.

You are correct. I purchased the iTunes download some time ago authoring it to Blu-ray. I posted my observations in the Wishlist forum at the time regarding the 1.78:1 aspect ratio. While I always prefer the OAR, in this case 2.35:1, at least here the image is opened up at the top and bottom more than it's cropped on the sides. See below.

2001 DVD Release:


2019 Apple iTunes:


And a few other things of note...
The DVD offers a DD 5.1 track in addition to a feature-length audio commentary by Director Taylor Hackford. There are some forced subtitles for certain non-English speaking parts as well. They're burned-in on the DVD though sadly. The iTunes version offers DD 2.0 audio only, no commentary track, and no forced subs.

That being said, when authoring to Blu-ray I did carry over the DD 5.1 track and audio commentary from the DVD in addition to adding a basic subtitle track. I didn't set the forced flags on the captions that were burned in on the DVD though. I didn't feel like watching the film on DVD first to determine which ones they were.

In any event, I just thought I'd chime in for those who might dismiss the iTunes presentation out of hand considering the 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Yes, I'd prefer the original aspect ratio, but this is more than watchable until an actual Blu-ray is released. It's a clean transfer as well. Looked great projected at 150" diagonal.

[harryoliver122]

I watch the Zack Snyder's Justice League with bad Aspect ratio. 4:3 not working in 16:9

[kannibaliztik]

Originally Posted by harryoliver122

I watch the Zack Snyder's Justice League with bad Aspect ratio. 4:3 not working in 16:9

That is it's correct aspect ratio.

[wobelix]

Are there more that still have them first generation dvd's which had the widescreen version on one side of the disc, and the Pan & Scan on the other side of it?

I do...

[kannibaliztik]

Game of Death on Vudu is in 1.78 when it should be 2.35

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Originally Posted by kannibaliztik

Game of Death on Vudu is in 1.78 when it should be 2.35

The 1978 Bruce Lee one?

Yes, Vudu is based on an old HD master created by Miramax/Paramount (they own US TV/streaming rights) and much of the time they get HDTV masters that are usually cropped or occasionally opened up top and bottom. Amazon has two versions of GOD '78 listed under Miramax, one on Prime Video using the Fortune Star yellow tinged 4k master (with a Miramax logo attatched to the head) and the other on the Amazon Paramount+ add-on using a cropped version of the old Miramax HD master.

[DTSBOY]

Enemy of the State. Opening credits 2.35 and then it goes to 1.78 or thereabouts.

Another 2 bottom of the barrel films on Prime that I had to finish just to see how shit the endings were, The Message Man and Armed Response.

The first made little sense about an ex 'operative' who gets involved in a human trafficking plot and then goes Rambo on the pirates. Gore levels are surprisingly high but the plot is m.i.a.

The less said about Armed Response the better. Wesley Snipes getting paid for utter tripe that has nowt' to recommend it for. A supermax prison being used for a secret computer system location which acquires a 'ghost' in the machine. The 'soldiers' caretaking the facility go offline and Snipes and his motley crew turn up and blah, blah. Shite.

Steven Seagal, come back all is forgiven.

[SpacemanDoug]

theatrical Superman 2 I remember being cropped to 1.78:1 except for the end credits