Original presentation ratio: an ignored requirement of BDs?

[tripletopper]

I remember back in the zeros, when there were two formats for high definition movie discs, the Blu-ray coalition advertised that all their movies are in their original theatrical ratio.

A couple questions about that?

1. Anyone else remember that claim?

2. If that claim were true does that mean TV shows put on Blu-ray would have to have side bars for originally 4x3 material?

3. What about the case of James Cameron using Video 35 and shooting larger scenes with 4x3 than with 16x9?

Finally has anyone noticed that there's been less and less strict enforcement of that clause with 1.85: 1 copies, and zoomed in tv shows. Etc..

5. All the ones that do the funky things with the ratio not labeled with the official Blu-ray Coalition logo, and are just simple "plain print Blu-rays" or "bd movie discs" or some other generic term to refer tohigh definition movie disc? Kind of like how in video games if it doesn't have the official Playstation, Xbox, or Switch logo on the box prominent then it's most likely an unlicensed item for the respective system?

[Canada]

Originally Posted by tripletopper

I remember back in the zeros, when there were two formats for high definition movie discs, the Blu-ray coalition advertised that all their movies are in their original theatrical ratio.

A couple questions about that?

1. Anyone else remember that claim?

2. If that claim were true does that mean TV shows put on Blu-ray would have to have side bars for originally 4x3 material?

3. What about the case of James Cameron using Video 35 and shooting larger scenes with 4x3 than with 16x9?

Finally has anyone noticed that there's been less and less strict enforcement of that clause with 1.85: 1 copies, and zoomed in tv shows. Etc..

5. All the ones that do the funky things with the ratio not labeled with the official Blu-ray Coalition logo, and are just simple "plain print Blu-rays" or "bd movie discs" or some other generic term to refer tohigh definition movie disc? Kind of like how in video games if it doesn't have the official Playstation, Xbox, or Switch logo on the box prominent then it's most likely an unlicensed item for the respective system?

1. The Blu-ray coalition advertised that all their movies are in their original theatrical ratio, the Blu-ray coalition advertised that all their movies are in their original theatrical ratio. Most of them are, but there are exceptions: Blade, Friends

If that claim were true does that mean TV shows put on Blu-ray would have to have side bars for originally 4x3 material?
Star Trek: Season 1 Season 2 Season 3
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Cheers

[tripletopper]

Now I wonder if the official Blu-ray coalition symbol is your guide to know that it'll definitely be in the original theatrical ratio.

And then if someone just uses plain print for the words Blu-ray, or describes it as a high definition movie disc, then you have to look at the back. It might have either failed the Blu-ray coalition's standard by defying the original ratio or they just maybe too cheap to put on the official Blu-Ray logo and pay the licensing to the members.

Also if the Blu-Ray logo is supposed to mean that it passes coalition standards, and if one of the standards was having an actual high definition copy of the film, there are a couple of very poor Blu-rays which basically took the DVD version of the film and just presented it on a Blu-ray without even upscaling it on the disc itself. I think the first version of The Fugitive was one of the problem films and I think Goonies was another one and I noticed they were all the violating films were Warner Brothers films.

Knowing Warner Brothers' history they one foot in the red water and one foot in the blue water, before the red water evaporated. I don't know how both coalitions would have treated Warner Bros' "red and blue copy" of Superman Returns. (A flippable disc with HD DVD on one side and Blu-ray on the other.)

Also, is that my imagination or has standards enforcement become more relaxed now that there's no more competition?

[chip75]

I don't think aspect ratio or OAR was ever part of the specs from the BDA, they may have said that it was going to be a benefit, but we already had that with LaserDisc, DVD, and HD DVD.

They were never going to put distributors over the coals for opening up 1.85:1 or cropping things. They weren't enforcing content, just disc structure (so they played on compatible devices).

Also you're nearly 20 years late, there's thousands of discs, with OAR, including those with pillar-boxing.

[tripletopper]

Just because I said that that was an advertised standard doesn't mean that said they were the first to do it. I have some original aspect ratio VHS tapes.

When there was a format War, it seemed liked the Blu-ray coalition strictly enforced original aspect ratio.

And I think that WAS a requirement to have the official Blu-Ray logo. (Still might be, but I'm not sure)

It seems like when the format War ended, that's when lesser quality Blu-rays started coming out. I'm not saying every Blu-ray became lesser quality once the standards were loosened. I'm just saying that now there's no format War, the coalition has no interest in strictly enforcing that clause of original aspect ratio being a defining feature of the format.

And I wonder if "plain print Blu-Ray" is an indicator of not conforming to coalition standards or if it's just certain companies cheaping out.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by tripletopper

When there was a format War, it seemed liked the Blu-ray coalition strictly enforced original aspect ratio.

And I think that WAS a requirement to have the official Blu-Ray logo. (Still might be, but I'm not sure)

OAR was never enforced as far as I know. All evidence (the numerous discs that aren't OAR) seems to suggest it wasn't a mandate.

The Blu-ray logo is licenced for discs that conform, otherwise they need to be labelled Blu-ray Disc.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by chip75

OAR was never enforced as far as I know. All evidence (the numerous discs that aren't OAR) seems to suggest it wasn't a mandate.

The Blu-ray logo is licenced for discs that conform, otherwise they need to be labelled Blu-ray Disc.

Best not to feed this one mate

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Best not to feed this one mate

One could fall down The Black Hole ...