*Important question in the decision to get a 2nd copy of Serenity: How was the Full Frame made? by chrisisall

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

*Important question in the decision to get a 2nd copy of Serenity: How was the Full Frame made?

POSTED BY: CHRISISALL
UPDATED: Thursday, December 22, 2005 16:28
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VIEWED: 4937
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Tuesday, December 20, 2005 9:17 AM

If it was shot on Super 35, it could be that the Full Frame includes more picture on top and bottom, not just 'zoomed in on' to fill the standard TV picture. If so, the Full Frame will be my second copy. If it's just got it's left and right hacked off, I'll just get another widescreen.

Anyone seen the Full Frame yet? I think this might be crutial to more Browncoats than just me...

Please post asap!

*I got me my first copy TODAY!!!!*Chrisisall, stirring the Mudder's milk for 2nite

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005 10:46 AM

HARSHCRITIC

With widsdcreen v. fullscreen, widescreen is better. Fullscreen they cut both sides off and stretch the picture to make it fit your tv. So, your seing less in each shot.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005 11:56 AM

GAMBIT3

Not necessarily. some movies are shot in full screen and actually contain more picture in full screen mode than the widescreen versions.

I myself bought two widescreen versions, but I think the original poster's question is a valid one.

__________________________
http://www.gambit3.com

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005 12:56 PM

JOEYWIT

Having not yet seen the DVD (mine has not yet arrived, grrr!), but having seen Serenity many times on several different screens (after the first 2 weeks, my fav theater moved it to a smaller screen) I would lean toward it having been filmed for widescreen viewing. There was a definite disappointment when I went to the first viewing on the smaller screen. Not that that stopped me from going 4 more times...

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005 1:23 PM

MOHRSTOUTBEARD

Quote:
Originally posted by Gambit3:
some movies are shot in full screen and actually contain more picture in full screen mode than the widescreen versions.

Though, it should be said, these fullscreen versions are still probably not the way the director intended you to see the film. When you frame a shot for widescreen using Super 35 and then reveal the "extra" picture for fullscreen, the composition often looks a bit off, and many times it exposes things (boom mics, puppeteers just off-screen, etc) that weren't meant to be seen.

------------------
"Remember, there's a big difference between kneeling down and bending over."

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005 3:23 PM

DONCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by MohrStoutbeard:
Quote:
Originally posted by Gambit3:
some movies are shot in full screen and actually contain more picture in full screen mode than the widescreen versions.

Though, it should be said, these fullscreen versions are still probably not the way the director intended you to see the film. When you frame a shot for widescreen using Super 35 and then reveal the "extra" picture for fullscreen, the composition often looks a bit off, and many times it exposes things (boom mics, puppeteers just off-screen, etc) that weren't meant to be seen.

Ooh, puppeteers?

Pierson's Puppeteers?

And here I thought there weren't any aliens in the Firefly 'verse...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ain't about you, Jayne. It's about what they need.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005 4:45 PM

DC4BS

Based on the fact that Firefly was shot in widescreen to begin with leads me to believe that the movie would have been specificaly intended for it as well.

It looks like most people agree as the widescreen is #1 at Amazon and the full screen is nowhere to be found. You have to intentionaly dig down into Amazon to even find the order page for it.

Hopefully Universal didn't make too many fullscreen versions they will get stuck with. Don't want anything dragging down the Serenity profits do we?

------------------------------------------
dc4bs

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005 5:14 PM

HARSHCRITIC

Are those movies that go straight to video because I can't see why a movie would be done 1st in fullscreen? I was just curious.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005 5:52 PM

JUTIN

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
If it was shot on Super 35, it could be that the Full Frame includes more picture on top and bottom, not just 'zoomed in on' to fill the standard TV picture.

Sorry bud, your question is confusing people. If I may add that director's always intend for the widescreen version of the films, but the studio will sometimes use the portion of the picture intended to not be seen (the portion covered by black bars) so that wide shots of the cast (like the entire crew in the cockpit) so that eight people are filling the screen (in the widescreen version) left to right with no extra room (on top or bottom) then in the full frame version still be able to see all cast in the same shot by revealing what is under the black bars...

hopefully, I explained the question better... well actually congratualations to the reader for trudging through that explanation without a migraine cuz I certainly have one now.

chrisisall, I only bought the widescreen version so I can't answer your question for you.

-------------------------------------------------
Boston Legal - Tuesdays @ 10:00 (ET) on ABC
Arrested Development - Mondays @ 8:00 (ET) on FOX

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005 7:46 PM

ETHAN

I just got through a viewing of the full screen version after three prior viewings of the widescreen. I have to say, even though I can clearly tell some of the picture on the far left and right are being cut, I much liked the full screen version better all the same. Much better in fact. It just felt more intimate, and Firefly like without all the black on the screen. That's my 2 cents.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005 9:15 PM

MOHRSTOUTBEARD

Quote:
Originally posted by ethan:
. . .even though I can clearly tell some of the picture on the far left and right are being cut, I much liked the full screen version better all the same. Much better in fact.

Pardon me while I go weep for humanity.

------------------
"Remember, there's a big difference between kneeling down and bending over."

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005 10:57 PM

MACBAKER

Quote:
Originally posted by ethan:
I just got through a viewing of the full screen version after three prior viewings of the widescreen. I have to say, even though I can clearly tell some of the picture on the far left and right are being cut, I much liked the full screen version better all the same. Much better in fact. It just felt more intimate, and Firefly like without all the black on the screen. That's my 2 cents.

Ewwwww! Sorry, but ten years from now, when all TVs are 19X9, you'll think otherwise.

I have a 16X9 TV, and it still has black bars (just less so than on a 4X3 TV), and it looks great! I'd never buy a full screen DVD (and even when I was buying VHS, I always bought the widescreen version when possible). It's they way the director shot it, and the way we saw it in the theater, so any true purest wouldn't want to see it any other way!

For those that choose to live in the past, there's always Wal-Mart! They always buy more fullscreen DVDs than Widescreen! They likes to sell them DVDs that don't have those confusing black bar thingys on dem! Yee Haw! Where's my spit cup?

I'd given some thought to movin' off the edge -- not an ideal location -- thinkin' a place in the middle.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005 10:59 PM

MACBAKER

BTW Ethan, the Firefly DVD set presents each episode in widescreen too!

I'd given some thought to movin' off the edge -- not an ideal location -- thinkin' a place in the middle.

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Wednesday, December 21, 2005 5:31 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by ethan:
I just got through a viewing of the full screen version after three prior viewings of the widescreen. It just felt more intimate, and Firefly like without all the black on the screen.

Don't let the widescreen purists upset you, I know what you mean. I always get widescreen, but I also get full frame on certain movies, like I Robot, where the widescreen feels like you're lookin' down a long hallway it was shot so wide, and the full frame brings the important things up close. Of course, full frame loses some detail due to it's non-anamorphic nature, but it also depends how big your TV is and how close you sit to it, etc.

Chrisisall, the flexable viewer

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Wednesday, December 21, 2005 7:53 AM

SIC

Quote:
Pardon me while I go weep for humanity.

/me joins

The only way in hell I will condone use of 4:3 is if the movie/series is made in 4:3 in the first place. Watching a movie/series in the wrong aspect _completely_ ruins it. It's not even debatable. Why don't you just go take a dump in the directors garden while you're at it? Or go take a piss in the cinematographers mailbox? I'm sure they would much prefer that over you watching a gang raped version of their work.

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 2:15 PM

CHIPMUNK

Chrisisall clearly spelled out that he had bought the widescreen first, and simply wanted reviews of the fullscreen, which Ethan kindly provided (particularly valuable post since he spelled out he had seen widescreen previously). Nobody (as far as I could tell) has ever said full is better than wide, merely different.

Let's put a slightly different spin on the original question:
I'm considering buying a fullscreen copy to donate to my local library, on the theory that library DVD borrowers are less likely to have widescreen TVs, and that fullscreen might be a better first experience for them.

Ethan, Chrisisall, and any other

"flexable viewer"s, what do you think?

Maybe I should buy both versions for the library? I wonder if that would mean two entries in their catalog?

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 2:53 PM

FLIPDOG

Quote:
Pardon me while I go weep for humanity.

More joining in.

Okay...heres the deal with film. The only 35mm film that actually captures at fullframe is anamorphic, but that has to do with the type of camera and lens being used. It uses more of the film stock as opposed to having gaps between the frames. All 35mm film cameras capture in the widescreen format.

Okay, so back to the original question...or statement...or whatever. No, the FS version doesn't have anything new...in fact, like the others have said, it has less. FS has this disgusting little thing called pan & scan which just makes things look unnatural.

I'd say donate the Widescreen version. Have those kids grow up knowing what a film was meant to look like.

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 2:54 PM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Chipmunk:
Nobody (as far as I could tell) has ever said full is better than wide, merely different.

Well, I got the full frame, and it was interesting. I saw many a detail on Serenity herself that were not apparent to me on the widescreen. I also felt that the actor's closeups had more impact when 'blown up'.
But there was no extra top and bottom, it was just 'zoomed in on'. The widescreen is DEFINITLY better, but once in a while I'm gonna feel like seein' our BDH's faces all big-like, know what I mean?
Quote:

I'm considering buying a fullscreen copy to donate to my local library, on the theory that library DVD borrowers are less likely to have widescreen TVs, and that fullscreen might be a better first experience for them.

It's my opinion based on working at Circuit City that the casual viewer not inclined to buy movies will prefer the full screen; however many who borrow at the library might have a more complete experience with the widescreen. But if you can't get both, full screen is a safer general bet for now- and if any really like it intensely, the widescreen will always be at Best Buy!

FYI:
Movies I like better full screen are
Mad Max
Blue Thunder
Who Am I?
Independence Day
Spiderman 2
I, Robot
But most movies ARE best served in widescreen

Chrisisall, lookin' for toilet paper in the director's garden...

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 3:07 PM

FLIPDOG

Quote:
Originally posted by MacBaker:

I have a 16X9 TV, and it still has black bars (just less so than on a 4X3 TV), and it looks great!

And whats the deal with that? Its the reason I still haven't bought a 16x9 TV. I'd rather buy a projector and rig up a screen.

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 3:29 PM

CHRISISALL

Most widescreen tv's have a 1.85 to 1 ratio, or thereabouts (although many vary), so, for instance, Spider-man will completely fill the screen, while Spider-man 2 will have smallish black areas top and bottom, that one being a 2.35 to 1 film. Many widescreen tv's have controls that allow you to zoom in ever so slightly to fill the screen to get rid of the 'black bars', but this will also affect the detail of the picture.

*the black bars sing*
"If 2.35 to 1's here,
We're near.
Get used to it!"

Chrisisall

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 3:36 PM

STORYMARK

Quote:
Originally posted by FlipDog:
Quote:
Originally posted by MacBaker:

I have a 16X9 TV, and it still has black bars (just less so than on a 4X3 TV), and it looks great!

And whats the deal with that? Its the reason I still haven't bought a 16x9 TV. I'd rather buy a projector and rig up a screen.

The reason is that there is notstandard aspect ratio between the film and TV industries. (The aspect ratio is the shape of the screen, in relation to width and height). TV is usually done in 1:66 (or full-frame), or 16x9 (TV widescreen). Motion pictures are usually done in 1:85, which almost the same as 16x9, or the wider 2:35, though others such as 2:40 and 2:60 are occasionally used. Serenity was 2:35, while Firelfy was 16x9.

So while Firefly should fill a 16x9 screen with no back bars, Serenity was shot wider, and will have small bars on even a widescreen set.

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle."

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 3:43 PM

CHRISISALL

Storymark, we said practically the same thing at the same time!

But you used a better example

16x9 Chrisisall

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 3:57 PM

SERGEANTX

Here's a good article on this somewhat confusing issue, including Chrisisall's concerns about super35. It's certainly not as simple as I'd thought.

http://www.widescreenadvocate.org/widescreenprimer.html

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

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Thursday, December 22, 2005 4:28 PM

FLIPDOG

Okay...maybe I wasn't clear about my wonders why it isn't adjustable. Trust me, I know all about 2.35:1, 1:85:1, 1.66:1 screen ratios. Doesn't what I said (in a lesser degree) earlier say about the same thing on that web? About the anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio and how a special lens needs to be used?

Although it is a good article.

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