W/S and 4:3 on single sided discs - Disturbing trend?

[cervaro]

After reading the reviews for Legally Blonde and America's Sweethearts, I've noticed what may well become a disturbing trend for R1 DVD's by putting both the 4:3 and W/S versions of movies on a single-sided disc which compromises overall picture quality, e.g. edge artifacts, reduce bit rates, etc.

Could this be another example of US producers trying to make their discs more 'family' friendly like Warner Bros to keep the likes of Blockbuster and Walmart happy by including 4:3 versions in the same package at no real extra cost?

The sooner the US makes a concerted move to widescreen TV's and HDTV transmissions the better for the rest of us it would seem, but goodness only knows how long that will take?

[LV426]

Maybe, but it's better than 4:3 only, isn't it?

Many early US discs has both versions (often on two single-layer sides). Then, they began to go WS only. Maybe they are, as you say, going back to trying to cater for all.

I don't expect there will be much difference between 2-side single layer offering and a one-side dual layer offering. Edge enhancement is not directly related to compression. But blocking is.

[Mr Vampire]

Why can't they just put p&s tag onto the one transfer. Recently I've seen Shaolin Soccer and the Chinastar releases use this. Won't sacrifice anymore space and being just the one transfer and all.:brickwall

[Robby]

I had no idea you could do this until recently when i saw a r1 copy of State and Main. I can't say i noticed any difference in picture quality but i guess by doing this you are taking up space for extra's.:mad: :(

[Bapapapa]

Put the WS on one side, the P&S on the other and dump the extras.

Keeps the costs down - one disc, one set of packaging, WS & P&S transfers - everyones happy. :D

[cervaro]

I'd prefer they did that double sided thing. No doubt it costs more, but then it costs to print the artwork on a disc aswell.

Both the discs I mentioned have impaired transfers to an extent according to the DVD File reviews. Then again, I probably won't notice in the end!

[SimonI]

...and yet, A Bug's Life R1 CE has both formats on a dual-layer single sided disk (a DVD9) and you cannot fault the picture on this disk.

Personally, I prefer that approach to the double sided disk (unless they make it a DVD18!) as I like to see a label.

[Mr Vampire]

Don't know why some people are saying flipper as the content is the same. Flipper DVD-10 is the same as one sided DVD-9 , just that the dual layer has been split to 2 sides. It's DVD-18 that's of any benefit, but I'd rather have 2 discs for that.

[Gozer]

Why don't they just release a widescreen version and a fullscreen version on seperate discs?, like MGM did with Silence of the Lambs, and Universal with Mummy Returns and Jurassic Park. This will satisfy the ordinary folk who don't want black bars and the serious collector who prefers widescreen.

[Mr Vampire]

Originally posted by Gozer
Why don't they just release a widescreen version and a fullscreen version on seperate discs?, like MGM did with Silence of the Lambs, and Universal with Mummy Returns and Jurassic Park. This will satisfy the ordinary folk who don't want black bars and the serious collector who prefers widescreen.

If they can do the full screen via a tag on the anamorphic widescreen data, what's the point in releasing it on 2 discs. It saves the disc space also, I'm still wondering why only a small number of companies seem to be utilisng this. :confused:
Cheaper, efficient comes to mind.

[nick69]

I hate it when they insist on putting widescreen only versions on DVD - I think I should get a discount cos half the screen is black!!!:zzz:

[Gozer]

Originally posted by Mr Vampire


If they can do the full screen via a tag on the anamorphic widescreen data, what's the point in releasing it on 2 discs. It saves the disc space also, I'm still wondering why only a small number of companies seem to be utilisng this. :confused:
Cheaper, efficient comes to mind.

I always wondered if this was possible and why no one tried it. Why do we even need fullscreen? It makes me cringe.

[John Nelson]

Originally posted by nick69
I hate it when they insist on putting widescreen only versions on DVD - I think I should get a discount cos half the screen is black!!!:zzz:

Is this a joke? :confused:

-- J.

[phuggard]

Hello all!
The region 1 version of Shrek is a two disk set with widescreen on one & 4:3 on the other, with a heap load of extras spread over the two. This sort of solution would keep everyone happy.
Cheers, Paul.

[sampath]

Originally posted by Mr Vampire


If they can do the full screen via a tag on the anamorphic widescreen data, what's the point in releasing it on 2 discs :confused:

Actually I think quite a few (most?) full-screen versions of films are not simple p&s, so simply instructing the DVD player to hack off the sides of the widescreen picture will not create the 'official' full-screen version. This is definitely true for Super 35 films such as T2 (as pointed out in one of the featurettes of the T2 DVD) and there may well be some open-matting when creating full-screen versions of movies filmed using other techniques.

Maybe someone who knows more about this stuff than me (which is probably most people here :D ) would like to comment on this....

[nick69]

Originally posted by John Nelson


Is this a joke? :confused:

-- J.

Nope - its bl00dy disgusting rant rant rant!!!:mad:

[Paul490]

I just think with films shot anamorphically, they should do a "pan and scan on the fly" and make the picture as terrible looking as possible, while the original version in the OAR should look excellent.

http://members.tripod.co.uk/Paul490/comeandgetsome.gif - Down with pan and scan! :mad:

[Mr Vampire]

Originally posted by sampath


Actually I think quite a few (most?) full-screen versions of films are not simple p&s, so simply instructing the DVD player to hack off the sides of the widescreen picture will not create the 'official' full-screen version. This is definitely true for Super 35 films such as T2 (as pointed out in one of the featurettes of the T2 DVD) and there may well be some open-matting when creating full-screen versions of movies filmed using other techniques.

Maybe someone who knows more about this stuff than me (which is probably most people here :D ) would like to comment on this....

It's the concern of the p&$hit's market. They either adapt or they get screwed... why should we suffer because of J6P :mad:
If they can't pan it on the fly, just keep the picture in the middle, I'm guessing it's gonna force the p&s crowd to start watching the film in widescreen, and that would be very effective in changing the crowd.

[Shingster]

Originally posted by sampath


Actually I think quite a few (most?) full-screen versions of films are not simple p&s, so simply instructing the DVD player to hack off the sides of the widescreen picture will not create the 'official' full-screen version.

Yeah, but people who want P&S clearly aren't bothered/ignorant about the OAR, so they probably wouldn't even notice that they're not getting the "proper" P&S treatment.

[Michael Mackenzie]

Originally posted by sampath


Actually I think quite a few (most?) full-screen versions of films are not simple p&s, so simply instructing the DVD player to hack off the sides of the widescreen picture will not create the 'official' full-screen version. This is definitely true for Super 35 films such as T2 (as pointed out in one of the featurettes of the T2 DVD) and there may well be some open-matting when creating full-screen versions of movies filmed using other techniques.

Maybe someone who knows more about this stuff than me (which is probably most people here :D ) would like to comment on this.... Bah! If they're watching P&S in the first place, they clearly have no concept of framing anyway. Therefore I don't particularly think simply zooming the picture in is a problem.

[01keith]

I've only noticed this trend when I got Hellraiser SE and couldn't believe that both versions of the film were on the disc and on the same side. That's alot of information for one disc.

Bye Bye:brickwall

[sampath]

Originally posted by Whiggles
Bah! If they're watching P&S in the first place, they clearly have no concept of framing anyway. Therefore I don't particularly think simply zooming the picture in is a problem.

I think "J6P" won't be too impressed if all they can see when playing a certain DVD is:

"ime ago in a Galaxy f"

or something. :D

But as pointed out before, that's their problem, and they'll just have to deal with it. :nuts:

[Jimmyboy]

Putting 4:3 and WS transfers on the same side of a disc is nothing new, my R1 copy of Cruel Intentions is like that.

This isnt going to become the standard or the norm because the reason for including 2 transfers on 1 side is because of the short running time of the main feature that makes it possible.