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[Prospero]

link to MGM DVD Settlement

From Slashdot:

Apparently all of MGM's 'theatrical wide screen' DVD releases for the last few years have been the pan-scanned versions with the top and bottoms cut off. I checked this against my copy of CQ, and it's true. The list of butchered movies includes almost every Woody Allen film, Silence of the Lambs, and Ghost World, just to name a few. If you own any of the eligible movies, you have until March 31 to either opt to exchange your copy for $7.10, or a new DVD from MGM, presumably in its proper aspect ratio."

The list of films

This can't be right.

EDIT: if this is about films that were shot in something like Super 35, so that the fullscreen version is open matte (like later Kubrick movies) and the widescreen version is matted, then this is nothing to worry about. But it still doesn't make sense to me yet.

 

[keiichi]

wow. I wonder who's descision it was to do this in the first place.

 

[Naked Snake]

wtf

 

[Prospero]

I believe this lawsuit is based on a misunderstanding about aspect ratios. I have all of the Bond movies on that list, as well as a few other discs, and if the image composition had been off on all of those, I would have noticed.

It's possible that MGM was saying that widescreen images contain more information than fullscreen images, which isn't the case if the fullscreen image derives from an open matte. That doesn't explain why the 1940 Thief of Bagdad is on the list, though, since that would've been in a 4:3 aspect ratio anyway.

 

[DarienA]

Hmm I've got about 9 of those... not sure I care though....

 

[Deg]

We need ths stuff to happen in the UK.

 

[borghe]

yes, the lawsuit is about open matte and cropped Super35... it is completely ridiculous..

now in the only defense of the case, MGM WAS WRONG. They did state that with widescreen you get more of the picture when in the case of these movies this is NOT TRUE.

but nevertheless, the plaintiff should be dragged out and beaten by everyone on GAF.

what a fucking waste of human life.

 

[levious]

EDIT: if this is about films that were shot in something like Super 35, so that the fullscreen version is open matte (like later Kubrick movies) and the widescreen version is matted, then this is nothing to worry about. But it still doesn't make sense to me yet.

Is that true of Full Metal Jacket? That's really the only reason I haven't purchased that. They should use some better language than "formatted to fit your screen." Always made me assume it was cropped. Maybe say "enhanced to fill your screen" or something.

 

[Prospero]

Yes--The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut are all open-matte presentations on DVD.

 

[FnordChan]

There was a lot of debate about the DVD release of Koyaanisqatsi, which had previously been released on video in full frame. Theoretically it was, in fact, supposed to be matted ala MGM's widescreen release. However, having grown used to seeing the flick in full-frame, I can't help but think that the matted version is missing some fairly important chunks, particularly for such a visual film.

This doesn't mean I'm handing in my copy, however.

FnordChan

 

[Particle Physicist]

cool. i have absolutely no MGM films.

 

[borghe]

to those not understanding this correctly, MGM IS releasing these films exactly as seen in the theater. The problem stems from the way super35 films are shot as opposed to true anamorphic films.

So MGM is releasing the films the way they are supposed to be doing here... this is just some jack ass trying to get some money because their description of widescreen on the back isn't entirely accurate in this case. but no one here should ridicule MGM for actually releasing films OAR (on DVD and ShowtimeHD to boot).

 

[Manabanana]

The fact that they botched the widescreen on Frogs makes it that much funnier :lol I'm keeping it.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

American Ninja? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

[Ecrofirt]

so what's missing on my copy of Silence of the Lambs?

 

[Hitokage]

*sigh*

Fuck that idiot asshole and fuck each and every single one of you walmart shoppers who are bewildered as to why a widescreen movie doesn't take up all of your TV.

Whew, feel better.

Super35 is a technique that allows the director to control just what part of a shot ends up on the cinema screen. This isn't the studio going back to a movie and simply loping off portions of the screen like pan and scan.

 

[ManaByte]

*sigh*

Fuck that idiot asshole and fuck each and every single one of you walmart shoppers who are bewildered as to why a widescreen movie doesn't take up all of your TV.

Whew, feel better.

Super35 is a technique that allows the director to control just what part of a shot ends up on the cinema screen. This isn't the studio going back to a movie and simply loping off portions of the screen like pan and scan.

haha even worse was what The Screen Savers did today. They made themselves look like total fucking retards today over this.

Basically Kevin said that ALL MGM releases over the last year were pan & scan movies disguised as widescreen. FUCKING RETARD.

 

[metsallica]

I don't know what I'm more shocked by... this "lawsuit," or the fact that Mana still watches TSS!

 

[Hitokage]

The guy actually had a case with false advertising, in that 4:3 versions of Super35 films DON'T contain less visual space, but I still had to rant. This is all over a nitpick anyway.

 

[Dan]

*ahem*

The Court will consider the adequacy and fairness of the proposed settlement at a hearing scheduled for May 16, 2005 at 10:30 a.m., 600 South Commonwealth Avenue, Department 322 Central Civil West, Los Angeles, California 90005.

 

[Drensch]

Kevin P is an ass. I can almost tolerate everyone else.

I have Y tu Mama Tambien. Shit.

 

[ManaByte]

Kevin P is an ass. I can almost tolerate everyone else.

I have Y tu Mama Tambien. Shit.

And there's NOTHING wrong with the DVD.

The Digital Bits wrote more on it today:

By the way, we've amended our comments from yesterday on the MGM DVD "settlement" issue. No actual settlement has happened - the weblink we gave you is a settlement proposal posted on a web page created by the law firm involved. We're going to be doing more research over the weekend, but frankly, based on our initial investigation (and talks with people trust within the industry), the whole argument seems completely baseless and without merit. It basically seems like a couple of yahoos, who have no real understanding of the way widescreen films are transferred to DVD for 16x9 and 4x3 presentation, think they've stumbled onto some big conspiracy by MGM to defraud their customers. If there was any truth to their claim, given all of the videophiles and film critics out there who obsessively nitpick their DVDs to death in terms of presentation quality, SOMEONE would have blown the whistle long before this. Anyway, we'll have more on this whole thing next week.

 

[border]

Say ain't so, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo!

Looks like Showgirls somehow got the proper treatment.....but Annie Hall didn't *bangs head against the wall*

Anybody know when they are planning to have "fixed" versions of these films on store shelves?

 

[ManaByte]

Say ain't so, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo!

Looks like Showgirls somehow got the proper treatment.....but Annie Hall didn't *bangs head against the wall*

Anybody know when they are planning to have "fixed" versions of these films on store shelves?

They aren't going to have fixed versions because there's nothing wrong with the ones that are currently out.

 

[Mike Works]

So this is proven fake then? I was just about to check and see which of my DVD's are MGM..

 

[ManaByte]

So this is proven fake then? I was just about to check and see which of my DVD's are MGM..

As the Bits says, it is basically a bunch of "joe six pack" wal mart shoppers who have no clue about the various aspect ratios who managed to get a class action lawsuit. It will probably be tossed out.

Their complaint was that many 1.85:1 and 1.66:1 movies feature basically the same width, and for some movies that is the truth. It depends how they were shot.

 

[Hitokage]

So this is proven fake then? I was just about to check and see which of my DVD's are MGM..

No, this is all over somebody going "OMG THESE WIDESCREEEN DVDS DON'T SHOW MORE PICTURE LIKE OTHER WIDESCREEN DVDS, BETTER CALL MY LAWYER!".. when in fact that the former are Super35 films and it's supposed to be that way.

 

[Mike Works]

Their complaint was that many 1.85:1 and 1.66:1 movies feature basically the same width, and for some movies that is the truth. It depends how they were shot.

Oh Jesus, are you serious? Fucking retards.

 

[Drensch]

Just to be clear, MGM didn't matte the already cut pan and scan versions?

 

[ManaByte]

Just to be clear, MGM didn't matte the already cut pan and scan versions?

No.

 

[Goreomedy]

Killer Klowns is a kick-ass disc. MGM put a lot of effort into making a special edition for fans, great transfer, commentary, stills, featurettes, and didn't up the price at all from the typical Midnite Movie release (9.99).

When I saw this on the list, I knew it was a bullshit claim. MGM is one of the better studios out there when it comes to DVD.

 

[Archaix]

Is there an "original aspect ratio" logo on DVDs? There should be. Never really looked, just generally buy the widescreen.

Damn the fuckers who don't know what original aspect ratio is, this could be handy. And it should be in big fucking letters.

 

[Shinobi]

The Court will consider the adequacy and fairness of the proposed settlement at a hearing scheduled for May 16, 2005 at 10:30 a.m., 600 South Commonwealth Avenue, Department 322 Central Civil West, Los Angeles, California 90005.

:lol The day before E3...you guys should go!