Posted by Kimba W. Lion on 07/27/07 03:52

"def456" <def456@none.none> wrote:

> It is actually the 16x9 version which is modified most to fit
>the screen, not the 4x3 versions - contrary to the announcement at the
>beginning of 4x3 films to that effect.

You are talking about the "open matte" transfers to home video of films
that were shot full frame but intended to be matted (have the top and
bottom blocked) to widescreen dimensions for exhibition. The most famous
example is Pee Wee's Big Adventure, where the open matte transfer
absolutely ruins some shots.

See also
http://www.velocityreviews.com/forums/t265499-any-examples-of-how-open-matte-ruins-composition.html

Of course, there are a few films that actually look better in open matte
transfers. The Secret of NIMH comes to mind. And I haven't seen the 4:3 DVD
of the Monkees' movie "Head", but the letterboxed version on TCM looked
very wrong in many scenes.

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