MovieChat Forums > The Big One (1998) Discussion > The New DVD

The New DVD

posted 20 years ago by jamescastle
5 replies | jump to latest

While picking up Fahrenheit 9/11 in Best Buy today, I checked out the new DVD release of The Big One. I looked on the back to see what kind of features are on it and there are none,except for the trailer. Then I saw that the DVD is in full frame. NO WIDESCREEN PRESENTATION! I don't get it, why would anyone want to pay 15 bucks for a version that they can get on VHS for less? There is no reason to buy it on DVD if you have it on VHS. I think it deserves to be in widescreen. On my full frame VHS copy some of the words get cut off on the sides. Like the city names and stuff. I've waited for this on DVD here in the U.S. for awhile, but now I think I'll just stick with my VHS copy. Until the DVD becomes cheaper at least. What do you guys think?
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[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jamescastle 19 years ago

The Big One was not released fullscreen, it was released in 1.85:1, according to the technical specs. It is meant to be seen in 1.85:1 because the text on screen runs off at certain points on the fullframe version. Also The Blair Witch Project was shot fullframe, but it had a matte around the frame. When you see The Blair Witch Project on tv or VHS, the matte is gone and you lose some of the image.I also disagree with your claim that there is no reason to see a documentary in widescreen. Sure alot are shot and meant to be seen in fullframe(American Movie, Comic Book Confidential, Spellbound, Beyond The Mat) but quite a few documentaries are shot in 1.85:1 and meant to be seen that way(Crumb, Hype, Bowling For Columbine) The Big One is one that needs to be seen in widescreen.
---------------------------------------------
Confess To The Holy Consumption
http://www.theholyconsumption.com/

[–] sewalk927 19 years ago

"No reason to see a documentary in widescreen;"

Are you daft? Anything originally shot as widescreen deserves to be seen in widescreen. Full screen DVD releases are McDVDs: watered-down content for the idiotic masses. Just how popular are these DVDs going to be in 3-5 years when the average American home has a widescreen television?

Anyone with enough love of film to actually use the IMDB should know better. Defending full-screen DVD releases of films shot in wide formats is ridiculous, regardless of the original film media. Aspect ratio and resolution are completely independent of one another.

[–] sinisterkid 19 years ago

No, not daft, just logical. How many people are going to re-buy The Big One just so it will fit nicely on their HD TV? The Big One is about content not picture quality.

I am not saying that this movie should never have been released in it's original format. I'm just saying that it's already out and unless they addd additional content, there is no NEED to rerelease it in its original ratio aspect.

[–] ifaizer 10 years ago

Just got this DVD from an online seller and was disappointed in the "full frame" aspect ratio. Glad to see all the DVDs released were like this. It's pretty pathetic that, despite Michael Moore's massive growth in popularity, no one saw it as profitable to rerelease this in its original format.