Does the lack of widescreen have something to do with economic? Like, was it cheaper to shoot in non-widescreen? That's hard to imagine in this day and age.
As for there being no blood or gore on-screen, does this have something to do with standards in Taiwan? Like, is graphic violence not allowed? Or was it just real important to be able to qualify for the Taiwanese equivalent of a PG rating?
The way it was filmed (super 35) would have allowed for it to be framed in any of the common ratios, so, no. It just seems to be a choice by the director.
As for no blood, perhaps it's his style choice, also.
Too much widescreen (particularly the way overused 2.35:1) today. Refreshing to have Academy ratio back and glad Hou used it.
shareHe said he want catch a atmosphere like 'before fighting' before.
He think the fighting must be very quickly,he feel bored with long action scene.
Used 4:3 is his choice,and he shoot by 35mm film.
Use film to take actually cost he a lot of money,he use fifty thousand feet's film at this movie.
I'm from Taiwan,sorry my English not very well.
yes. there was one scene that had widescreen, which was apparently the flashback to the princess telling the story about the bluebird. So the 4:3 may have been a "clue" to the non-linear format of the story.
share"I like it (4x3) for filming people, because it makes them look very beautiful. It was always something that I wanted to play around with. And also because it’s the Tang dynasty, and I felt that it represented something visually. I felt the era would look much better in this aspect ratio."
The director.
There is at least one sequence that 1:1.85 though, technically the film has a variable ratio.