Aspect ratio changing within a purchased iTunes movie

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Aspect ratio changing within a purchased iTunes movie

OK, this is REALLY annoying! We've now purchased two movies via ATV/iTunes that do this. One is The Dark Knight, the other is Tron. In both cases, the original aspect ratio is 2.35:1, and should be shown letterboxed. However, on the purchased version it changes depending on the scene from 2.35:1 to 16:9! Happens dozens of times, and changes occur on jump cuts. Oddly, the choice seems to be to display action sequences cropped to 16:9, where dialog or slow sequences are show in full 2.35:1. That makes NO sense at all! In fact, if anything, it should be the exact opposite. I don't think it's ATV itself, or a setting. In fact, checking the films on computers shows the same issue, so it's in the file that way.

We also own films purchased the same way that don't have that problem, and show in the original aspect ratio for the entire film.

It looks like a choice made in production of the version sold and rented on iTunes. Why? Why do it at all? Frankly, every cinematographer would screem his head off if he saw this. In making the image taller, they crop off the sides. Come on, Apple, or whoever. How is that better? Just show it the way it was shot, whatever aspect ratio it's supposed to be.

Thanks for listening, if you do.

Posted on May 15, 2011 12:29 AM

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Answer 1

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bit-mover Author

Level 1

17 points

May 15, 2011 6:52 AM in response to Alley_Cat

Ah, so this is another one of the rare cases of the "halfImax" format. I didn't know that was done anymore. Viewers probably fall into two camps: the "I never noticed" camp and the "what the heck is wrong?" camp. I doubt many actually appreciate it...because it's backwards!

The last time I'm aware of it being done was on "Brainstorm", effects wiz Douglass Trumbull's first film as a director. As you probably know, he's a major effects guy,...2001, Bladerunner, Close Encounters. His "Brainstorm" effects shots were in 65mm SuperPanavision, which was 2.2:1, and the "real world" was shot 35mm spherical at 1.66:1 (unusual for that time). I saw it that way in a theater, knowing in advance he'd done it purposely, and being a Doug fan, I was waiting for it. And, notice, he did the reverse of Dark Knight and Tron, and put his effects in a wider format, which makes total sense. Doug did it right!

Reminds me of the Outer Limits, "There is nothing wrong with your television. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We control the vertical, we control the horizontal...."

Two decades after he invented the "Slit-scan" technique for 2001, Trumbull went off to invent Showscan, 70mm, 60fps, 8 uncompressed digital soundtracks...and this in the mid 1980s. He's the man.

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Answer 2

Alley_Cat

Level 7

20,548 points

May 15, 2011 1:56 AM in response to bit-mover

That stinks.

They won't be listening here unfortunately. It's a user to user forum.

In itunes go to your account and purchase history and 'report a problem' with those purchases - ask for your money back, it is a shoddy way to distribute purchased content.

Initially I was going to suggest it was probably your Tv set to an Auto aspect ratio setting but if it's the same on computer it can't be. I've not watched either via AppleTV so can't say if it's the same everywhere or all countries.

It would make little sense to me, but I assume this isn't some stupid director cutting that is like that on DVD/BluRay too.

AC

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Answer 3

Alley_Cat

Level 7

20,548 points

May 15, 2011 2:05 AM in response to bit-mover

OK - I take it back, probably not Apple's fault.

This is apparently deliberate:

http://screenrant.com/tron-legacy-imax-sequences-ross-46929/

Both Tron and Dark Knight intended for IMAX theatres have some scene using 1.7:1, the rest is 2.35:1.

So this was presumably as the director intended....in some theatres.

Personally I'm in the give me the widest possible original aspect ratio camp, though you'll find other who want to distort 4:3 to 16:9 and crop wider than 16:9 to fill the screen as they don't realise/care what is does to the original footage.

AC

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Answer 4

Alley_Cat

Level 7

20,548 points

May 16, 2011 1:29 PM in response to bit-mover

Interesting stuff.

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