Sony Pictures continues to drop existing widescreen transfers

#181

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5/15/05 at 11:23am

Greg_M
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It's unfortunate that SONY now owns the MGM/UA library. They can now call the shots on HD-DVD and will probably offer scope films pan and scanned to fit HD sets. Hopefully Warner Bros. will continue to release wide screen films in their OAR and since they control a large library they may be able to sway the market.

I can only think what SONY will do with films shot in the 1:33 ratio and their television library. Will the tops and bottoms of the image be cut off?

It's a shame SONY was even allowed to purchase MGM creating a monopoly. I just hope it back fires on them.

#182

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5/15/05 at 3:19pm

DaViD Boulet
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Quote:

I just spoke with one of my contacts at Sony Pictures (someone pretty high up in the hierarchy), who told me that they are currently "looking into" this issue and asked me to call back in a few weeks. I hope to be able to eventually post something definitive about this so we can stop speculating. Stay tuned. . .

Aaron,

do let us know what you find out...

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#183

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5/15/05 at 5:23pm

Juan Books
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Look people, how much longer are we going to sit here whining and hoping shame is going to force Sony into adopting acceptable practices concerning our film heritage? Destroying movies and tv shows the way Sony does is not just a business decision; it is a declaration of war against anyone who loves and treasures this art form. I propose that the movie-loving community start to take aggressive and decisive action against this menace. If we don't act now, Sony will only be encouraged to pursue ever more outrageous practices.

Take a hearted example of what could come in the way they proceeded with the Dawson's Creek DVDs: The first season was intact, the second had music changed, the third had even the theme music replaced, and by the fifth season they were going as far as deleting entire scenes that contained music!!!

Clearly Sony incrementally tested the waters with each new release, and as no forceful response to their aggression was forthcoming, they have concluded they are free to destroy any motion picture work without consequences.

THIS HAS GOT TO STOP. Sony now owns the MGM catalogue, and is developing the possible next DVD format. The threat they pose to all of us is enormous. I suggest we start fighting fire with fire. If they want to wage war on us, let's stop writing polite letters and start hitting them back HARD!

#184

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5/15/05 at 7:23pm

TravisR
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What exactly do you suggest? Pitchforks and torches?

#185

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5/15/05 at 8:08pm

GregoriusM
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Why the heck did we go with 16:9 TVs, with all of the R&D and promotions by even government agencies to go to digital programming and the ratio of widescreen TV's to 4:3 HD and Digital TV's is high, and then one of, if not the biggest owner of DVD franchises decides to go against all of the struggle that we've gone through to get to the point where people are finally starting to buy widescreen sets, and they slap us in the face by doing this.

Typical Sony. I have friends that finally have come to realize what they are missing by wathing P&S, and then this?

I'm ticked!

#186

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5/15/05 at 8:21pm

DaViD Boulet
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Quote:

What exactly do you suggest? Pitchforks and torches?

Travis,

don't be so caddy.

It was precisely the pissed-off "what the heck do they think they're doing" attitude by enthusiasts like Juan that have changed studio opinions in the past.

Remember Willy Wonka coming out in 4x3 MAR only? Remember the on-line petition...the letters to Warner Brothers? Do you remember that at the time WB was heading down a "widescreen is fine for 'big' movies, but comedies and family films ought to be 4x3 MAR" road...and it was consumer outrage expressed in no-uncertain terms that turned things around.

Disney didn't reverse on these two titles...but you can bet that the overwhelming influx of consumer outrage over the P/S Muppet Treasure Island/Christmas Carol (not to mention a phone call from Brain Henson who was cited to action from fan-feedback) helped wake Disney up too...they haven't been perfect but they've been MUCH better about OAR since that time.

It's just a matter of knowing who to target and how to do it. And there is a way...somewhere at columbia Tristar pictures there is a person with an address (or group of them) who can be targeted with consumer feedback by people like us. And it can make a difference. Just as it has over and over again it the history of the DVD format with other studios.

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#187

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5/15/05 at 8:25pm

GregoriusM
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Well, do we organize a petition?

Has this been done on HTF?

#188

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5/15/05 at 8:29pm

MatthewA
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Also try to mention the cutting of TV series episodes in such a petition.

STOP THE MADNESS! STOP THE BUTCHERING AND ABANDONMENT OF TV SHOWS ON DVD!

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#189

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5/15/05 at 9:03pm

Paul_Scott
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the only problem that i see is that Sony has never really been as receptive to consumer input as Warner has.
apart from one TV on DVD poll i remember them having, they just don't seem to give a **** about what a vocal minority may want.

i was familiar with the theme change to Married with Children, but i wasn't aware of the problems with Dawsons Creek.
that is very disturbing to hear.
and all the more disappointing that they now have their infidel mits on the MGM/UA archive.

#190

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5/15/05 at 9:28pm

Juan Books
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Quote:

What exactly do you suggest? Pitchforks and torches?

Well, how about circulating a letter on the major DVD sites on the net (HTF, DVDTalk, Digital Bits, Digitally Obsessed, IGN, etc.), where the editors, reviewers, administrators, owners, and all of us board members who thus feel inclined commit ourselves to not buying *anything* with the Sony brand on it until they rectify their behavior regarding OAR? How's that for a start? With such conspicuous publicity carried on by the leading online communities we could exert a good deal of pressure on the bastards. It's time we stop petitioning and start demanding!

#191

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5/15/05 at 9:30pm

walter o
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I know some people in MGM and many have their jobs "reassigned" "relocated" but basically anyone who was doing anything with the vault material/restoration at MGM has been pretty much replaced with Sony people, so who knows whats to become of all the AIP/ORION classics that sony wount care about?

#192

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5/16/05 at 11:53am

Aaron Silverman
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Quote:

It was precisely the pissed-off "what the heck do they think they're doing" attitude by enthusiasts like Juan that have changed studio opinions in the past.

Unfortunately, these days, we enthusiasts represent a much smaller piece of the market pie than we used to.

A petition couldn't hurt, though!

Quote:

not to mention a phone call from Jim Henson who was cited to action from fan-feedback

That was on Halloween, right?

"Booooooooo!!! This is Jiiiiiiiiim Hensooooooooooon! What are youuuuuu doooooooing to my mooooooooovies?!?!?!"

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#193

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5/16/05 at 12:23pm

DaViD Boulet
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oops...meant Brian Henson...edit made.

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#194

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5/16/05 at 12:30pm

RandallV
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"If you have questions about Sony Pictures Entertainment (Movies & TV shows), you can e-mail us at: WebSiteTech@sonypictures.com."

Hope this helps everyone. I certainly have a few questions. Let's get started!

#195

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5/16/05 at 12:39pm

DaViD Boulet
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Just be sure not to come across as an elitist enthusiast or an eccentric member of a minority group of core videophiles...talk about how you and "your family" enjoy watching ws movies on your new HDTV (if it's a Sony TV...be sure to mention that too!). Talk about how your friends enjoy WS on *their* HDTVs...don't talk about HTF or get technical to try to impress someone at Sony...you'll only make yourself sound like someone who's views don't represent the majority.

BTW, there *are* mainstream consumers who care about WS...it's all those people buying HDTVs right now who aren't members of this forum. They don't know all the technical mumbo-jumbo but they *are* figuring out what WS and "anamorphic" mean as they watch DVDs on their new HDTV.

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#196

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5/16/05 at 12:47pm

Jesse Skeen
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I sent an email to that address asking about the missing widescreen transfer on the disc I bought, but got no reply whatsoever. I always wonder why they bother having these contact methods set up when they obviously have no intention of actually using them.
BTW I haven't gotten any reply yet from the snail-mail I sent either.
I was thinking of calling the anti-piracy hotline (1-800-NO-COPYS) and telling them these new discs look like illegal copies

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#197

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5/16/05 at 12:48pm

Ed St. Clair
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Quote:

What exactly do you suggest? Pitchforks and torches?

Don't buy ANY Sony product!!!

Quote:

apart from one TV on DVD poll i remember them having, they just don't seem to give a **** about what a vocal minority may want.

The majority of DVD purchasers, barely buy one DVD title a month (last years number's, had it at less than 12 a year). Where as, people like the fine folks on this forum, buy like 10 a week!!!

We are the 2%'ers, 'speaking' with your letter's, will not make the difference that 'speaking' with your cash will!

Movies are: "The Greatest Artform".
HD should be for EVERYONE!

#198

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5/16/05 at 1:43pm

GregoriusM
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Quote:

Just be sure not to come across as an elitist enthusiast or an eccentric member of a minority group of core videophiles...talk about how you and "your family" enjoy watching ws movies on your new HDTV (if it's a Sony TV...be sure to mention that too!). Talk about how your friends enjoy WS on *their* HDTVs...don't talk about HTF or get technical to try to impress someone at Sony...you'll only make yourself sound like someone who's views don't represent the majority.

BTW, there *are* mainstream consumers who care about WS...it's all those people buying HDTVs right now who aren't members of this forum. They don't know all the technical mumbo-jumbo but they *are* figuring out what WS and "anamorphic" mean as they watch DVDs on their new HDTV.

I agree wholeheartedly!

#199

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5/16/05 at 2:31pm

Andy Y
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Sony will fail to "force" the market to do their will.

All it will do is encourage piracy, because people will find and download widescreen versions of their favorite movies online, from old transfers.

Cinephiles will get the new technolgy anyway, the average Joe and Martha won't.

Some company's just never learn...

#200

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5/16/05 at 3:29pm

GregoriusM
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I've heard that Sony is looking seriously into downloadable movies.

Maybe THAT will be the way we get the widescreen format for SD movies, and the HD/Blu-Ray standard will get the widescreen format.

I'm just throwing out possibilities.

Opinions?

Greg

#201

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5/16/05 at 4:13pm

Mark Zimmer
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Actually, pitchforks and torches might get the message across quite admirably.

"This movie has warped my fragile little mind."

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#202

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5/17/05 at 10:09am

Bradley-E
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It is sad that SONY has so little regard to their product and Film Lovers. I'll save alot of money NOT buying anything of thiers.

#203

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5/19/05 at 2:00pm

RandallV
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Well, three business days have passed and not a peep from SONY regarding my e-mail.

#204

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5/19/05 at 2:03pm

Jesse Skeen
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Why am I not surprised? Well, they're not getting a peep of my money anymore either.

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#205

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5/19/05 at 2:07pm

RandallV
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I guess I am surprised that I haven't even received an automated response. You know, "Thank you for contacting Sony. We appreciate your interest..."

#206

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5/19/05 at 3:22pm

John J Nelson
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This sucks more than anything has ever sucked before.

-- J.

These are the new leads. These are the Glengarry leads. And to you they're gold, and you don't get them. Why? Because to give them to you is just throwing them away. They're for closers.

#207

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5/19/05 at 3:40pm

Jesse Skeen
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SONY PICTURES PRESS RELEASE: We don't know what the fuck we're doing!

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#208

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5/21/05 at 12:23pm

Nick Eden
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On reading this thread for the first time a few weeks ago, I ordered The Cheap Detective as it was still advertised as full screen and widescreen. I have received the disc today and it only mentions full screen on the back. I have not opened it yet and wondered whether someone who has the widescreen/full screen version could confirm whether it mentions widescreen anywhere on the outer case. If it does then I am too late to get the widescreen version. A pity!

#209

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5/21/05 at 2:05pm

george kaplan
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Bad new Nick. On the back of my Cheap Detective dvd:

Side A is a WIDESCREEN VERSION and preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio, approximately 2.35:1. Side B is a FULL SCREEN VERSION and is re-formatted to fit your TV.

"Movies should be like amusement parks. People should go to them to have fun." - Billy Wilder

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#210

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5/21/05 at 3:57pm

Nick Eden
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Thank you- at least I know now.

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