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07-03-2004, 01:13 PM
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#1 of 32 
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Clinton McClure
Member
Location: Central Arkansas
Join Date: Jun 1999
Local Time: 08:32 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 2,613
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A Battle Has Been Won In The War Against MAR!
Last night while I was in Wal~Mart picking up a new printer cartridge, I stumbled across a new HDTV kiosk which had been set up within the past few days. While the kiosk was covered with plasma and tube HD monitors like most are, I noticed a couple things.
1. - All the monitors are 16X9 aspect ratio displaying a widescreen HD program.
2. - There is a sign on one side of the kiosk describing the advantages of HD resolution (1080i, etc...) over standard resolution. On the other side of the kiosk is a sign which I had to look at twice and, upon reading it again, almost shouted and threw my new printer cartridge to the heavens in Kubrickian glee. There was a picture of a 4:3 box labeled 'standard' and a 16:9 box labeled 'widescreen'. I can't remember the exact wording but it was something to the effect of With widescreen, the image fills your entire screen and shows up to 45% more picture than the cropped pan & scan image used for normal movies. Then it goes on to say something to the effect of... Widescreen shows the entire picture like you see it in a movie theater.
Also while I was there, I found the unrated versions of Bad(der) Santa and Eurotrip.
I know we still have a long way to go in winning the war against MAR, but I think this was a good blow dealt by the OAR side.
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07-03-2004, 01:19 PM
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#2 of 32
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Local Time: 10:32 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 515
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Quote:
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With widescreen, the image fills your entire screen and shows up to 45% more picture than the cropped pan & scan image used for normal movies.
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Not bad, except that for movies that DO show 45% more picture than P&S (2.35:1), they STILL won't fill the entire 16:9 screen. People will still complain... I bet 16:9 MAR versions of 2.35 films are not far in the future for DVD. |
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07-03-2004, 06:07 PM
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#3 of 32
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Local Time: 08:32 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 1,640
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Wow! Some people are so pessimistic that they refuse to see the good in news reports. Whatever the news is, they complain that it's not good enough! It makes me sad to think that those kind of people cannot rejoice at hearing good news.
But enough of that rant. I think that it's great news that the likes of Wal-Mart is making an effort to educate people. Maybe this is a new test kiosk, and they will make their way to other Wal-Mart stores soon. If anyone else notices such a dispay at their Wal-Mart, please report it.
You can do your part to help educate even more people by downloading my educational flyers at Widescreen Advocate
Clinton, if you have a digital camera, I am sure our members would like to see the kiosk.
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07-03-2004, 06:15 PM
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#4 of 32
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2001
Local Time: 09:32 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 1,077
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Maybe this is a new test kiosk, and they will make their way to other Wal-Mart stores soon. If anyone else notices such a dispay at their Wal-Mart, please report it.
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The Wal-Mart close to my house has had this for a while now. 
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07-03-2004, 07:45 PM
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#5 of 32
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Bryan
Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Local Time: 09:32 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 2,737
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The Wal-Marts near me have had these for a while now too.
The other day, though, I was in Sam's and they were playing a MAR version of LOTR:ROTK on their 16:9 plasmas/lcds. It made me physically ill to look at it.
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07-03-2004, 11:33 PM
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#6 of 32
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Member
Join Date: Mar 1999
Local Time: 04:32 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 4,648
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Great news! I think that this July 1st was the cut-off date for 4:3 TV's, so the other stores should have them too. The 'extra' displays are a bonus, though.
We all know that all movies won't fit perfectly on a WS set, but it would be hard to argue the fact that 16:9 is a lot better than 4:3 (unless you're going to nitpick about the old movies)!
Glenn
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07-03-2004, 11:45 PM
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#7 of 32
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Local Time: 08:32 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 1,640
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What do you mean by cut off date for 4x3 TV's?
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07-04-2004, 12:56 AM
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#8 of 32
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Local Time: 08:32 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 169
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I was shocked by the fact that my local Wal-Mart had the Bad(der) Santa. Too bad my Wal-Mart didn't have the unrated EuroTrip, I had to travel an hour to the nearest store that's not a walmart to get it.
Image converted to link by moderator. Please consult the signature rules for limits on image size
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dancinde/sincity.jpg
My DVD Collection
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07-04-2004, 02:00 AM
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#9 of 32
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Local Time: 10:32 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 319
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Break out the champagne!
My DVDs
Homer: So, Mr. Malloy, it seems that the cat has been caught by the very person who was trying to catch him.
Skinner: How ironic.
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07-04-2004, 11:31 AM
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#10 of 32
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Bryan
Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Local Time: 09:32 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 2,737
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Quote:
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I think that this July 1st was the cut-off date for 4:3 TV's
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What cut off are you referring to? Unfortunately 4:3s are alive and well.
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07-04-2004, 12:51 PM
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#11 of 32
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Clinton McClure
Member
Location: Central Arkansas
Join Date: Jun 1999
Local Time: 08:32 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 2,613
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No digital camera Joshua, sorry. I might take a lawn chair with me when I go again tomorrow so I can bask in the glory!  Now, if only Wal~Mart would begin to train their electronics employees in the ways of OAR...
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