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Anamorphic or Widescreen(Letterboxed)£¿

post #1 of 10
5/8/03 at 9:04am
Thread Starter 
Mississippi Masala

a film directed by Mira Nair,star Denzel Washington.

it is printed in dvd backcover:

• Digitally Mastered Audio & Anamorphic Video
• Widescreen Presentation

Back Cover Pic

I think it is Anamorphic Widescreen.

but i found it is marked "widescreen(letterboxed)" in much site,like amazon¡¢yahoo,etc.

It puzzles me....
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post #2 of 10
5/8/03 at 10:03am
I don't know whether it's anamorphic or not, but you should never trust the technical descriptions provided by DVD websites, especially Amazon.
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post #3 of 10
5/8/03 at 10:10am
they like to confuse people that's all ... (or perhaps to make out there's more "special" features on the disc than there really ... aren't)

it's a sure bet this is anamorphic widescreen, as you said. it's columbia tristar, most of their output is in this format.

if you buy the DVD, enjoy those "special" interactive menus and scene selections.
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post #4 of 10
5/8/03 at 10:25am
Quote:
It puzzles me....

Why does it puzzle you? "Widescreen (letterboxed)" is not the opposite of "anamorphic". A DVD can be both. In fact, most DVDs are.

M.
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post #5 of 10
5/8/03 at 12:15pm
^ that's true but I think he's referring to the way amazon labels them....when something is nonanamorphic, but widescreen, Amazon usually just lists it as "Widescreen (letterboxed)". If it's anamorphic widescreen, Amazon usually writes "Anamorphic Widescreen". I think that's what's puzzling him.
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post #6 of 10
5/9/03 at 1:16am
Thread Starter 
^ that's true but I think he's referring to the way amazon labels them....when something is nonanamorphic, but widescreen, Amazon usually just lists it as "Widescreen (letterboxed)". If it's anamorphic widescreen, Amazon usually writes "Anamorphic Widescreen". I think that's what's puzzling him.


Yes£¡

Now I understand it is Anamorphic,So Thank you all£¡
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post #7 of 10
5/9/03 at 6:32am
Quote:
I think he's referring to the way amazon labels them....

Then I can only underscore what GerardoHP said: Never believe what Amazon says about a disc.

M.
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post #8 of 10
5/10/03 at 5:38am
Quote:
...you should never trust the technical descriptions provided by DVD websites, especially Amazon.

Yes. I've noticed this as well.

I'd advocate that Amazon do what many DVD e-tailers do (i.e. DVD Planet & DVD Empire)....and that's give the person browsing the Amazon site the ability to see both the front AND back covers of DVD products, as well as VHS tapes. Especially, in Amazon's case, VHS tapes....for those few poor souls who haven't figured out the greatness of DVD yet. Amazon never lists any details about VHS products, even multi-tape Special Editions.

Being able to blow up a pic of the back of the packaging is very, very helpful/useful IMO! Every site should do this. And I've often wondered WHY Amazon hasn't followed suit on this.
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post #9 of 10
5/10/03 at 1:04pm
Speaking of confusing, I'm having a hard time figuring out if the new Robin Hood - SE is anamorphic or not.

Amazon says "widescreen letterbox".
Deep Discount says nothing.
DVD Empire says nothing.
DVD Planet says "anamorphic".
Warner Brothers says "anamorphic".

Funny how Amazon has a long description of the extras, but lists the video presentation as only "widescreen letterbox".
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post #10 of 10
5/10/03 at 7:22pm
Quote:
Then I can only underscore what GerardoHP said: Never believe what Amazon says about a disc.


I agree but the problem is: who out there is giving full, accurate specs for new catalogue releases? I don't worry so much about new releases but catalogue titles are still iffy as to what they are going to contain and how it's going to be presented. I primarily used DVDEmpire...but I've browsed Amazon, DDD, lasersedge but out of those sites, none have been overly reliable. Is there a site that gives accurate specs on future catalogue releases?

Quote:
Being able to blow up a pic of the back of the packaging is very, very helpful/useful IMO!


I love that as well but still...there is a language barrier. When the back of the case says "Widescreen", I don't know if that means anamorphic widescreen or just letterboxed. If I knew of a site that could say "for sure" whether a particular title was enhanced or not, then it wouldn't be such a headache. The DVD Forum should make the studios adopt a common labeling system so that they all use the same terms and we as consumers know what those terms mean.

Bruce
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