Quote:
Originally Posted by
MichaelEl 
THIS ISLAND EARTH needs a proper R1 release. It's strange that the R2 is 1.85 anamorphic, while the R1 is the usual pan and scan version that's been shown forever on TV. Apparently intended for a 2:1 ratio, I would settle for an NTSC version of the R2 transfer.
The Republic release of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956) is pan and scan, not the full open matte frame. (Supposedly this one was shot in the Academy Ratio, but I'm not sure about that, since we're talking 1956 here.)
KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS could also use a widescreen release. Fortunately, the Good Times version is a true open matte, and can easily be cropped to 1.85:1, although an anamorphic version would be better.
Of course there are probably dozens of non-anamorphic, letterboxed discs of horror/sci-fi films out there - JOURNEY TO THE SEVENTH PLANET, GORGO, TOWER OF EVIL, KONGA, PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES, etc.
The US DVD of TIE is cropped a little on the sides compared to the widescreen UK DVD
INVASION: My understanding is that 1.85:1 is what the film was designed for, and it was shot open matte accordingly. If you cropped an Academy film to 2.35:1. you'd be looking at people's chests and little else!
KINGDOM: I did hear Code Red was supposed to release this. There is an anamorphic dutch DVD
Also, all these Mexican horrors on DVD from the late 50s onwards should be widescreen
Aztec Mummy (and sequels)
Black Pit of Dr. M
Curse of the Crying Woman
Edited by James 'Tiger' Lee - 7/18/2009 at 03:37 pm GMT