"no black bars" sticker on full-frame ver of UNFAITHFUL (1 Viewer)

i wish someone remembered to ask peter last week in the chat about this sticker on the fox full frame movies.

our video store just got our retail copies in and the fool frame ones have that sticker on it.

it's a shame they feel they still need to do this.
it seems to be moving backwords instead of moving forward and somehow helping people understand why widescreen is better.

maybe the wider is better clips that have been on dvd's like DIE HARD should be on the full frame movies too.

just another note the video store is getting only the fool frame version of this movie for rental too.

It's business. You do what sales.

Really, really... dumb.

Dan

Maybe it's because of a direct request from the customer who's buying the discs?

But it's not true if you're using a widescreen TV!
BTW thank you Peter for responding, I know you're probably not allowed to say too much. Just hope someone understands the concern.

Like it or not there is a market for people who want full screen discs so I don't hold it against Fox for releasing p&s titles and labeling them as such. As long as oar is available I'll be a happy camper. If and when a title that I'd like to see is released as full screen only (like the Powerpuff Girls movie) I'll just show my disapproval by getting something else.

What I'd like to see are stickers that read:

COMPLETE ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION

and

WARNING!!! MODIFIED FROM ORIGINAL VERSION FOR T.V.

Hey, they're just keeping it REAL!
.......real Dumb.

Those that buy full screen movies seem to need a big blazing sticker on the front cover.

With how it is now, people see the P&S version the "No Black Bars" sticker beside the Widescreen version, and who can blame them for thinking "non-defective vs. defective", and with the label "Full Frame", who can blame for thinking that the black bars are covering part of the frame.

It is as if the studios want people to think "black bars = bad", just so they can justify P&S only releases, and have enthusiasts so craving for OAR releases that they will jump start HD-DVD when the time comes.

I wouldn't be as against this if they had a similar sticker for OAR releases. Maybe something like "As the Director Indended", "As Seen in Theaters", or "The Complete Picture". At least people would realize the actual choice they are making when seeing the two boxes side by side.

^ I completely agree. They need to SHOW them the difference first.

"Maybe it's because of a direct request from the customer who's buying the discs? "

If those customers went so far as to complain about widescreen movies, then shouldn't they have learned to differentiate between WS and FS versions of DVDs by now?

The term "Fullscreen" and "Full Frame" REALLY need to stop being used, too (I first saw it used on New Line's Special Edition VHS of Escape From New York, which was put out in both letterbox and pan and scan versions.)
It's also a shame that a store that often doesn't mark prices, doesn't arrange their stock and puts out discs thrown into a bin haphazardly that customers have to DIG through to see what's there (not to mention puts out new titles before street date, which supposedly other stores get in trouble for!) has that much pull with the studios.

thanks for the reply peter. you're a good man for putting up with all our complaints and requests all the time.

i think that if people want a full frame version they should know well enough that they can look on the back and see if it is a full frame only version.

i think it still would be better to not say "no black bars" as that makes the bars seem like a bad thing.

if it must have the sticker then a compromise would be "full frame version"
or label the actual dvd package itself more clearly on the front with something that says full frame very largely and clearly
so no sticker is needed.
and please don't start calling the studio dumb or any other names like that it isn't going to do any good and is not a constructive critisism.

I think your getting dangerously close to the lowest common denominator when you start catering to people who can't even figure out what "Fullscreen" means.

Here's an idea...keep the "Full Screen" name, but instead of the "No Black Bars!" sticker, why not take this approach:

Put a large sticker on the shrinkwrap with a picture of the film frame, showing what you see in widescreen and fullscreen, and this text: "Modified to fit standard television sets; portions of the image have been removed in order for the image to fill standard television screens". Also, an "Also available in widescreen" sticker for those who care.

Widescreen discs ones should have a similar set of labels on the shrinkwrap, except the text should be altered to something explaining widescreen, and that "black bars may be visible on the top and bottom of your television screen", as well as an "Also available in fullscreen" sticker for those who care...

Did you get all that, Peter? Anyway, if you did, it's basically an unoffensive way to explain what a consumer is getting with more than a banner and a small disclaimer on the back...take my advice, and consider it...

stupid move, this will only lead to more MAR only DVDs.:frowning: