Recent content by Jack Johnson

Regarding the shooting format of "P2": I've since seen the full screen version as broadcast by the Starz channel, and it looks like a vertically un-matted transfer derived from a Super35 process, which results in significantly more of the frame being opened up on the top and bottom (with...

Yep, the 2nd pair of eyes on this confirms it's NOT Anamorphic; it's decidedly UN-enhanced.

No word on the length, though the official packaging states 116 minutes. But... The original poster who made the claim the new disc is anamorphic states he checked the dvd before posting to confirm, and also states there are other features on the dvds not mentioned on the packaging. This...

While I believe him to be mistaken, someone's suggesting that the edition of Lifeforce contained in a current "They Came From Above" theme pack, together with Alien and Invasion of the Body Snatchers is actually anamorphic... Finally! An anamorphic release of Lifeforce. - DVD Talk Forum I...

And there's still the matter of whether IMDB is correct; does anyone know of a "definitive" source for information on a film's original shooting format and theatrical aspect ratio? X2: X-Men United, for example--uncanny, I've gone from P2 to X2!--is listed with IMDB as being Super35. But when...

Thanks for your help. Looks like Cropped City for P2 in 4x3, then... Not that that's my format of choice, of course. I was faced with a "no alternatives" solution at a certain point in time and just wanted to know about the degree of cropping heinousness under those conditions.

I don't know how reliable IMDB is with regard to technical specs about original filming formats, but they cite--for example--"P2" as having been shot in Technovision. 2.35:1 is usually denoted as Super35 at some point...but I was curious because that film is listed as simply "Technovision," with...

That set blew my mind. --Jack

In looking over a few stills of the 1.85:1 version of Death Proof recorded off Starz, some shots look to represent nearly the entire width of the frame of the original aspect with substantial opening of the vertical mattes, whereas others show what looks to be more typical of many 4 by 3...

Interesting, I just discovered that Starz is actually running the extended cut of Death Proof at 1.85:1 (they transitioned to that after the intro), so it looks like they did open that matte up just a bit. When I get a chance, I'll take a look at some caps from the TV broadcast in comparison...

Interesting: As it turns out, Starz is running the widescreen version of Death Proof on their standard def feed...while Planet Terror was shown cropped (same "opened-up" image height from the dvd, mild cropping on the sides). Maybe this was the only version Tarantino made available to them...

The 3-perf/4-perf distinction probably explains the different degrees of side-cropping I've seen when some of these Super35 prints are prepped for 4 by 3 broadcast. Guess I'll have to read up on this. Thanks for your input.

Further airings of the theatrical Grindhouse are likely after the 31st, though they have done one-time event programming before. So, best to remember to record, just in case... Thanks for the heads-up. Starz is offering the whole Grindhouse experience, as they're also running the extended...

Great point. SD--by stripping out detail--might seem to refine an image, remove the "warts and all" effect of Hi Def that's disconcerting to some. Maybe a flatter, cartoonier look seems more digitally pristine, since the limitations of the source medium are somewhat disguised. It'd be...

Maybe it would've paid for the industry to wait until larger HD displays became more prevalent before rolling out the new media; that would've given the average consumer more of a chance to see the limits of upscaled SD in comparison to the full 1080p signals that can be observed over-the-air...