Full-screen DVDs

[Derek237]

It would probably be safe to say that in the film aficionado world, "Full-screen edition" is almost a dirty word. But do you own any? Excluding films that come with both WS and FS, and obviously the films where Full-screen is the intended ratio, like in older movies and of course, most of Stanley Kubrick's films.

I have four, and most times I bought them by accident.


1. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

I bought this used and didn't pay attention to the label. I couldn't return it but I didn't really care too much anyway. And I've heard that apparently you actually get more from the Full-screen version, so it's never really bothered me.

2. Serenity

I bought this new for 5.99 which was a pretty amazing price, I thought. However, on the rack I saw other Full-Screen editions of films that were also on sale. And Serenity has the kind of casing where it says it's Full-screen in almost fine print on the back. I had an inkling it would be Full-screen, but since it was an impulse buy, I didn't check, and sure enough, later I was right. Again, didn't care too much. It was new. It was cheap. They were obviously just trying to unload some FS DVD's. Fine by me.

3. Spider-Man

I plead just plain ignorance on this one. Around this time...2003 I guess, it wasn't the huge thing yet to have WS AND FS versions of everything so I wasn't really on the look-out. So basically, I picked the cover I liked best. And I stand by it. The FS cover is WAY better than the WS. I could have returned it, but I didn't really care by that point.

4. Spider-man 2

Again, this was a used purchase, and it was a good deal. All they had was FS anyway, and I think it was actually the only copy left, so I thought I might as well buy it since I had the FS version of Spider-Man 1. Unfortunately, Spider-Man 2's aspect ratio is wider than 1's, so you lose a lot more picture with this one. Oh well. Hopefully when Spider-man 3 comes out they will assemble some awesome trilogy pack, and I will get that and solve all my Full-screen woes.


And I know this doesn't count, but I have the Wide-screen version of War of the Worlds that for some reason was in a case that said it was "Full-screen edition." It seems all my problems come when I buy used.


Anyway, I don't think that number is too bad, it doesn't bother me much since I don't have a Wide-screen TV. If I did, I'd surely be upset.

[SamSanchez]

I believe my number is probably around the 20s. Reason being, back when I started my collection, when I was about 15 I believe, I actually preferred full-screen out of ignorance, I learned I was wrong rather quickly, and now at about 2000 DVDs....20 out of that bunch isnt that bad a ratio.

[Cronos]

aside from the couple of dvds i have of films that aren't available in their OAR i always get widescreen

[Damone]

I've got about 4 or 5 that only came full screen but "Old School" and "Silence of the Lambs" are the only ones I can think of I bought without paying attention to the case.

[MisterChristian]

I find it funny TODAY that studios continue offering FS DVDs...

Walk into any electronic/department store, and all the TVs are widescreen. UGH! FS DVDs playing on WS televisions....SHUDDER!?!

[IanLovesMovies]

I have around 300 dvd's, and I know that some are full screen. I have made it a habit to purchase only w/s in the last few years, but to look through all of my movies and see how many are full screen would be crazy. That would take forever. For those unfortunate souls who have taking this journey into crazy land, my thoughts are with you. That must've been rough. Its hard enough to find out when buying dvd's, if they are wide screen or full, but to actually look and see now would be a true test of an individuals patients.

[RandalGraves]

Originally posted by Derek237
1. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

I bought this used and didn't pay attention to the label. I couldn't return it but I didn't really care too much anyway. And I've heard that apparently you actually get more from the Full-screen version, so it's never really bothered me.

Yea appartenly the first batch of widescreen dvds were formatted wrong and the fullscreen is better. I bought the fullscreen as well.

[SamSanchez]

Originally posted by IanLovesMovies
I have around 300 dvd's, and I know that some are full screen. I have made it a habit to purchase only w/s in the last few years, but to look through all of my movies and see how many are full screen would be crazy. That would take forever. For those unfortunate souls who have taking this journey into crazy land, my thoughts are with you. That must've been rough. Its hard enough to find out when buying dvd's, if they are wide screen or full, but to actually look and see now would be a true test of an individuals patients.


or....it could have been as easy as going to your DVD collection website and pressing CTRL+F and then typing "Full" for full frame or full screen?

I didn't do that myself, I just estimated for my collection, but its as easy as that.

[mutesaint]

I bought Star Wars Episode two in full screen. Didnt realise it till I got home and saw that "This movie has been formatted for your screen..." message. I tried to return it, but I had bought it from best buy and I could only get another copy of the Full Screen. I ended up trading it in at half priced next door and went to buy the widescreen. The funny thing was that the second time was when the cashier asked me if I was sure that I wanted that version.

Other than that little story, I have no full screen movies that werent shot that way.

[Elementmorgan]

Originally posted by mutesaint
I bought Star Wars Episode two in full screen. Didnt realise it till I got home and saw that "This movie has been formatted for your screen..." message..


I got a fullscreen copy of Episode II also. It was a gift , but , because the person who gave it to me wanted to watch it right then , I plugged it in , and even though the case said FULLSCREEN , it was ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN. I got SO lucky.

But , no I never buy fullscreen DVDs if there's a choice!

[dennisv]

Only the Da Vinci Code which was a gift from someone who was clueless..

[Otis Driftwood]

I never buy "fool-screen" dvd's.

[MisterTwister]

Originally posted by RandalGraves
Yea appartenly the first batch of widescreen dvds were formatted wrong and the fullscreen is better. I bought the fullscreen as well.

What!? I didn't know this, please explain

[m_burlock]

I only buy FS for 2 reasons. If the film was filmed in that aspect ratio or if FS is the only version available. Other than that I make damn sure that I buy WS only!!

[JJFlamingo]

Originally posted by m_burlock
I only buy FS for 2 reasons. If the film was filmed in that aspect ratio or if FS is the only version available. Other than that I make damn sure that I buy WS only!!

[Damone]

Since I bought a WS tv last year I now also check to make sure it's anamorphic as well.

[Johnny S]

I have 11. I don't really care though. I'd rather have WS, but I don't obsess over it. The reasons for having them are as follows:

A. They were given to me as gifts.

B. I bought them before I paid attention to FS and WS.

C. The FS version was on sale.

[bigred760]

I've bought a few by accident and returned them; either for the same movie or for a different one because they didn't have the movie in widescreen. The only full-screens I own are the classic older flicks that were meant to be that way. Other wise, I don't want any near my collection. I'd be ashamed to have mine breathe the same air.

[SliceOfHorse]

976-EVIL
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective - Extended Edition - I have the widescreen that came out in the 2-pack, but it's the theatrical version
Basket Case 3
Blown Away
Brain Dead (1990)
Braindead (Dead Alive) - Uncut version, I have the R1 R-rated in widescreen
Castle Freak - DVDAf just changed this to Full Screen, I'm not so sure it isn't Open-Matte.
Death Becomes Her
Dolly Dearest
Drop Dead Fred
Fair Game
The Gate
Howling 4, 5, 6...Again, I'm not sure these aren't Full Frame
Hysterical
Leprechaun
Nothing But Trouble
Parenthood - But I plan on getting the new SE
Pieces - Gotta find a better version
Police Academy 4 & 5
Prom Night 3 & 4
Psycho 2 - DVDAf says this is Full Screen, I'm almost certain it's Full Frame. Nevertheless, I still have the Widescreen DVD from Universal.
Pumpkinhead 2
Sleepless
Slumber Party Massacre 3
Star 80
Waxwork 2

I have a handful. But, out of all of them, only 2 or 3 have widescreen versions available. The rest are the only R1 versions available.

[sirdizzy]

Only ever by accident, it happens and it sucks when it does. Back in the day back when dvds were pure you never had to bother to look but then walmart took over the dvd market (walmart sells %40 of all dvds now sold) and of course in their effort to to appeal to the lowest common demonitator because most of their customers are freaking morons who don't know anything about the difference or film for that matter and want the movie not to have those little black bars they started the trend to release films in both widescreen and full crap screen. Now this is the time I got burnt the most not knowing to look to make sure it was WS, I got nailed half a dozen times before I learned dvds were no longer pure and that they had been raped by walmart. I can't remember all the ones I have, I know Spiderman is one and the theatrical version of Fellowship of the ring was one too but I sold it to a buddy and bought the widescreen. The last one I got burned on was Layer Cake.

[DareDevil]

I have 2

8 mile
Minority Report


both presents

[Grn_Str_Movies]

I used to have alot i mean half of my collection was full screen
if the movie had a choice i would pick full screen cause i didnt know that much about dvds then i found out that it cuts 20% of the picture and i wouldnt look good on a widescreen tv so i sold all my full screen and replaced them all with widescreen.

the ones i have in full screen are because they dont have a choice

BAMBI (PLATINUM EDiTi0N)
FAMiLY GUY PRESENTS STEWIE GRiFFiN: THE UNT0LD ST0RY

just two when i used to have like 100 fullscreen

[DrkBlueXG]

yea I hate FS with a passion and it always happens to when I get a DVD as a gift. They always buy FS. I mean really, jesus christ. its retarded. FS will be phased out eventually when WS televisions dominate the market. oh well.

[WhatsInaName]

Out of the 200+ DVDs I own, I have 7 or 8 FS DVDs. One of them is Spiderman, but I got myself another copy which is WS. I will do the same for Tomb Raider 2 now that a cheap WS version is available. I bought Mimic and Deep Rising in FS because they were the only ones available. I refrained from getting Munich because FS wa the only version there is. I have a couple of concerts in FS format, but I don't really mind those.

I really hate FS in movies.

[rilocay]

Isn't exactly the same as what this is but, back int he days of vhs, back when independance day came out, we accidentaly got the widescreen version instead of the fullscreen, mind you i wasn't even 10 i dont think..i dunno, but clearly the tables turned for the better. Funny thing is when jumanji came out i made sure to get the fullscreen one. lol.

As for people who prefer fullscreen and are younger than like 50/60 yrs old, umm...why are you so ingorant? Good thing though, in Australia youl' have a hard time finding a fullscreen dvd unless that's how it was filmed in (except for evil dead which is only the widescreen, but that was released widescreen theatrically at the same time as the vhs full wasn't it? meh).

[gun_will_travel]

Every now and then, you need to buy full screen. Why? Because you get to see more of the picture! This is true whenever the WS version is a soft matte and the FS version is the same picture with the mattes removed.

But why would you want to see more of the picture, wrecking the framing that the director intended? Well, obviously, because sometimes you want to see something that was just out of view of the WS frame... something like, let me think, more of a naked woman's body!

Examples:

Terminator 3: WS version has Kristanna Loken nude, but you really don't see anything in the close-up shots. In the FS version you see the goods!

Friday Night Lights: WS version has a tame make-out scene with Amber Heard. But in the FS version you see her topless!

I'm sure there are a lot more examples. I remember a large thread about this topic on the cndb forums.

[bourahioro]

Originally posted by Elementmorgan
I got a fullscreen copy of Episode II also. It was a gift , but , because the person who gave it to me wanted to watch it right then , I plugged it in , and even though the case said FULLSCREEN , it was ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN. I got SO lucky.

But , no I never buy fullscreen DVDs if there's a choice!


I had the first two LOTR DVDs in WS, and bought the third in FSby accident, so I opened the package, wrecked the dvd and returned it to Walmart, for the WS version - I'm terrible, I know.

[MisterChristian]

I bought Mimic and Deep Rising in FS because they were the only ones available.

They're only available *in* widescreen...

[scubasteve]

I had about 10 FS DVD's, signed up for Netflix and switched out my movies with the wide screens.

I'm going to hell

[WhatsInaName]

Originally posted by MisterChristian
They're only available *in* widescreen...

Not where I live.