Black borders in HD-DVDs

[Jon]

Hi, I'm using a 24" Dell LCD to watch HD movies (connected to PC). I believe all movies will have a slight black border on the top and bottom due to the monitor having 1200 lines and HD being 1080 lines...

But, while some HD movies have this small border top and bottom, I was watching Tokyo drift last night and the top and bottom black borders are massive. Am I doing something wrong or is it supposed to be like this?

If this is correct, is there any way I can tell in advance if a movie is going to look like this before I buy it?

[Mr. Hunt]

Wow... its like AVS... only here! It is called aspect ratio... the monitors/tvs that are "widescreen" are made to "encompass" all widescreen formats... it is 16x9... which I believe is 1.78:1 ratio, while your Tokyo Drift (and many other movies) are in 2.35:1.

EDIT: And to answer your last question, check the back of the case for the aspect ratio... 2.35:1 is what you hate... and you are the reason we have full screen dvds and make me cry.

[Jon]

Thanks for clearing that up for me. Most of the HD trailers on apple.com only show the 60 line top/bottom borders so thats was I was expecting.

The only problem with watching these 2.35:1 format hd-dvds on a 24" lcd is that although the picture quality is great, it just looks so small only using just a little more than half the height of the monitor. I'm sure if it was a 50" plasma I wouldn't care.

I'm using the Xbox 360 HD-dvd connected to a PC and have not seen a hd-dvd playing before so wasn't sure if what I was seeing was how it should be.

[Mr. Hunt]

Well also you should be careful... I believe some HD-DVD cases tell you the wrong aspect ratio... I have read that The Hulk HD-DVD case says 2.35:1 (your devil I guess), but is actually 1.78:1 (or "16x9").

[Jon]

2.35:1 (your devil I guess)

I'm trying to keep in mind its about quality not size... but I recently got my Dell 24" and for desktop use/games its more real estate than I ever imagined possible. Then I watch some of the HD trailers on Apple.com most of which I believe are 1.78:1 filling my monitor with quality, size and colour. I take the hd-dvd home expecting 1080 HD quality images near filling my screen. I just felt a little disappointed with the letterboxed video.

[superklye]

I'm sure you can zoom (cutting off lots of the picture on the sides) to get it to fill up the screen completely.

[GamerGuyX]

I'm sure you can zoom (cutting off lots of the picture on the sides) to get it to fill up the screen completely.

Which also lowers quality. I prefer to watch the movie the way the director intended.

[superklye]

Which also lowers quality. I prefer to watch the movie the way the director intended.
Same here...I was just saying is all. :)

[evilchris]

Wow... its like AVS... only here! It is called aspect ratio... the monitors/tvs that are "widescreen" are made to "encompass" all widescreen formats... it is 16x9... which I believe is 1.78:1 ratio, while your Tokyo Drift (and many other movies) are in 2.35:1.

EDIT: And to answer your last question, check the back of the case for the aspect ratio... 2.35:1 is what you hate... and you are the reason we have full screen dvds and make me cry.


That's BS. I PAID for 70" of screen. I DEMAND it be filled up.

[Zelda_fan]

That's BS. I PAID for 70" of screen. I DEMAND it be filled up.

QFT.

I really wish they would go ahead and standardize the 2.35:1 ratio in film and television (it is strongly leaning that way in film. Most talented directors use 2.35:1) and manufacture TVs with a 2.35:1 ratio.

[shabby]

That's BS. I PAID for 70" of screen. I DEMAND it be filled up.

Use the zoom button then :rolleyes:

[superklye]

Use the zoom button then :rolleyes:
sarcasm, brah.

[evilchris]

Well, 1 person got it so far

[shabby]

sarcasm, brah.

Brah? Dont make me use this bear mase on you!

[GamerGuyX]

To the OP:

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e182/1337_GamerGuyX/5849775540google-med.jpg

[superklye]

Brah? Dont make me use this bear mase on you!
You gotta give your life to Christ, brah!