»Matrix: widescreen vs fullscreen«

Greetings .

(Sorry if this is something that has been discussed before, but I did a search and found nought.)

If you watch the fullscreen version of the Matrix (on VHS for example), in the scene where the FedEx guy gives Neo the envelope with the phone, right when Neo takes the envelope there is a strange fake looking hand in the background. In the widescreen version this hand is not there. I think that this is because the fullscreen version actually has a taller picture, i.e. not just the sides cut off from the widescreen version, but actual picture where the black bars are on the widescreen.

So two questions. First, what's up with the hand? Is there a story behind it? Second, how come the fullscreen gives more picture than the widescreen? (I thought it was supposed to be the other way around).

Thanks

phil

Can you upload the 2 screencaps here:

Sorry, I don't have any.

as far as im aware, the widescreen format is basically a cropped version of the fullscreen format, but with a slightly extended width.

Actually no thats not what widescreen is. If you look on the back of a widescreen dvd you should see something like "this is presented in the original aspect ratio of...," that means that it is un tampered with. When they film something they film it in widescreen. What you see when you see fullscreen is a cropping of the widescreen not a cropping of the fullscreen. The full screen version takes about 60% of the films original size. You loose alot of detail with fullscreen. The widescreen looks smaller on the tv and it is, but you see way more of the picture. So by getting Fullscreen, you really lose alot of the good stuff in the film. Widescreen is awesome.

widescreen.org...

That is an example from the lotr, that shows what the difference is between the two. As you can see you loose alot in Fullscreen.

kylepro88 wrote:

widescreen.org... That is an example from the lotr, that shows what the difference is between the two. As you can see you loose alot in Fullscreen.

Nice link, but these also demonstrate the original point that you lose some width but gain some height. Fullscreen is NOT simply a cropped version of a widescreen image, they are both cropped from a larger original.

If you look at the viewfinder of a modern movie camera, you see it has two white rectangles overlaid which represent the fullscreen and widescreen frame edges. This enables the camera operator (and director) to frame the scene in a way that suits both formats.

Interestingly since neither of these "guides" reaches the edge of the viewfinder screen, neither format gets the full picture.

(the thing on the DVD box about "original aspect" usually referes to the theatre release)

One from the vaults.

I had the opportunity to compare both versions of Revolutions and for the sake of a few minutes tinkering thought I'd add this.

I've overlayed them as best I can.
matrix-explained.com...

Widescreen is definitely better. I really laugh at all those dumb people who think fullscreen is "so much better", because it looks bigger and because "there are no black lines blocking your screen".



Some people are stupid!

Point in case;

matrix-explained.com...Very Claustrophobic

matrix-explained.com...Oh, he does have two hands

And the extra height on the Full screen version is not always that much.
matrix-explained.com...
But look at all those extra Smiths on the WS version


Besides I've got a widescreen TV, so it's not really something I worry about.

Yea, I don't watch movies on anything but widescreen because with widescreen you are getting more width than you are height in the fullscreen version. And it looks better on your TV even if you don't have a widescreen television in my opinion.

yes widescreen is much more superior, i have a friend who i had to finally convince that widescreen is better but i still catch him buying full screen stuff....shame on him....

you should pistol whip him until he switches. (mmm...pistol whip)

Full Screen is horrible. It's the spawn of Satan. Period.

you should pistol whip him until he switches. (mmm...pistol whip)

Full Screen is horrible. Only humans could invent something as insipid as "pan-n-scan." It's the spawn of Satan. Period.

yah widescreen is far supperior