Warner and Blu ray?

01-05-08: Mitch4t
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I really don't care either way, as long as they keep making standard def dvd's. I prefer the 4:3 aspect ratio of the standard def discs for my movie screen.

Enlighten me. I've never understood how a movie-enthusiast could prefer to watch films in 4:3 pan'n'scan vs. the original aspect ratio as shot and edited. On particularly wide screen films, sometimes offscreen noses are speaking to the empty space in between, which is all there is to watch.

Secondly, I have always played std. def DVDs in widescreen mode.

No joke Johnnyb53. I thought Mitch was kidding at first but he seems serious. I would NEVER watch a movie in 4:3...period. That would be the exact opposite of immersive to me because all I would be thinking about while watching it is that I'm missing 1/3 of the movie. With a 12 x 16 screen I don't understand why black bars are an issue.

Warner going Blu Ray moves exclusivity for Blu ay from 49% to about 70% and really barring change spells the end for HD-DVD in the long run ( say...when Paramounts 18 month deal is over).

It in no way ensures market adoption of Hi Def DVDs however. The quickest way for the market to adopt hi def DVDs would have been for all studios to produce in both formats.

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Johnnyb53 & Synthfreek.......I do understand that some of the picture is missing when viewing in 4:3, however, the overwhelming effect of the whole screen filled with a picture really is a turn-on for me. I like the "wow" effect that it has. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy the movies that are available only in letterbox, but my preference is to have the entire screen filled with picture. When watching in 4:3, the part of the picture that is missing has never been noticeable to me.

I don't know if I'd call myself a movie-enthusiast. I'm not a purist when it comes to watching a movie as its creator intended it to be watched. I've watched movies at home my whole life in 4:3 and I've grown to prefer it that way.

The black bars are not an issue.....I just prefer the whole screen to be filled when I can get it.....just my preference, that's all.

Some folk swear by tubes and others like solid state, some swear by vinyl, others go cd, chocolate vs vanilla.....and so on.

Different strokes for different folks.
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owning a PS3 (my early blu ray player) and recently ordering a Pioneer BDF 95 ($999 upper end blu ray)
I'm happy to see this resolving to one format (although it hurts for those who recently bought HD DVD.

If this helps bring the average consumer to buying HD sources, it will only trickle down to more available and eventually BLu Ray surplanting Standard Def DVD.

I have a Pioneer Elite 1130 50" plasma
it is two years old 1080i
the picture is fabulous on blu ray

I've been tempted to buy the new 60" Pioneer 1080p plasma but $7.5k over something that is as good as I have at home is hard to justify right now

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts johnnyb53

thanks
TOm