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Author Topic: Solution to expose theaters cheating on aspect ratio Pravin Ratnam Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 844 From: Atlanta, GA,USA Registered: Sep 2002 posted 12-09-2002 07:46 PM                     Directors need to compose titles such that it will be OBVIOUS that some screens are capable of displaying only 2:1 for a 2.35 ratio. I saw Punch drunk Love on a screen which I am guessing is 2:1(the 1.85:1 trailers were filling up a good portion of the width). THis is AMC's Phipps Plaza in Atlanta- one of their better theaters. While it was obvious to the trained eye, that shoulder and noses weer egetting cut off in some shots, causal viewers were not bothered because they just assumed the actor was intended to be shown that way. What Paul Anderson should do is put his titles all the way to the end. This way if there is some serious cropping, the theater will generate more complaints. And just like product placement is done in movies, why not frame some important shots where a really important object is right on the edge of the screen that even a moron would be able to tell that they are being cheated by the theater. This won't affect the pan and scan version as much since you could pan one end in one scene and the other end in another scene. I was so mad after the movie and I couldnt find anyone to complain about except for a security officer. It was the final show of the night. I even asked one of the guys before the movie if the small screen was capable of showing the entire aspect ration. The guy said yeah. THe problem is even if I boycott AMC, other chains are just as bad here. I cant boycott everyone. No wonder I have no problem supporting those who choose to sneak in another movie after paying for one. If the theaters are determined to slip in sneakily a video experience, the patron might as well get video type prices and compensate themselves since a lot of the customer service has gotten worse lately. I saw The Truth About Charlie at AMC MAnsell in Atlanta. The sound was like my old spare 20 inch tv turned loud. It was clear, but definitely not played in the right sound format and sounded with less oomph than even good mono. The manager was some dumb lady who claimed at first the sound was in surround and was fine. When I met her again after the movie and challenged the surround claim, she said that it was in dolby surround and that the auditorium was probably not compatible. I looked at the paper and it said the ad said was in DTS with no other optional sound types. Shouldn't the theater have played it only a compatible auditorium or warned us about the sound? The lady didnt even seem apologetic, let alone even bother to give me a pass.  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-09-2002 08:50 PM                       Unfortunately, most anamorphic subjects are composed so that the majority of action (and often title placement) will remain unaffected, when the movie is transferred to video.  |  IP: Logged Darren Crimmins Expert Film Handler Posts: 130 From: Dallas, TX, USA Registered: Jan 2002 posted 12-09-2002 10:11 PM                     I have noticed many theaters who advertise a specific digital sound format and then end up playing it in analog. The managers tend to care more about how many seats are in specific theaters and thier convenience with cleaning schedules than to make sure that the film playing in the theater has the digital soundtrack that corresponds with the digital sound in the theaters. I have many times asked GM's when they do the movie schedule or print moves to make sure that the prints correspond with the digital in the theaters. I usually get some response like, "the customers can't tell the difference", or " Why are you being so difficult? This theater has 5 more seats we can sell."  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 12-09-2002 10:24 PM                     For what it's worth.. John P had a neat idea.. hold a (US) dollar bill in front of your view of the screen. The "aspect ratio" of a dollar bill is close to 2.39. Although, this wouldn't tell you if the wrong lenses were being used.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-10-2002 07:14 AM                        And a typical USA business card is 2 x 3.5 inches. 3.5 / 2 = 1.75:1 (just slightly less wide than 1.85:1)  |  IP: Logged Mathew Molloy Master Film Handler Posts: 357 From: The Santa Cruz Mountains Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-10-2002 12:46 PM                     The dollar bill & business card trick is the coolest thing I've learned in months! How can you tell a film-techer is in the audience? No he's not admiring the oodles of cash he makes in this business or his fancy new business cards - he's checking to see if your aspect ratio sucks so he can "out" your poor presentation on Film-Tech.  |  IP: Logged Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 12-10-2002 01:00 PM                     I worked at an 8-plex that had 4 auditoriums with movable side masking, and the other 4 with fixed 1.85:1. Two very memorable complaints were for "Dogma" (The opening featured text that reached almost all the way across the screen) which was chopped off on the sides, and "The World is Not Enough" when the words "### Million Dollars" became just "Million Doll". The films were promptly moved to the 2.39:1 capable houses regardless of how many seats were in there. Those last few customers that came at the end of the film's run deserved a "complete" picture just like those who came on opening day. =TMP=  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-10-2002 01:34 PM                       Thomas, was this a Cinemuck house?  |  IP: Logged Jesse Skeen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1517 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Aug 2000 posted 12-10-2002 01:40 PM                     If you go to one of these theaters, you should cut the sides off of your money before paying! And just to rant a bit here, I worked at a 6-plex with only 2 DTS screens and analog on the other 4- they played the Star Wars reissue (which was in DTS) on one of the analog screens while both DTS screens were running films that were only in Dolby Digital, hence they were also being played in analog.  |  IP: Logged Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 12-10-2002 02:20 PM                     Tim -- Nope. It was something else before it was Cobb, then it went Regal, and now it's Phoenix Theatres. Phoenix completely remodeled the place, adding new concession equipment, carpeting, bathrooms, sound systems, speakers, screens.... but no vertical masking!!! =TMP=  |  IP: Logged Evans A Criswell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1579 From: Huntsville, AL, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 12-10-2002 06:40 PM                        I've been outing two local theatres (Regal hollywood 18, Madison Square 12) for years on my www site hsvmovies.com . At least I've heard from someone important that the work to install vertically-moving masking on the 1.85:1-only screens is supposedly being done between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I haven't had a chance to check them out yet since I've been busy with the end of the semester at school. Evans A Criswell "The Aspect Ratio Police"  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 12-10-2002 06:56 PM                     Jesse, that's a good idea. Then tell them it is still too much money to spend to buy a ticket to watch a cropped movie.  |  IP: Logged Mike Spaeth Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1129 From: Marietta, GA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 12-10-2002 09:23 PM                        If you did have a 1.85:1 fixed-width house ... how difficult would it be to re-do the lenses & plates so that the Scope would just utilize a 2.35:1 area of the screen and just have some unmasked screen showing?  |  IP: Logged Jason Burroughs Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 654 From: Allen, TX Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-10-2002 09:40 PM                     What about the theaters that don't have a scope lens, much less movable masking  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-12-2002 10:51 AM                        Jesse Skeen wrote: "If you go to one of these theaters, you should cut the sides off of your money before paying!" That's a great idea! Certainly would get the attention of the theatre management to their substandard presentation. While you're at it, give them a copy of my article: Caring About Composition  |  IP: Logged

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