home theater buffs, what is the native movie theater format?
 

I see 16:9 proclaimed as "preserving native movie format" but I've rented tons of movies that have black bars on the top and bottom of the 16:9 screens, obviously because the real deal is wider than a 16:9 screen.

Also, in the theater... you'll realize the width of that screen is quite a bit wider than the 16:9 screen in your living room.

But my question is this: What the hell perspective is the length:width you see in the movie theaters???

I've always thought it was 16:9.

Me too, but I'm convinced otherwise now. Next time you're at a theater, study the width of that screen. It's quite a bit wider than a 16:9 screen.

There are SEVERAL different aspect ratios still in common use.

google??

It depends on the movie. They use all sorts of different aspect ratios. Some movies are perfect 16:9 and show no black bars, others do. Its odd when you first setup your wide screen TV thinking you'll never see the bars again, but alas, you get used to it!

Yeah I always thought the same too.

For movie "widescreen" production the current format is 2.35:1 and can also be 1.85:1 depending on film formats and anamorphic lenses used. Both these formats are in common use in cinemas.

Can't be sure and never checked this, but understand there is something called "enhanced DVD" which can stretch formats to fill a 16:9 screen without the black bars - tho results can be "soft" and can look distorted.

If you pay close attention, some theaters have black blinds on the side that they put down when the movie isn't wider screen version.

Yes, that's true. Lots of those type of DVD's on the market these days. So I guess 2.35:1 is what I must be seeing. That is one WIDE ass format.

I wonder why they don't make consumer displays in that format. :(

I was just wondering exactly that! :winkwink:

Can't see the point, - unless we end up with a 180 degree screen at some future time, - of increasing the ratio upwards from 2.35:1 - so where is the 21.15:9 home theater format screen? :)

Ah.. the "old movie" format was 1.33:1 so maybe they are trying to cover all angles.

Well, the point would be if they really wanted to "preserve the original aspect ratio"... they would, right? :)

Someone seems to have screwed up on math or a marketing department have been "creative" :)

Found some stuff on "advanced DVD's"...

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...vember-99.html