[shaunthedude]

Just recieved this great film this morning. however, when I put it on there are black bars either side of the picture?? I know its a 4:3 film on a WS tv but this is the only film I have thats does this?? All my other 4:3 films fill the screen. Any ideas?? the only way to correct it is to put the tv in smart mode but this crops the top and bottom of the picture

cheers

[TarPot]

If, just for this film, you take set your dvd player to 4:3 it will fill the screen.

Trouble I know. But it'll get you what you want.

[shaunthedude]

Hi mate

Tried all that and all that does is add black bars to the top and bottom as well as the sides. No matter what you have it set to you have black bars either side. Only way is to put tv in smart mode but then you lose top and bottom of picture. Any idea why Optimum have made it this way???

[TarPot]

In my past experience, it shouldn't add bars top and bottom with the dvd player 4:3 mode. So you've got me there.

The reason they've window-boxed the film is to maintain it's correct aspect ratio on 16:9 televisions.

[shaunthedude]

yeah, I even tried it on my other dvd player and tv. Using all settings i can on both tv and dvd machine. The only way around it is to use zoom or smart, but you then losa the top and bottom of picture. What a bugger eh. I know the aspect ratio is correct but noe=w you have a postage stamp picture in middle of screen. pretty pants eh

[neroon]

why don't you watch in 4:3? surely it's better than streching the pic to 16:9? It's as bad as people wanting to lose the bars at the top & bottom of a film with a wider aspect ratio than 16:9.

[shaunthedude]

thats what im saying. No matter what mode you watch it in (apart from zoom) you have black bars either side. I know its in its correct aspect ratio but i aint ever seen a dvd release that has black bars either side. It BRILL that its actually in correct ratio though