skoal said:
The information in the replies are great to know. However, it seems most consumers and the powers that be don't seem to care for open-matte.
It's a shame many films are matted before distribution rather than use the technology & options built into players/displays to (soft-)matte (real-time). It's true in some cases PQ would suffer, however in many cases I don't think PQ would suffer too much.
It seems to be that with Widescreen TVs the consumers tend to want the matted releases to fill their Screen. Also much Open matted filmed movies where intented to be matted for Cinema, but Full Screen movies where cheaper to shoot compared to anamorphic lenses.
USA seems to Tietze only country with Full Screen and additional Widescreen releases in that times for home entertainment, in Germany wie usuelle got either fullscreen (first Time releases, ie. Dawn of the Dead, Cujo and Killing Zoe) or Widescreen releases. Or After a New Master was obtained a Second or third Release using the Widescreen Master. (all newer Dawn of the Dead are Widescreen).
Some Comparisons are up at the DVD area of caps-a-holic.
Top Gun open matte 2:1 vs. 2.35:1
Hellraiser 3 (old german Red Edition DVD Full screen open matte)
Terminator 3 (Canadian Full Screen DVD)
Just to name some...