QuoteIt's good because the aspect ratio (1.66:1) cannot be presented through anamorphic encoding. Your TV (or computer) will remove the top and bottom of the picture and leave you with a 1.78:1 (16:9) ratio. You have to think of 1.66:1 as full-frame, or being close to it anyway.
Originally posted by: bad_karma24QuoteWhy is that good? I'd take anamorphic enhancement over non-enhanced material (unless it's fullframe)
Originally posted by: DanielBQuoteNot entirely accurate. Their DVD is a direct copy of their LD, since they used the same source material, and did not remaster for the DVD, of course it's non-anamorphic (which is GOOD because it's 1.66:1).
Criterion's DVD was released before the company was doing anamorphic widescreen transfers, so 1.66:1 was used at director Paul Verhoeven's request.
If it was anamorphic you'd have to choose between watching it anamorphic, but cropped to 1.78:1 - or watching it non-anamorphic with those awful digital jaggies you get from removing every fifth line. The increase in resolution is not enough to justify that. -and I might add that PC's will force you to watch only the 16:9 area, since the players consider everything outside of this to be useless information they can just repleace with solid black boarders.