Read This Before Buying a Blu-ray Player

Robert Harley -- Thu, 12/18/2008 - 15:41

See my blog on an essential Blu-ray player feature here: http://www.avguide.com/blog/read-buying-blu-ray-player

Anonymous (not verified) -- Fri, 12/26/2008 - 12:30

Watched our first blu-ray dvd last night on brand new pani bd-35 dvd player & brand new pani plasma 58" tv on thx mode. Great treat both in sound and vision. While watching The Dark Night the aspect ratio kept switing from letter box to full screen depending on the sceene. Connection was hdmi direct from dvd to tv. Can anyone help me understand why this happen. Thanks T. J.

mecolwell -- Tue, 12/30/2008 - 09:03

"The Dark Night" was filmed in Panavision, and IMAX, the former at 2.40:1 aspect ratio, and the latter at 1.75:1. The Non-IMAX theatrical presentations were shown all at the Panavision ratio, but the IMAX presentations were presented at the two aspect ratios. The Blu-ray release preserves the correct ratios. This was done for some sequences, like action scenes to add a bit of detail to those scenes.
The Blu is correct, and you saw it correctly.
That was my first Blu-ray, also, on a Panasonic, the BD-55.
Mike

VinylGuy

alan carlson (not verified) -- Mon, 03/16/2009 - 12:25

The Dark Knight blu-ray was made that way on purpose. Lots of complaints on Amazon.com reviews. did not bother me saw movie twice in theater and once on my blue-ray I personally did not find it too distacting

mecolwell -- Tue, 03/17/2009 - 08:32

The film is presented the way it was filmed, and as the DIrector intended.
My feeling, is that that is how it should be on BD (and DVD for that matter). Any "reformatting" is not true to the artistic intent.
Just my humble opinion.
Mike

VinylGuy

Anonymous (not verified) -- Fri, 12/26/2008 - 13:42

I believe the Dark Knight Blu ray has scenes filmed in Imax 65mm and regular 35mm film. Check some of the reviews via Google etc. You might try watching it again with options for aspect ratio fixed rather than on auto.
Sheepherder