THX is reading this thread about lack of 16x9 on DVD's they certify

From what I understand, many of our consumer reactions about THX DVD's lacking 16x9 and using outdated laserdisc masters had been heard. It seems that the recent article at dvdfile.com about THX devaluing themeselves by certifying these sub-standard discs...
http://dvdfile.com/hardware/editoria....html#11/29/99

...has also created quite a stir. From what I've been told by the guy at THX I've been speaking with, they are having a meeting this week to evaluate, among other things, their position on certifying 4x3 widescreen (nonanamorphic) DVD's.

Want to tell them how you feel? They know how I feel. I want all DVD's certified by THX to optimize the DVD format to the maximum. Excluding 33% of the image's resolution doesn't acomplish that.

I want all THX certified DVD's to be in their original theatrical aspect ratio (not p/s like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) and to use the 16x9 feature for transfers that are 1.78:1 or wider. Simple as that.

THX is reading this thread to those of you who give a darn please post your own comments below!

-dave

[TampaFlyer]

I agree. It's ridiculous for them to certify a disc that's P&S. When I see the letters THX on a DVD, all it means to me is that THX is getting a royalty for their logo being on the package, and that I will probably get to see their cool logo thingie play when the disc starts.

[Slider]

Yep, for a man (Lucas) and a company (THX) that stresses giving the consumer the best possible theater experience at home, they fall far behind with their DVD division. Non anamorphic dvd's look terrible on my 16X9 set THX mastered or not. You simply can't cheat the laws of physics.

I don't buy non-anamorphic dvd's anymore because I know that I won't watch them.

Slider

Slider

[Taxi]

I have great respect for what THX has done in the commercial theater market. The phrase "THX certified theater" has always held weight for me.

As has been said, that's not true for home theater applications. THX has always tried to be on the cutting edge of technology. Right now, that means anamorphic transfers for DVDs. Sure there are a small percentage of folks to benefit from this technology now, but in only 2-3 years, I think the number of widescreen sets will greatly increase, as their price decreases. From what I'm seeing on this and other forums, a non-anamorphic transfer on a widescreen set looks very bad. I hope to have a widescreen set in the next couple of years, and I don't want to be disappointed in the DVDs that I purchase today.

I'd like to be able to rely on the THX company to be the ones to take up the challenge of making anamorphic DVDs the standard, not the exception.
------------------
Taxi
DVDFile Moderator

[micahp]

THX has always stated that it's goal was to help provide the Ultimate theater experience. Either at the Theater itself, or at home.

I just don't see how that can say this when they don't support something as benificial as Anamorphic transfers.

So please THX, do us all a favor and support anamorphic transfers

------------------
Resident Me,
Micah P.
Digital Dreams

[Dominik Pfleghaar]

Back in the days of LaserDiscs, I knew that when a LD had the THX logo stuck to it, I was up for a jaw-dropping experience, sound and image wise. It was even a "to buy or not to buy" criteria for me.
But now I must say that the THX logo on DVD's doesn't impress me much anymore.
I even once thought by myself "oh no... so it won't be anamorphic" when I saw that an announced DVD was THX certified!
I'd like to see the THX label stand for the highest possible quality again!

------------------
Unca Dom, DDS-088
dominikpfleghaar@netscape.net
------------------
G = Guns, PG = Plenty of Guns, PG13 = more than 12 guns

THX has always ment the best. The best in movie theaters. The best in home theater equipment. The best in LD. THX is the symbol of outstanding quality in sight and sound presentation. I have even payed more money to get the best.

If THX continues to approve substandard DVDs then THX will mean absolutely nothing.

------------------
Istagi *Feather Head*
Moderator of the Now Playing Forum
DDS-351

[Blade]

Why set and stand by a standard for mediocrity?

Anamorphic is a must for the future and for those who can afford the quality today.

THX (heck, everybody!) should insist on Anamorphic transfers for any movie they plan to put their name on.

That or come out with different levels of certification.

------------------
-David

THX has lost some credibility on their lack of support for anamorphic transfers on widescreen presentations. Even though I don't currently own a Widescreen TV, 16:9 enhanced DVDs STILL look better on my regular 27". So THX, please do reconsider your goals and DON't put your logo on a title unless it's anamorphic!

Lasse Johansen

I've been a Home Theater enthusiast for almost 15 years now. While I wasn't able to afford LD in it's prime I always recognized it as being the reference of all home media for playback of films. Within the LD format it was common knowledge that a THX certification would make the best format even better. This was due to the standards set forth by THX being forward thinking and pushing the technological envelope. Often forcing manufacturers and studios to "step up to the plate".

I've read where there are concerns about anamorphically mastered DVDs being problematic when players have to down convert the signal for a 4:3 dispaly. My experience is that this has been greatly exaggerated and is largely dependent on the make and model of any particular DVD player. Soon all manufacturers will have to insure that the hardware has to meet the software's capacity, as some are already doing.

Anamorphic transfers will also encourage the adoption of cutting edge technologies like HDTV and the whole ideaology of widescreen presentations of film for the general populace. Many more "average" folk will take a keener interest in the art and science of cinema. THX is, again, in a position to a be a reference setting standard with the still relatively new DVD format. But if they advocate the "dumbing" down of software that studios produce, no actual standard is being set.

I had hoped that when I became an early adopter of the DVD format that when I read or heard about THX involvement in a particular transfer, that I'd be as sure of a quality product as LD owners have been for over 10 years. I had vicariuosly enjoyed the high quality LDs that were stamped with the THX logo. Instead, what I'm finding with the DVD format is that the only time I stand a good chance of getting a good to excellent transfer of a film onto DVD is to look for anamorphic enhancement. Usually this has meant avoiding DVDs with a THX logo. I do hope that changes in the near future, but if the trend continues to allow studios to get a THX endorsement for substandard video transfers, I'll continue to be wary anytime I see "THX" on a DVD.

Respectfully,
James K. Michal

[LtlPhysics]

I have been renting and buying lds and dvds for about 8 years. My first dvd purchase, the Alien 4 pack, was made before I had a dvd player, but the obvious purpose for the "wide or 16x9" video setting and an anamorphic dvd
was crystal clear. I haven't purchased a substandard widescreen dvd since, with "Pulp Fiction" being the only exception although I have rented some.

THX is lacking vision at the helm and appears to be adopting a role similiar to Bose, another marketing company. You have to read the fine print with THX endorsed software and the THX logo is no longer a factor if the basics are ignored.

------------------
anamorphic's the key, Lee
and get yourself free

[clortho]

I am only reiterating what nearly everyone has said, but another voice only makes the crowd louder and more easily heard.

I used to get a thrill at the theatre when I saw the THX trailer before a movie, and in my vhs days, I was too poor to be a LD afficienado. But when I saw THX on a vhs, it meant you were getting the best possible quality you could. With DVD, that thrill and expectation was quickly eroded. THX no longer stands for quality or a superior viewing experience in home theatre. Lack of anamorphic requirement is totally inexcuseable, especially when the cost to a film company is negligible to remaster a film to support anamorphic. There are most certainly exceptions, however the films that I have seen have had no excuse other than studio laziness and THX's wishy-washiness.

I read somewhere, perhaps in this forum, that someone spoke with a person at THX and the message that he/she got from them was that they were more concerned with the bottom line than making sure THX was still worth something. Shame on the people at THX if this is true! Consider this: The format for tv that is going to be required to be in place in 6 short years is widescreen. Why not ensure for the future? And if you people at THX are truly obsessed about the ultimate bottom line, think about this. If THX no longer stands for setting quality standards, what makes you think you will be around much longer and making a bottom line at all? For now, with the lack of an anamorphic requirement, my money will be spent on disks other than those certified by THX. For shame.

Clortho
------------------
I am the Keymaster
clortho@hotmail.com

[This message has been edited by clortho (edited 12-01-1999).]

THX used to meant something a long time ago and in a very restricted way: a good theater sound system. Now about anything can get the THX logo and even THX approved theater can sound shitty. I'm still waiting to see the specs that something needs to have to be approved... (or is it that the only specs needed are $$$ ?)

As for DVD: anamorphic or not a digital transfer can be good or bad. Here I have some perfect non-anamorphic movies and some shitty anamorphic ones, it doesn't mean anything. Of course I prefer a perfect anamorphic transfer to a non-anamorphic one. A transfer has to be good in the first place.

So what about THX? Well to the risk of breaking the party: who cares? I'm still looking at my THX approved Platoon and I'm still laughing. The only logos that stands for quality on a regular basis are the following names: Universal, Columbia, and Warner (most of the time). Anything else is like throwing a dice and hoping it falls on the right number. And you don't see too many THX logos on their boxes (if any)...

What THX is showing us is that there are close relationships between THX-Lucas-Fox in a "scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" kind of way. I don't see anything else to explain it. Business is business...

So let's imagine, for a minute, that suddenly THX thinks less about it's shareholders and more about it's brand. That suddenly all THX approved DVD have to be anamorphic and perfect in any kind of way. So what? Does anyone buy a movie not for the movie but for the logo? All it will mean, to me at least, will be that some Fox movies will have finally reach the level already obtained, a very long time ago, by Universal, Columbia, Warner (and New Line). Nothing more.

The brand name THX *IS* already dead...

[gotdvd?]

All movies which were originally released to theaters in the widescreen format should be released to DVD with 16X9 enhancement. THX or not! It's absurd to see so many Buena Vista, Fox and budget line Warner titles being released as substandard DVDs. The future is high-definition - get with the program people!!!

------------------

gotdvd?

[snipsnapsappy]

I have never been able to understand the debate between non and anamorphic titles. I have never seen the difference between the two on a 16:9 television, but I have seen tons of the two on a 4:3 television. I can say that I look for anamorphic in all my buying decisions. Anyone who thinks a disney dvd looks better than a Colombia, New Line, or Dreamworks movie ona 4:3 is insane. If one compares the 2 new fox Entrapment and The Thin Red Line discs on a 4:3 TV anyone would say that Red Line is the superior transfer. Also, anamorphic lets the consumer know that the transfer is new and probably downconverted from HD. Also, when I came up to college, I got a new computer. 16:9 movies are shown 16:9. Then the computer adds its own black bars. I know this because the computers bars, at close examination are a slighhtly darker black. I think because the monitor is different than a NTSC TV, the 16:9 version has more resolution. But I do not know for sure. If I have lost anyone, my point is that anamorphic is not just for the future, it is for now. All 4:3 sets benifit from this feature and should become a standard of all studios. Especially since small companies like Trimark snd Anchor Bay do them regularly, it must not be that expensive to do. Whoo that was windy!

[Chromy]

Boy, if anyone out there hasn't had the opportunity to see how much benefit an anamorphic dvd does to widescreen sets, GO OUT AND SEE ONE TOMORROW! Remember to bring along your own dvd's because, I have found that many stores don't have many or any non-anamorphic titles for demoing TV's

The difference is night an day. I had some fun a few weeks ago when I borrowed a friends dvd, put it in my second player with it set to 4x3 and flip back and forth between inputs and modes to show the difference. Motion shots with sharp edges especialy benefit.

Some people may not care today, or may not care much, but some day, when you buy a WS tv, you'll really be kicking yourself for buying all of those non anamorpic dvd's.

Chromy

I'd just like to point out that, at least here in Europe, the majority of 4:3 televisions have anamorphic capabilities. The improvement in quality is immediately obvious. I still associate THX with top quality, but a top quality non-anamorphic picture is only as good as a bad quality anamorphic picture. I won't buy a THX-approved non-anamorphic DVD in the same way as I won't buy a THX-approved VHS tape.

I agree. THX certification is a sign that the video/dvd is as close to the director's vision as possible. That should be enough reason for THX to only certify dvd's in anamorphic wide screen. But not yet....
When DVD's first came out they didn't stop certifying videos because a better method of viewing movies was invented. When 16:9 Televisions become the standard, they will go with the times. I have no doubt.

I of course wish that they would start already though.

Troy

[Chromy]

I'd argue that THX certification on VHS and Laserdisc is still valid. Why? Because to me, THX means that we're getting the best quality out of that particualr format.

Anamorphic video is the best that dvd has to offer as far as video goes, so why not dictate that to the studios that come after the THX approval for their videos.

Chromy

We were holding a convention a few years back, and one of the rooms we rented happened to be a THX certified theater with DolbyDigital 5.1. We quickly broke out the StarWars SE LDs, and had ourselves a rip roaring time. Why? Because we knew that the THX label is a PROMISE that you are going to. Non anamorphic transfers should NEVER be certified for DVD. Why? Because if(and when) you're watching on a 16x9 set, all of that loss of detail is detracting from your rip roaring time

Jeff Kleist

[tomdkat]

It doesn't look like THX has changed their policy on this.... or have they? Have there been any non-anamorphic THX certified DVDs released in the past year or so?

Peace......

[mighty mint]

When I first got into home theatre I heard everyone telling me that THX was the certification that was the best. Now, having been in it awhile, I tend to not even bother getting excited about the THX endorsement and look first at what film company is making the film and the disc. Dreamworks has been an amazingly consistent company, especially in the light of how inconsistent the THX logo has been.

Have a great Christmas everyone

[sub780lime]

talk about back from the dead, well it doesnt appear as they have changed anything and that was 3 years ago, yeah, they listen, not much i guess