Do you own both Widescreen & PanScan versions of same dvd?

[dvdlover]

Obviously, some dvds come with both versions included, but I'm talking about movies that you own twice seperately in the 2 versions. And I'm not talking about movies that you got in pan scan in the beginning but later on when they got available in widescreen you bought it again.

Do some of you buy both versions of a movie that you really love just in order to have both experiences (widescreen & panscan)? For instance, did any of you buy both versions (panscan & widescreen) of The Two Towers?

[larphillips]

At first glance, that is a nutty, nutty topic. Then I thought about it, and there IS one movie that I am a fanatic about that I have done something like that with -- The Exorcist.

I own all versions of it on R1 DVD
I own a UK DVD
a Japanese DVD
a Japanese LD
a US Beta
a US RCA Discovision Disc
Both US Laserdisc releases
All US VHS releases
a PAL VHS
an 8mm film of it
a couple 16mm trailers
a couple 35mm trailers
etc.

[tazer floyd]

I'd never buy a movie in pan & scan as well as widescreen. Just don't see the point.

[Marq]

No.
It would pretty much go against all my cinematic beliefs (unless I was a major collector of a particular title like larphillips). Even if one of my favourite films was only offered Pan&Scan (when widescreen is the OAR), I'd not own it.
This is a wacky thread...

[J Greer]

Nope, but I do remeber a few forum members posting that they were going to buy both versions of Back To The Future, since parts II & III are open matte.

[downhuman]

Originally Posted by larphillips

At first glance, that is a nutty, nutty topic. Then I thought about it, and there IS one movie that I am a fanatic about that I have done something like that with -- The Exorcist.

I own all versions of it on R1 DVD
I own a UK DVD
a Japanese DVD
a Japanese LD
a US Beta
a US RCA Discovision Disc
Both US Laserdisc releases
All US VHS releases
a PAL VHS
an 8mm film of it
a couple 16mm trailers
a couple 35mm trailers
etc.

WOW!!!

And I thought that I was going a little overboard by having both the Special Edition and the Blatty version. You're a true afficianado of all things "Exorcist" for sure.

The closest thing I have to having both the pan and scan and widescreen versions of movies are ones where both are included in the same package(i.e. The Mummy Ultimate Edition). I can't say that I'm obsessive enough to purposefully buy a foolscreen version of a film that I already own in widescreen just to be a completist. That's just nuts. Sorry.

[Morticia]

Then some of us may have something like the "Vacation" movies, which are great, and were only available in fullscreen until lately.

I admit to buying "Chrstmas Vacation" last year because it was cheap and I needed it for Film Class. (So I don't like to rent) Though I don't know if I'll upgrade cause it's such a seasonal thing. *ducks*

[dvdlover]

I've read that people bought both panscan and widescreen versions of Spiderman just because of the different covers, that in my opinion is even "wackier" since it's just a pic not a different cinematic experience.

[Damitol]

I have a handful of VHS's that I replaced with their DVD counterparts, but I dont' really think that counts under the rules of this thread. If the OAR had been available in the days of VHS, I would have bought the OARs then (and STILL replace them with DVDs).

No - I do love the LotR films (as an example), but the only reason I would own a full screen version is (1) if no WS was made available (or announced) at the time of release, (2) I got it as a gift and couldn't retrn it or (3) if there were significant extras I wanted, and they were only available on the full screen release for some reason.

[larphillips]

Originally Posted by Damitol

if there were significant extras I wanted, and they were only available on the full screen release for some reason.

Oh no!!! Shhhhh... please don't give those bastards any ideas. God, the last thing we want is for them to give us an actual, almost valid excuse to want to buy both a FS & WS of a movie.

[PorkChopXpress]

Like most others here I don't see the point in owning the full screen and the widescreen version. The only instance where I could see myself picking up both versions is like the Evil Dead situation. I have the Book of the Dead version, but if I were to see the Elite version I would pick it up since it is the OAR. Other than this particular scenario, I don't think I would have any reason to pick up both the full screen and widescreen versions.

Edit: Just noticed that the thread is dealing with pan and scan and not fullscreen. In that case, there is no instance where I would own the pan and scan.

[SidcupMartin]

Originally Posted by larphillips

At first glance, that is a nutty, nutty topic. Then I thought about it, and there IS one movie that I am a fanatic about that I have done something like that with -- The Exorcist.

I own all versions of it on R1 DVD
I own a UK DVD
a Japanese DVD
a Japanese LD
a US Beta
a US RCA Discovision Disc
Both US Laserdisc releases
All US VHS releases
a PAL VHS
an 8mm film of it
a couple 16mm trailers
a couple 35mm trailers
etc.

You mean that you didn't get the ViewMaster version?

[larphillips]

Originally Posted by sidcupmartin

You mean that you didn't get the ViewMaster version?

Is there one???

If there were, and I didn't already have it, I'd desperately seek it out.

[Pirate]

I've got a few VHS's that are in FS that I never sold, but bought the DVD counterpart. No DVDs in both formats though.

-ph

[dvdlover]

Originally Posted by porkChopXpress

Edit: Just noticed that the thread is dealing with pan and scan and not fullscreen. In that case, there is no instance where I would own the pan and scan.

There's a difference between Pan&Scan and Fullscreen?? I thought it's the same thing.

[Icon769]

It seems pretty pointless to own a Pan and Scan version when you can easily buy the Widescreen one.

[Marq]

Originally Posted by dvdlover

There's a difference between Pan&Scan and Fullscreen?? I thought it's the same thing.

And you call yourself a "dvdlover"?
I'll let someone else explain the ever-so-minor details. (edit: see larphillips' good explanation)

Now that this thread is meant to include "Full Screen" as well, then yes I do have 1 film on DVD in both FullScreen AND Widescreen:

The Evil Dead

[Frank Gunn]

If you're dizzy and nauseated, you're watching a pan and scan.




ETA: Yahtzee!

[larphillips]

Originally Posted by dvdlover

There's a difference between Pan&Scan and Fullscreen?? I thought it's the same thing.

Well, it's used interchangebly an awful lot, but the difference is that a fullscreen transfer is of a program that has an aspect ratio close enough to TV that the transfer camera is locked down to one framing of the master print. A pan & scan transfer is when the transfer camera makes artificial edits and camera moves across the image in order to convey all of the information that is lost by the differing aspect ratios.

The hateful thing about P&S is that the new version is presented in a way fully unintended by the filmmaker. A movie draws certain flow and power from the movement of the camera and the type and frequency of the edits. By forcing these elements in a movie for no other purpose than to make sure the scene makes logical sense, you basically ruin whatever intention and art was there in the original. Now, I'm sure there is probably a much better definition of the two, but that is what I could pull off the top of my head.

[Frank Gunn]

Well put, Lar.

Here's one particular instance where Pan and Scan destroyed a scene.

In 'Pulp Fiction'...

Spoiler (Highlight or Triple Click to Read):

When Jules shoots Flock of Seagulls on the couch. With the OAR intact, it's a beautiful, sudden, fluid thing. FoS is lying on the couch, Brett's yammering away, and suddenly Jules whips out his pistol and BLAM! Dead Flock of Seagulls. All three subjects are within frame, and the camera doesn't budge. Well 17-year-old Frank Gunn was so enamoured by that particular scene that it burned into his memory, and when the 'Pulp Fiction' came out on Pay-per-view many moons later, he was disturbed to watch the scene go down like this: Only Jules and Brett are within frame, Brett's yammering away, the "camera" suddenly jerks violently to the left revealing Flock of Seagulls, Brett is now out of frame, and while the "camera" is still moving, Jules shoots FoS.

Like I said. Totally fucked up. And this is how I finally learned about OAR and letterboxing and so forth. And when 'Pulp Fiction' *finally* came out on VHS, I fought tooth and nail with several small-town video clerks to ensure that I would receive the Widescreen version, and was made to suffer the indignity of "you understand that this is the Widescreen version, right?"

[PorkChopXpress]

Thanks for the assist lar and Frank. I was about to try and explain it, but you guys beat me to it. I couldn't have put it better myself.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by dvdlover

Do some of you buy both versions of a movie that you really love just in order to have both experiences (widescreen & panscan)?

Ummm... no.

Peace...

[MrTony]

Great example with Pulp Fiction, Frank Gunn. Isaw that movie three times in the theatre, and like you, several scenes and images were permanently burned into my memory. When I saw it on VHS, it just wasn't the same. Other examples I can think of:

Spoiler (Highlight or Triple Click to Read):

When Jules is giving the "Ezekiel 25:17" speech for the first time, over Brett's shoulder you can see Vincent pulling out his pistol and cocking it. Completely cut out of the pan-n-scan version. At Lance's house, after Mia says "Something" after receiving the adrenaline shot, the pan-n-scan version cuts out Vincent slumping to the floor in relief and Trudy doing a bong hit.

These are some of the more obvious examples, but there are countless more. Yeah, I too credit Pulp Fiction for introducing me to the necessities of widescreen.

[tomdkat]

It's really interesting reading the descriptions of the movie scenes you guys are posting as my experiences with the movies mentioned have only been OAR experiences, so I can't even relate to seeing those movies not in OAR. The first time I saw Pulp Fiction was on laserdisc and in OAR.

Peace...

[Frank Gunn]

*laughs* It's great to get some validation on this, MrTony. My friends all thought I was crazy.

Another example from 'Pulp': When Marvin opens the door for Vincent and Jules. With the OAR preserved, you see Vincent standing just behind Jules, looking just tough as nails. Seriously, just bad-ass. In the butchered version, you only see Jules.

And don't get me started about

Spoiler (Highlight or Triple Click to Read):

the chunks in Jule's jheri curl.

Really, what a waste. I'm surprised more directors weren't vocal about it back in those dark days.