announcemet from Warner and I thought the DVD fanatics should know. Warner has decided to release the 30th Anniversary Edition of Wonka with all the bells and whistles except it will not have anamorphic widewscreen transfer. They feel it does not need the widescreen transfer which they have done before with some of their other "Family" titles. It is apparent that this edition of the DVD with all of the goodies is geared toward adults. The largest fan base for this movie grew up in the 70's and are now adults (like myself). However, they seem to be saying that only children will be watching it and children will prefer full screen/pan&scan. They seem to be contradicting themselves... 
I just don't get it. I know that the majority households in America have TV's of the 4:3 variety but when HDTV takes hold, that will all change. I have one now and I my child will never know any other way. Uuggghhh!!! I just feel I am going to get ripped off if I buy it and then Warner releases the 35th Anniversary Edition with an animorphic transfer in 5 years...aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/flikfx/default.htm
I have the VHS FlikFX version of "Lawrence of Arabia", which looks pretty good on my RCA 19-inch Colortrak 2000 TV set. 
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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
-sean
The DVD for The Bodyguard is pan/scan only (the only letterboxed version is VHS). The DVD for Caddyshack is pan/scan only.
Maybe the prudes in AOL Time Warner corporate are still annoyed by Marilyn Manson.
quote:
I think it's really insulting they feel "Kids' movies" don't deserve the same attention to quality that everything else does.
Disney I believe does a very good job producing their films on DVD. The disc usually contains a dts soundtack and some of them have both widescreen and TV formats.
quote:
Maybe Warner is going to transfer it full-frame with no masking at all.
That appears to be the case. Go to The Big Picture DVD and read their review. On the news page, they have a comparison between an image from the old transfer vs. the new one. They have lots of images from the new transfer in their review, as well. I'd still prefer an anamorphic 16:9 transfer that presents the image as it was shown in theatres, though.
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Evans A Criswell
Huntsville-Decatur Movie Theatre Information Site
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"It's not the years honey, it's the mileage' - Indiana Jones.
The coding is necessary as we sometimes don't get films for months, even nearly a year in some cases after the US. Case in point: Nurse Betty opens here in about two weeks.
Some region 1 dvd's now have some sort of encoding on them (The Patriot for eg.) to stop multi-region units from playing them (before a certain date?)
I myself have not got a DVD yet...but have decided to bite the bullet and get one when Moulin Rouge comes out in November. Early Christmas present perhaps? 
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"It's not the years honey, it's the mileage' - Indiana Jones.
"Our friends over at DVD Shrine have scooped the extras
on Dreamworks' Shrek 2-disc special edition. With over
11 hours of bonus features (!), this is going to be one
sweet set.
DISC 1: U-DUB-IT: Shrek's Revoice Studio (a DVD first!);
Behind-the-Scenes Featurette; This Way to Play! (Over
6 Hours of Fun!): Game Swamp (Over 15 Interactive
Games and Activities) Shrek's Music Hall Favorite Scenes
Selection Donkey's Tale Read-Along; Hidden Fun Facts
and More!
DISC 2: Filmmakers' Commentary; "The Tech of Shrek"; Storyboard Pitch of Outrageous Deleted
Scenes; Technical Goofs; Hilarious International Talent Reel; Character Design Progression Reel;
Playing Hints for Xbox Shrek Video Game (only available on this DVD!); "Shrek in the Swamp
Karaoke Dance Party" and More!
In addition, the filmmakers have created brand-new animation for the disc's menu system as
well as a "hilarious extended ending created exclusively for the DVD." Shrek will be available
November 2nd with a retail of $26.99."
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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
The European Union have been making noises about region coding too...
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Uncle to JEDI Hunt,
honest!
Either way...it's appalling in this day and age and with the DVD having such a relatively good reputation for presenting films as they were made to be presented.
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"It's not the years honey, it's the mileage' - Indiana Jones.
The same ignorant people who are whining about the black bars on the top and bottom of their screen right now will be the same daft dingbells whining about grey/black bars on the SIDES of their picture in a few years. I think this Wonka thing is just another way for Warner to get two pounds of flesh instead of one on selling this title. The people who cannot help waiting will jump on this "full frame" turkey and then WB will come out with an anamorphic version later for others to buy. Some people will wind up buying it twice.
Formats like Super35 go a long way to try to be "home video safe" with their widescreen photography. However, much of the CG effects work seen in lots of films these days winds up being as badly panned and scanned as any scope image.
Anamorphic enhanced widescreen should be the primary image format for any DVD release, unless it is the allowable exception of being a 1.33:1 OAR picture.
quote:
BTW, this page has a picture of what you'll see with the full-frame, open matte version of Wille Wonka: the hose that's blowing up Violet's blueberry costume. http://www.borg.com/~superman/mm.html
and that page says:
"For comparison, TV has an aspect ration of 4:3, "Wonka" was shot with 35mm film and matted with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and a really widescreen movie, like "Star Wars" is 2.35:1 (which was shot with 65, aka 70mm)."
I wonder if the 65mm Star Wars camera negative is in the same closet with the full length neg for See You Next Wednesday.
Incorrect. Star Wars:A New Hope (and the other three SW films for that matter) were shot in 35mm anamorphic, NOT 65mm.
Aaron
The Willie Wonka page people have weird ideas.
Josh
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
JUST GOT SWEETER WITH A 30TH ANNIVERSARY
SPECIAL EDITION WIDESCREEN DVD
COMING NOVEMBER 13
Unwrap the Magic of This Classic Film with Special,
Never-Before-Seen Extras
“Delightful. A genuine work of imagination.” – Roger Ebert
BURBANK, CA (August 23, 2001) – Warner Home Video (WHV) welcomes you to a world of childhood wishes! On August 28, join Charlie Bucket, Violet Beauregarde, Augustus Gloop, Mike Teevee and Veruca Salt as they journey to Loompa Land for the ultimate, candy-filled adventure in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. This special, 30th Anniversary widescreen DVD will be available on November 13 for $24.98 SRP and is every fan’s “golden ticket” to over two captivating hours of fantasy. A special edition, full-frame edition will continue to be available on both VHS ($22.96 SRP) and DVD ($24.98 SRP).
The one-and-only Willy Wonka “makes the world taste good” for a whole new generation in this magical family classic sparkling with brilliantly restored picture and sound! Also included is the all-new documentary Pure Imagination: The Making of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory featuring new interviews with Gene Wilder and the Wonka kids and revealing production secrets from the movie.
When they find prized Golden Tickets inside their Wonka candy bars, five lucky children win a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the legendary candy factory run by the mysterious Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder). Now, on a whirlwind tour of Willy’s incredible, edible realm of milk chocolate
waterfalls, elfish Oompa-Loompas and industrial sized sugar-coated creations, one very special boy will discover the sweetest secret of all: a generous, loving heart. It’s a taste of sheer movie-making enchantment, as you enter the simply scrumptious, surprise-in-each-bite, cherry-on-top world of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory.
-more-
Warner Home Video, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
Page 2
The magical, widescreen DVD and the full-frame DVD, filled with fantastic features and never-before-seen special moments, include:
·A fantastic, restored picture presentation.
·Animated Menus.
·All-new documentary Pure Imagination: The Making of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory.
·Audio commentary with the now grown-up Wonka kids.
·Sing-along Wonka songs.
·Original theatrical featurette.
The special edition, full-frame VHS includes 15 minutes of bonus material including the all-new documentary Pure Imagination: The Making of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory:
·Behind-the-scenes secrets revealed.
·First look at script changes, special effects techniques and anecdotes told.
·All-new interviews with Gene Wilder and all the now grown-up Wonka Kids.
“WHV is thrilled to be able to offer a fantastic, 30th Anniversary widescreen edition of this treasured classic,” said Ewa Martinoff, WHV Vice President of Family Entertainment Marketing. “Long-time fans of this timeless gem have expressed great interest in a widescreen release, and WHV is excited to bring it to them on November 13.”
I knew they'd cave...
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"It's not the years honey, it's the mileage' - Indiana Jones.
Anyhoo, it is nice to see that somebody at Warner pulled that stick from their behind and do this DVD right. Now let us all give an Amen...