Quick question, you know that GF1 was shot in Full Frame 35mm, so that the widescreen version is cropped down, but is GF2 the same? Or is the widescreen version better than the full frame edition? I take it that GF3 is better in widescreen being a more modern film...

noledge

It's always better to see a movie in widescreen because that's the way the director usually iintends it to be seen. True, to avoid pan and scan, the mattes can be removed, but the image on top and bottom is usually just wasted space.

It depends on what the director intended. If the director was framing the shot for widescreen, then that is the best way to view the movie, imho. Older films were often framed at a ratio similar to the tv screen, so you are not missing anything by seeing them widescreen. It's rare that a modern film will be shot in full screen, but Stanley Kubrick did that for a number of his pictures. That's why when you buy the DVD versions of the Shining or Full Metal Jacket they will only come in wide screen versions.

It's unusual that a film that was filmed to be shown full screen would come out in a widescreen version, so I am inclined to think that Godfather wasn't filmed full screen. I could be wrong about this. I think Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut was shown widescreen in theaters even though Kubrick used full screen when filming it. In an interview he said he tried to frame shots so that they would look good in both versions, but that he preffered full screen. Unusual, but that was Kubrick.

Correction: I meant to say that Shining and FMJ only are out in FULLSCREEN versions.

I apologize for any inconvenience.

The Godfather DVD Collection page has a link for more info about the Godfather in "widescreen", as explained to me by Harlan Lebo:

"For The Godfather, Willis shot it in full 35 mm frame -- roughly 4:3 ratio. Gordie knew the film would be cropped down to fit wide screen theaters at around 1.85:1, and planned accordingly...."

GF2 was filmed in 1.85:1 aspect ratio.

As for GF3, it was "was filmed at an aspect ratio of roughly 1.66:1, and then cropped to the wider 1.85:1" according to this review of the laser disc version.

I'm starting to get a headache

What's all this mean? Check out this DVD FAQ for details...

JG

OK, does this mean that its best to view The godfather in full screen mode, and that its best to view GF2 and GF3 in widescreen?

noledge

I would imagine, and that's how Harlan feels about it, but again, it was shot to look good both ways. I'm not complaining - the preview I saw looked great to me! I'm more pissed that GF2 is on two discs than about the widescreen of GF1

JG

Jake, you can edit your posts by clicking on the Edit/Delete icon of your posts - just so you know

JG

And this is supposed to be the 'ultimate edition'? hmm...

noledge

I am a DVD columnist for a newspaper and I would be more than happy to answer any widescreen questions people have. E-mail me at tsolis@ix.netcom.com. I would answer them here, but most are pretty drawn-out explanations.

"I am a DVD columnist for a newspaper and I would be more than happy to answer any widescreen questions people have. E-mail me at tsolis@ix.netcom.com. I would answer them here, but most are pretty drawn-out explanations. "

Just post here, if you like. There's nothing wrong with long posts. If someone doesn't like it, they can just skip it.

[ August 21, 2001: Message edited by: Jake ]

LOL well i personally liked the technicolor in part II. THey should have saved it for memory value

As Pontiac Grand Prix makers would say...


Wider is better!

Watch it with a phone.Then you can call people and get their ideas on what size is better.