It appears that Raiders was afflicted by BBC's bright pink new DOG, although at least, to their credit, they listened to complaints and ditched that for the other two films.

Some channels could learn a thing or two from this listening to viewers business!

Given C4's recent track record, I'm hoping to see the OAR 'premiere' of those titles on the following list which have been screened many times before at cropped ratios, including PRINCE VALIANT, THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN and WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO + JULIET. More importantly, I'd like to see DEEP RED rescued from the godawful aspect ratio imposed on it by the botched UK DVD release, which frames the image at something like 1.90:1. This is the same print used by Film 4 in recent times, and it's bloomin awful, to say the least! Mind you, even if they did secure a 2.35:1 version, it would end up being screened 'top-frame' again, which would be a total wash-out...

Oh, and I'll be keeping a closer eye on the Beeb's output next week, most notably on BBC's 2, 3 and 4, just to see if there are any further 'accidents' along the lines of the Indiana Jones trilogy. Given they would have to pay extra money for both an HD (OAR) and standard-def (cropped) version of any given film, it makes sense for them to push for a 'one-version-fits-all' scenario. And given that HD is the future... well, you get the picture.



5 - 11 April



Film 4

"CROCODILE" DUNDEE II (Panavision)

DEEP RED [Profondo Rosso] (Techniscope)

THE FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS (Super 35)

THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT (CinemaScope)

MEMENTO (Panavision)
MONSTER-IN-LAW (Super 35)

PRINCE VALIANT (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]

ROAD TO PERDITION (Super 35)

THE SEA INSIDE [Mar Adentro] (Super 35)
SHAFT [2000] (Super 35)
THE SHERIFF OF FRACTURED JAW (CinemaScope)

THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]



Channel 4 / E4 / More 4

THE BRAVADOS (CinemaScope)

THE DEER HUNTER (Panavision)

ESTHER AND THE KING [Esther e il Re] (CinemaScope)

THE GIRL IN THE RED VELVET SWING (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]

KRRISH (Anamorphic) *

LAST OF THE BAD MEN (CinemaScope)

SAHARA [2005] (Super 35)

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO + JULIET (Panavision)
THE WIND AND THE LION (Panavision)



Terrestrial / Freeview

3000 MILES TO GRACELAND (Super 35)
8 MILE (Super 35)

THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT (Arriscope)

BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES (Panavision)
BEDAZZLED [2000] (Panavision)
BLIND DATE [1987] (Panavision)
BREAKIN' ALL THE RULES (Super 35)

CHISUM (Panavision)

DIRTY HARRY (Panavision)

END OF DAYS (Super 35)

HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER (Panavision)

THE MAN WHO SUED GOD (Panavision)
MEDICINE MAN (Panavision)
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE [1996] (Panavision)
THE MONSTER SQUAD (Panavision)

NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA (Panavision)

RETURN OF THE SEVEN (Panavision)
RUNAWAY [1984] (Panavision)

THE SHIPPING NEWS (Super 35)

THE WINGS OF THE DOVE (Super 35)



* Once again, I'm assuming this week's 'Bollywood' film (KRRISH) was shot with anamorphic lenses (or even - gulp! - Super 35), but the truth will be revealed during the broadcast itself.



Next update: Tuesday 8 April

I e-mailed the BBC as you said today, and I received this lovely response:

quote:

Dear

Thank you for your e-mail.

I am pleased to learn that your enjoyment of 'Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade' was greatly improved by it being screened in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio.

I understand that you would ultimately like to see all feature films screened in cinemascope this way on BBC Television so I would like to assure you that we have registered your comments on our audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback which we compile daily for all programme makers and commissioning executives within the BBC, and also their senior management. It ensures that your points, and all other comments we receive, are circulated and considered across the BBC.

It is always a boost to our technical staff to read appreciations from the public, thank you again for taking the time to contact the BBC.

Regards

BBC Information

Thanks for sharing that.

Oddly, I haven't received a response to my own congratulatory message to the BBC (sniff!). I must smell, or something...

KOI... MIL GAYA seems to have been another NTSC-to-PAL transfer, created by the licensors and transmitted 'as is' by C4 last week (29 Mar-4 Apr), cropped to something around 1.85:1 (from anamorphic 2.35:1). The trouble with Indian cinema is that any cropping tends to eat away at the compositions, because the concept of 'protecting for TV' is an alien concept to the dedicated filmmakers who make up the rank and file directors and cinematographers of the most industrious film-producing nation on earth. Pity they've recently become infected with the Super 35 bug (essentially a 'fake' widescreen format, though the gorgeous cinematic compositions of WICKER PARK, premiered on Film 4 last week, proved it's still possible to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear... or something).

It was very nice to see THE SEA INSIDE striped across the centre of the screen where it belonged, with appropriately-positioned subtitles, somewhat smaller than those normally used by C4, but still entirely legible, even to someone without 20/20 vision, like myself. Unless I'm mistaken (waddya mean: "Wouldn't be the first time!"?), this was likely an HD print, created by the licensors and not by C4 itself, which accounts for the framing. Good job, too - I was beginning to despair we'd be stuck with 'top-line' framing forever...

Anyway, last week's widescreen joys:

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (C4)
BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS
COLLATERAL
ENTRAPMENT
FREDDY VS. JASON
GERRY
THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT
INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (BBC3)
THE ITALIAN JOB
LANTANA
MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD (C4)
THE PINK PANTHER
ROAD TO PERDITION
THE SEA INSIDE
S1MØNE
STEPMOM (C4)
THE TALL MEN
THE TRANSPORTER
TRANSPORTER 2
THE WAY WEST
WICKER PARK

And last week's crop-screen miseries:

BLAST FROM THE PAST
FROM HELL TO TEXAS (C4)
KOI... MIL GAYA (C4)

Be sure to avoid Millions, this evening on BBC Two. This film is rated a 12, for a scene with a nun smoking a blunt and another scene involving lingerie (but totally avoids the topic of sex in a very interesting way). Therefore it is very likely to be cut.

Be sure to avoid Millions, this evening on BBC Two. This film is rated a 12, for a scene with a nun smoking a blunt and another scene involving lingerie (but totally avoids the topic of sex in a very interesting way). Therefore it is very likely to be cut.

These two scenes were in fact present in the BBC2 broadcast on 6 April.

Was surprised to see the bra scene at that time, to be honest, and St Peter even got away with a b-word, although I'm sure he had a religious oath curtailed slightly - might be wrong, though, as usual, I was only half-paying attention while it was on in the background.

'Twill be interesting to see if the Beeb follows its recent broadcast of the Indiana Jones trilogy with a 2.35:1 version of BECKET on BBC4 next week, though I'm more than a little doubtful.

It would also be nice to see THE CRIMSON RIVERS and ONE NITE IN MONGKOK (two terrific foreign-language thrillers, as far removed from the 'Art-house' aesthetic as could be hoped for) not only screened at the original ratio on Film 4, but also PROPERLY-CENTRED!! Again, it's doubtful, unless C4 have secured HD prints of both. Either way, Crimson premiered on Channel 4 quite a while ago, cropped to 1.78:1, so it would be nice for Film 4 viewers to see the entire image, as intended.



12 - 18 April



Film 4

CHANGING LANES (Super 35)
THE CRIMSON RIVERS [Les Rivieres Pourpres] (Panavision)

THE LAST WAGON (CinemaScope)

MILLION DOLLAR BABY (Panavision)
MONSTER-IN-LAW (Super 35)

O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? (Super 35)
ONE NITE IN MONGKOK [Wang Jiao Hei Ye] (Panavision)

THE PINK PANTHER [1963] (Technirama)

SHAFT [2000] (Super 35)
THE SHERIFF OF FRACTURED JAW (CinemaScope)
SOLARIS [2002] (Panavision)

THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]

WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL (Panavision)



Channel 4 / E4 / More 4

BEAR ISLAND (Panavision)

DODGEBALL: A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY (Super 35)

KAHO NAA... PYAAR HAI (Anamorphic)
KINSEY (J-D-C Scope)

THE MAVERICK QUEEN (Naturama)

VAMPIRES (Panavision)

THE YARDS (Panavision)



Terrestrial / Freeview

BECKET (Panavision)
BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE (Panavision)
BLUE THUNDER (Panavision)

DARKNESS (Super 35)
D-TOX [Eye See You] (Panavision)

EMPIRE [2002] (Super 35)
ESCAPE TO BURMA (Superscope) [2.00:1]

GUN FOR A COWARD (CinemaScope)

HOPSCOTCH (Panavision)

IT'S ALL GONE PETE TONG (HD Widescreen)

THE JEWEL OF THE NILE (J-D-C Scope)

THE LEGEND OF ZORRO (Super 35)
LOVE ACTUALLY (Super 35)

MANHUNTER (Super 35)
MASTERMINDS [1997] (Super 35)
METEOR (Panavision)

NURSE BETTY (Super 35)

PRACTICAL MAGIC (Super 35)

VIVA MARIA! (Panavision)



Next update: Tuesday 15 April

Oh, and you can expect big cuts in the 15 certificate BLUE THUNDER next week, too. Cropped and cut, eh? Can't wait to miss it...

quote:

Oh, and you can expect big cuts in the 15 certificate BLUE THUNDER next week, too. Cropped and cut, eh? Can't wait to miss it...

I share your pessimism - so I've ordered the new R2 "Collector's Edition" DVD (£4.93).

Bit of a bad week for C4 (5-11 April), since a good chunk of their scope titles were cropped to 1.78:1 (or, in the case of LAST OF THE BAD MEN, a hideous 1.33:1). I'm still wondering why they haven't managed to secure a 2.35:1 version of WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO + JULIET, a major title and one that really benefits from being seen at the full ratio. This year's season of Indian films is a bit of a wash-out, too, given that they've all been cropped to hell and back so far, and that's very unusual for C4. Mind you, I don't know which is worse - cropped images, or 'top-line' framing...

Of those films that were screened at the 'correct' ratio, I can't imagine anyone seeing films like THE GIRL IN THE RED VELVET SWING at anything less than the full scope format, even though C4's 2.35:1 print was clearly cropped from 2.55:1. To be fair, it only caused problems in the courtroom scene toward the end, but even so...

So, last week's widescreen presentations:

THE BRAVADOS (C4)
"CROCODILE" DUNDEE II
THE DEER HUNTER (C4)
THE FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS
THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT
THE GIRL IN THE RED VELVET SWING (C4)
MEMENTO
MONSTER-IN-LAW
ROAD TO PERDITION
SAHARA (C4)
THE SEA INSIDE
SHAFT
THE SHERIFF OF FRACTURED JAW

And last week's crop-screen disappointments:

DEEP RED
ESTHER AND THE KING (C4)
KRRISH (C4)
LAST OF THE BAD MEN (More4)
PRINCE VALIANT
THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO + JULIET (More4)
THE WIND AND THE LION (More4)

I've given up hope of seeing anything other than the very strange version of WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL currently held (and repeated ad nauseam in a possibly edited pre-watershed slot) by C4, which is cropped to something like 1.66:1 and pillarboxed within the 16:9 frame, with mattes down either side of the image. Even with overscan, it's noticeable.

JASON X is scheduled for broadcast on Film 4 next week, hopefully restored to its proper 1.85:1 ratio. I'll keep an eye on that one and report back.

Also, watch out for DAREDEVIL and THE VISITORS, due for screening on BBC's 3 and 4 next week, both of which might be candidates for 2.35:1 broadcasts. My cynical nature tends to think it won't happen, but there again, no one expected the Indiana Jones trilogy to go out at the correct aspect ratio, either.

Oh, and I wasn't able to determine the screen format for TAXIDERMIA, though I'm assuming it's (yawn!) Super 35. 'Fake' widescreen, in other words. And if it's striped across the top of the screen, I'll switch the damn thing off. I'd like to meet whoever is responsible for maintaining this stupid policy and tell them exactly what I think of it...



19 - 25 April



Film 4

2046 (Anamorphic)
20000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]

THE ABYSS (Super 35)
ALIEN (Panavision)
AVP: ALIEN VS. PREDATOR (Super 35)

BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES (Panavision)
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (Panavision)

CHANGING LANES (Super 35)

FANTASTIC FOUR (Super 35)
FANTASTIC VOYAGE (CinemaScope)
THE FIFTH ELEMENT [Le Cinquième Élément] (Super 35)

GO (Super 35)

THE LAST WAGON (CinemaScope)
THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN (Panavision)
THE LEFT HAND OF GOD (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]
THE LONG SHIPS (Super Technirama 70) [2.21:1]

MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN (Panavision)
MILLION DOLLAR BABY (Panavision)

ONE NITE IN MONGKOK [Wang Jiao Hei Ye] (Panavision)

PICNIC (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]

STAR TREK: NEMESIS (Panavision)

TAXIDERMIA

WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL (Panavision)



Channel 4 / E4 / More 4

COMANCHE STATION (CinemaScope)

DANCER IN THE DARK (DV Scope)
DOCTOR AT LARGE (VistaVision) [1.85:1]

JEEPERS CREEPERS II (Panavision)

KALIFORNIA (Super 35)

NORTH TO ALASKA (CinemaScope)

THE PROPOSITION (Super 35)

THE TALL STRANGER (CinemaScope)
THE TRAIN ROBBERS (Panavision)

WHAT DREAMS MAY COME (Super 35)



Terrestrial / Freeview

AIR AMERICA (Super 35)
THE AVIATOR (Super 35)

THE BIG BOUNCE [2004] (Super 35)
BITE THE BULLET (Panavision)

THE CABLE GUY (Super 35)
THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK (Super 35)

DAREDEVIL (Super 35)
DECEPTION [Reindeer Games] (Super 35)
THE DEEP (Panavision)

THE GOONIES (Panavision)
GUNS OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (Panavision)

KNOCK OFF (Super 35)

LETHAL WEAPON 3 (Panavision)

THE MAGNIFICENT SHOWMAN [Circus World] (Super Technirama 70) [2.21:1]
THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH [1964] (Anamorphic)

OUTLAND (Panavision)

PALE RIDER (Panavision)
POSSE [1993] (Panavision)

RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE (Super 35)

THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (Panavision)
SWORDFISH (Panavision)

UNIVERSAL SOLDIER (Panavision)

THE VISITORS [Les Visiteurs] (Super 35)

WELCOME TO COLLINWOOD (Super 35)
WIMBLEDON (Super 35)



Next update: Tuesday 22 April

Good things come to those who wait:

Mere days after Film 4 screened yet another cropped 1.78:1 version of THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN, they broadcast a properly-framed 2.55:1 print (April 15). And very handsome it looked, too...

I somehow managed to miss THE BARBARIAN AND THE GEISHA (CinemaScope) from next week's listing. It's scheduled for broadcast on More 4 on 24 April.

Sadly, both THE CRIMSON RIVERS and KAHO NAA... PYAAR HAI joined ONE NITE IN MONGKOK in the 'top-line' club, where they'll probably remain until an HD version of each film becomes available. At least Kaho Naa... was screened at the original ratio (unlike all the others which have preceded it in this year's 'Bollywood' season), though it was 'marred' by having a duo-tone lower matte. In other words, the matte was divided along the centre, with a dark top-half and a grey lower half, creating a 'two-tone' effect which lasted throughout the entire presentation. Very strange, and rather unwelcome.

And while I'm grateful a 2.55:1 version of THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN was finally secured, I missed the film because I assumed last week's version (12-18 Apr) was going to be the same cropped 1.78 print screened the week before. Imagine my surprise when I happened upon the broadcast halfway through!! Never mind, I'm sure it'll be screened again in due course.

So, last week's widescreen miracles:

CHANGING LANES
THE CRIMSON RIVERS
DODGEBALL: A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY (C4)
KAHO NAA... PYAAR HAI (C4)
KINSEY (C4)
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
MONSTER-IN-LAW
O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?
ONE NITE IN MONGKOK
THE PINK PANTHER
SHAFT
THE SHERIFF OF FRACTURED JAW
SOLARIS
THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN
VAMPIRES (C4)

And last week's crop-screen embarrassments:

BEAR ISLAND (More 4)
THE LAST WAGON
THE MAVERICK QUEEN (C4)
WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL
THE YARDS (More 4)

Very strange. I posted something earlier this morning (01:45), and now it seems to have disappeared. Nothing of any consequence - a few comments on missed opportunities, THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN, and BOY ON A DOLPHIN - but irritating, none the less. I'll let this one go, but I think I'll save any future posts in Word, to make it easier to re-post!

Shame on BBC2 for showing The Aviator in 16:9 - no idea if it was cropped or opened out slightly, being a Super 35 film. Not only that, but because of the 8pm start, they chopped the films sole f-word, despite the fact it didn't appear until 10.30pm!

Also, re: Taxidermia - the BBFC indicate that this contains "real sex", and folk on the IMDb noticeboards hint at a masturbation scene, so I'm presuming that Film4 are showing it censored.

Re TAXIDERMIA, I printed off the lengthy comments on the BBFC website, and referred to them while I was watching the film - a dubbed copy on DVD-R - yesterday (Sunday) evening. As far as I could tell, all the naughty bits the BBFC mentioned were present in the Film 4 version. Of course, I can't be sure that, for example, allof the multiple occurrences of strong language were left in, or that they hadn't used re-framing to "take the edge off" certain scenes. (I'm being vague to avoid inadvertently upsetting forum moderators. Those who care will know how to access the detailed certification comments on the BBFC website.)

The Film 4 runtime (minus adverts) clocked in at 87:57, whereas the BBFC have 90:23 for the video runtime. However, there were no main titles to speak of, and the end titles ran - quickly, to my eyes - for only 2:13, not much for a modern film. Possibly end title speed-up and/or shortening accounts for the difference in runtime.

quote:

Of course, I can't be sure that, for example, all of the multiple occurrences of strong language were left in, or that they hadn't used re-framing to "take the edge off" certain scenes.

I don't think Film 4 would have removed the 'very strong language' mentioned at the BBFC website (code-speak for a certain word considered even worse than run-of-the-mill 'sexual swear words' - you know the one I mean), since the same word is given quite a good airing in SEXY BEAST and several others screened late at night across the C4 spectrum.

Actually, if the BBFC's description was anything to go by, I'm glad I missed the film (the top-line framing KILLED IT STONE DEAD), especially the pig-slaughtering scene. Not my cup of tea at all...