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Charly Release Confusion!
08/28/2004

A week after I posted that MGM was planning to release Charly in a Pan & Scan only edition, it appears that the studio may have delayed the title. Several online retailers, such as Laser’s Edge, DVD Planet, DVD Empire and Digital Eyes have removed the title from their databases. Amazon has not removed the title outright, but they have removed the aspect ratio information that was previously posted as being Full Screen. Also, DVD Empire sent e-mail notices to those who had pre-ordered the title that it is Cancelled until further notice. We are not yet sure why it has been delayed, but we are hoping it might be because they are going to change their minds and release a Widescreen version after all. If you haven’t already signed the petition to get Charly released in Widescreen, please do so now.

Posted by: Joshua Clinard @ 10:45 pm

Some Stores are Not Stocking Dual Releases!
08/20/2004

It seems that the last few weeks have seen an increase of stores that stock only the fullscreen version of some dual releases. My local Wal-Mart only stocked the fullscreen version of both New York Minute and Taking Lives! And yes, I looked at every copy. I sure hope that this is a very short lived trend! They have never not carried at least some copies of the widescreen version of any new release. They have done this with catalog releases though. Have any of you noticed any similar trands at your local retailers?

Also, it has been reported that some stores, including some Best Buy stores, are not carrying both versions of the new Predator 2 CE. There are two versions available, and it is not clearly marked on the front of the package which is which. You should look for the aspect ratio on the back cover to make sure you get the correct one. Frankly, I am ashamed that Fox would even release a Collector’s Edition in fullscreen! It’s even worse that they didn’t clearly label the package.

Posted by: Joshua Clinard @ 10:57 am

MGM to Release Charly in Full Screen Only!
08/17/2004

According to retailers, MGM will release Charly in Pan & Scan only on October 19th. This film’s OAR is 2.35:1, so I’m sure it will look horrible in Full Screen. Christopher Bligh has started a petition to get Charly released in widescreen. Please support this petition, and get your friends to do the same.

Posted by: Joshua Clinard @ 2:24 pm

Darby O’Gill Turns Out To Be OAR!
08/05/2004

This just in: Disney has done the right thing, by releasing Darby O’Gill and the Little People in it’s OAR. It was released yesterday, in fullscreen, but the DVD insert mentions that this movie was filmed in 1.33:1, and that it was cropped for theaters. The quote below is from the DVD insert.

Darby O’Gill and the Little People is presented as it was originally shot, in a 1.33;1 aspect ratio. When released to theaters in 1959, the studio recommended projecting the image at 1.75:1, to satisy the public’s growing appetite for widescreen movies. To give the illusion of this wider image, theaters often needed to crop films at that time, and some of the picture was not seen. The following presentation has not been cropped, and none of the original image has been lost.

Also, I would like to mention that two more widescreen only blockbuster films have been released in the last few weeks. These are Helboy, and 13 Going On 30.

Posted by: Joshua Clinard @ 11:46 am

Confirmed: Darby O’Gill is Fullscreen!
08/03/2004

I just spoke to a represenative from Disney, and she confirmed that Dabry O’Gill and the Little People is indeed being released only in Full Screen, even though some retailers have it listed as 16×9. IMDB says Darby O’Gill’s OAR is 1.75:1. Buyer Beware!

Posted by: Joshua Clinard @ 10:46 am



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