Richard W. Haines on Issue with Motion Picture Aspect Ratios
The reason
the aspect ratio of "War of the Worlds" is 1.85 is probably due to
the extensive digital effects utilized throughout the feature. I believe
CGE (computer generated effects) are difficult to do when the image is
compressed anamorphically during principal photography.Digital effects extravaganzas are usually shot
flat (1.33) and then scanned digitally to add the computer generated special
effects and out-putted back to film in 1.85. One option to get a
widescreen image is to use the 'Super 35' format which means the entire silent
academy 1.37 ratio is photographed during principal photography. It's
then scanned into a computer to add the CGI. Then it's outputted to film
in two formats. The tops and bottoms of the image are severely cropped to
generate an anamorphic 2.35 x 1 ratio for theatrical presentations. A
full frame 1.33 image is also out-putted for broadcast.
"Titanic" was made in this system which was similar to the old "SuperScope" process in the fifties. The problem
is that compromises have to be made to accomodate
both formats as well as the CGE. The projected image lacks the resolution
of a Panavision or 65mm film too since so little of
the available frame is used for the release print. The dramatic use of
widescreen is rare today as a result. You won't see too many features
using the entire width of the screen and characters spread out as you did in
the days of 70mm ("Lawrence of Arabia") or Cinerama ("It's a
Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"). Since the
majority of people will be seeing the film on DVD or cable, most directors compose Panavision films as well as 1.85 flat films with the key
action in the center of the screen so little is lost if some of the sides are
cropped for current letterbox presentations on home video or future HD
presentations in 16 x 9 ratio. The emphasis is no longer on theatrical
exhibition which is primarily used as 'paid advertising' for the home video
formats. Processes that would dramatically improve the theater experience
like 70mm or dye transfer (Technicolor) printing have been abandoned.
©Copyright
2005 by Richard Haines, reprinted on this site with
permission.
This is in
response to my review
of the new “War of the Worlds.”
I also
posted some comments by him on my review of “Down With Love”.