2.35:1 movies acreening across the Freeview platform next week (12 - 18 March):
If the Beeb doesn't screen AMADEUS: DIRECTOR'S CUT at 2.35:1, then switch off and rent the DVD/Blu-ray instead. Magnificent film, work of art, and needs to be seen full-strength or not at all. In fact, even if they DO screen it OAR, you may want to get the home video version just to enjoy the sumptuous 5.1 soundtrack. But that's just me...
The DVD rental version of CHAOS is cropped to 1.78:1 and, in all likelihood the retail version is similarly afflicted, so it's doubtful whether the version screening on Channel 5 will be any different.
HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS was cut by a few seconds courtesy of the BBFC to remove sight of horses being tripped in a dangerous manner. Good. It shouldn't have been filmed in the first place. But that's just me. Again.
Stripped of its extra dimension, JAWS 3-D (or JAWS III, as the 2-D print is usually called) will be even MORE worthless if it's also cropped at the same time.
A LIFE LESS ORDINARY was shot in Super 35 and framed at 2.35:1 during principal photography, but for reasons lost to the mists of time, the theatrical version went out at 1.85:1. It wasn't until the film was released on DVD that the intended scope framing was restored. C4 has always screened the 1.78:1 version to date, so let's see if they've upgraded for next week's broadcast.
And despite being a Film 4 production, THE WOODLANDERS has always been cropped to 1.78:1 on the C4 platform, and I don't expect it to be any different next week.
THE 51st STATE (E4)
AMADEUS: DIRECTOR'S CUT (BBC 1)
AMERICAN GRAFFITI (ITV 1)
THE AVIATOR (BBC 3)
THE BOURNE SUPREMACY (ITV 2)
BUNNY AND THE BULL (Film4)
CATTLE EMPIRE (Film4)
THE CAVE (C4)
CHAOS (Channel 5)
CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 2 (E4)
DIE ANOTHER DAY (ITV 1)
DOGVILLE (Film4)
DO NOT DISTURB (Film4)
DOUBLE JEOPARDY (Film4)
DOUBLE TEAM (Channel 5)
ELECTION (C4)
ERASER (5USA)
FATHOM (Film4)
GOAL II: LIVING THE DREAM (BBC 2)
HIGHWAYMEN (Film4)
THE HOT ROCK (Film4)
HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS [
Shi Mian Mai Fu] (Film4)
THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS (ITV 3)
I, ROBOT (C4)
JAWS III [
Jaws 3-D] (ITV 4)
JAWS 2 (ITV 4)
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (More4)
THE LAST SAMURAI (ITV 2)
LEGEND OF THE LOST (More4)
A LIFE LESS ORDINARY (Film4)
THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (ITV 4)
LOST IN SPACE (5Star)
LOVE ACTUALLY (ITV 2)
MYSTIC RIVER (ITV 3)
NINE MONTHS (Film4)
THE PELICAN BRIEF (ITV 2)
PHONE BOOTH (Channel 5)
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (5Star)
THE QUEST (ITV 4)
THE RECKONING (Film4)
S1MΨNE (Film4)
SINK THE BISMARCK! (Film4)
SMALL SOLDIERS (ITV 1)
SPARTACUS (ITV 4) [2.21:1]
THE STRAIGHT STORY (Film4)
SUPERMAN III (Channel 5)
SWEET CHARITY (ITV 1)
TAKEN (C4)
THUNDER OVER ARIZONA (Film4)
TIMELINE (Film4)
TMNT (Channel 5)
UNITED 93 (ITV 4)
UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: REGENERATION (ITV 4)
V FOR VENDETTA (BBC 2)
THE WOODLANDERS (Film4)