2.35:1 movies across the Freeview platform for the coming week (10 - 16 December):

Anyone who hasn't seen WHITE NOISE: THE LIGHT and hopes to do so in due course, may want to take advantage of the screening on Film 4 next week. All previous screenings have been properly framed at around 2.39:1, whereas the DVD version currently available in the UK is reframed at 1.78:1. Just a heads-up.


Saturday (10 December)

• THE ART OF WAR (5 USA)
• BLACK BOOK [Zwartboek] (Film 4)
• CATCH-22 (ITV 4) [Panavision]
• DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (ITV 3) [Panavision]
• DOUBLE JEOPARDY (C4) [Panavision]
• HOT FUZZ (ITV 2)
• IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH (BBC 2)
• MONSTER HOUSE (5*) [CGI Widescreen / 3-D]
• THE MUMMY RETURNS (ITV 1) [Panavision]
• SHOOTER (E4) [Panavision]
• SUNSHINE (More 4) [Hawk Scope / Super 35]
• WHITE NOISE (Film 4)
• X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE (Film 4)
• ZULU DAWN (5 USA) [Panavision]


Sunday (11 December)

• CHRISTMAS WITH THE CRANKS (C5) [Panavision]
• ERAGON (Film 4)
• GOLDENEYE (ITV 1) [Panavision]
• THE JACKET (ITV 2)
• KNOWING (Film 4)
• THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT (ITV 4)
• MONSTER HOUSE (5*) [CGI Widescreen / 3-D]
• SHOOTER (E4) [Panavision]
• WHITE NOISE: THE LIGHT (Film 4)
• WYATT EARP (C5) [Panavision]


Monday (12 December)

• DISCLOSURE (ITV 2) [Panavision]
• THE GREEN BERETS (Film 4) [Panavision]
• HOT FUZZ (ITV 2)
• JUMPER (Film 4)
• LETHAL WEAPON 3 (ITV 4) [Panavision]
• MRS. DOUBTFIRE (5*) [Panavision]
• STARDUST (Film 4) [Panavision]


Tuesday (13 December)

• 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS [4 Luni, 3 Saptamini si 2 Zile] (Film 4)
• ALIEN: RESURRECTION (Film 4)
• CONAN THE DESTROYER (ITV 4) [J-D-C Scope]
• DEEP BLUE SEA (ITV 2)
• HEAVENLY CREATURES (BBC 1)
• IMAGINE THAT (Film 4)
• THE JACKET (ITV 2)
• KISS OF THE DRAGON (5 USA) [Technovision]
• LAST MAN STANDING (ITV 4)
• THE LAW AND JAKE WADE (More 4) [CinemaScope]


Wednesday (14 December)

• BOOGIE NIGHTS (ITV 4) [Panavision]
• CARS (BBC 3) [CGI Widescreen]
• CONAN THE DESTROYER (ITV 4) [J-D-C Scope]
• THE COWBOYS (Film 4) [Panavision]
• DARK BLUE (5 USA)
• DIE HARD 4.0 [Live Free or Die Hard] (E4)
• THE LITTLE NORSE PRINCE [Prince of the Sun: The Great Adventure of Horus] [太陽の王子　ホルスの大冒険] (Film 4) [Toeiscope]
• PRACTICAL MAGIC (ITV 2)
• WESTWORLD (BBC 1) [Panavision]


Thursday (15 December)

• THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW (Film 4)
• FAINTHEART (C4)
• THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE (ITV 3) [J-D-C Scope]
• THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT (ITV 4)
• STREET KINGS (Film 4)
• X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE (Film 4)


Friday (16 December)

• CASINO ROYALE (ITV 4)
• CHEYENNE AUTUMN (More 4) [Super Panavision 70 (2.21:1)]
• KNOWING (Film 4)
• MILLIONS (BBC 1)
• NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (More 4)
• SPEED (C5) [Panavision]
• TIMECOP (5 USA) [Panavision]
• UNFORGIVEN (ITV 1) [Panavision]
• WHERE THE TRUTH LIES (BBC 2) [Panavision]
• ZOOLANDER (Film 4)

Dr Zhivago currently looking rather wide on ITV3

Scrub The Lake House off the list as that wasn't shown OAR last night.

Indeed it is - first time ever on terrestrial TV at the original 2.35:1 dimensions.

Another High Fliers DVD to avoid like the plague: THE CELESTINE PROPHECY, cropped from 2.39:1 to 1.78:1. Thank god for rentals, otherwise I might have spent too much money buying this crap.

IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH nicely framed at around 2.39:1 on BBC 2 last night, and I'm assuming that both MONSTER HOUSE and ZULU DAWN were similarly presented on their respective channels (even if the former was 2-D rather than the original 3-D).

One I missed in Friday's listings: THE CABLE GUY, shown last night on Viva. Sadly, despite this channel recently reverting to 16:9 broadcast, the print looked as though it was 4:3 letterboxed (at around 2.39:1) and then zoomed to 16:9, with the corners of the image cropped off. It was shot in 35mm 'cropscreen', but instead of getting an 'opened up' version, this is what we were given (in effect, all we could see was a tiny fraction of what was originally captured on the negative - no wonder it looked so bloody awful!). I coulda sworn this played at 2.35:1 during Viva's 4:3 days...

For the want of anything better to do this cold and dreary Sunday afternoon, I'm trying something new (yes, again) and opening it up for your comments and approval - or not, as the case may be.

David Fincher recently said that the best place to see a film was in a cinema or - if all else fails - on Blu-ray. I tend to agree with the implication that DVD is no longer a good enough substitute for The Big Screen, even though it has served its purpose well since the end of the 1990's. In that spirit, I've compiled a list of films on Blu-ray made available at the UK arm of Amazon from 5 December onwards, all of which were either filmed in scope or 3-D (or both).

This includes UK and US releases, but listed separately so as to avoid any confusion. Again, I've included bona fide scope and 3-D formats where necessary. All films were shot either 2.35:1 or 2.39:1 unless otherwise indicated, and if you guys approve this shameless indulgence, then I'll make it a regular feature every Monday (next one due tomorrow, 12 December). Each listing will include re-releases as well as BR premieres.

NB. I haven't included direct-to-video concert films or anything with a running time less than 50 minutes, since these don't really qualify as 'feature films' in the accepted sense of the term. As a consequence, this excludes a number of IMAX 3-D items which are now making their way onto Blu-ray. Apologies for that, but I have to draw the line somewhere.

Anyway, on with the show!


Scope and 3-D films released on UK Blu-ray (5 - 11 December):

• CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011) [3-D]
• GLEE: THE 3-D CONCERT MOVIE (2011) [3-D (1.85:1)]
• THE HANGOVER PART II (2011)
• HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (2010) [CGI Widescreen / Tru 3-D]
• JLS: EYES WIDE OPEN (2011) [3-D (1.85:1)]
• MEGAMIND (2010) [CGI Widescreen / Tru 3-D]
• MONSTERS VS. ALIENS (2009) [CGI Widescreen / Tru 3-D]
• SHREK (2001) [2-D to 3-D (1.85:1)]
• SHREK FOREVER AFTER (2010) [CGI Widescreen / 3-D]
• SHREK THE THIRD (2007) [2-D to 3-D (1.85:1)]
• SHREK 2 (2004) [2-D to 3-D (1.85:1)]
• THE SMURFS (2011) [3-D (1.85:1)]



Scope and 3-D films released on US Blu-ray (6 - 12 December):

• COWBOYS & ALIENS (2011) [Panavision]
• THE DEBT (2010)
• THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (Män som Hatar Kvinnor, 2009)
• THE HANGOVER PART II (2011)
• I AM LEGEND (2007) [Panavision / Super 35]
• LIFE, ABOVE ALL (2010) [HD Widescreen]
• MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (1996) [Panavision)
• MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III (2006) [Panavision)
• MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II (2000) [Panavision]
• THE MOON IN THE GUTTER (La Lune dans le Cavineau, 1983) [Panavision]
• THE OMEGA MAN (1971) [Panavision]
• POINT BLANK (À Bout Portant, 2010)
• RAPT (2009)
• SCARY MOVIE (2000)
• TORA! TORA! TORA! (1970) [Panavision]

I'll say 'Nah...' ... hehe, kidding. I very much like the fact you're listing the filming processes on all the lists now so that's very much appreciated. Can't beat a bit of Panavision!


I haven't been to the cinema regularly in around 10 years, so Blu-ray does indeed make for the best substitute possible. I'm just missing someone sat behind me kicking my seat and eating popcorn loudly in my ear

Scope and 3-D films released on UK Blu-ray (12 - 18 December):

• BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES (1973) [Panavision]
• BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES (1969) [Panavision]
• CONAN THE BARBARIAN (2011) [3-D]
• CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (1972) [Todd-AO 35]
• ESCAPE FROM THE PLANET OF THE APES (1971) [Panavision]
• PLANET OF THE APES (1968) [Panavision]
• RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2011)
• SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD (2011) [3-D] [1.85:1]
• SUPER 8 (2011) [Panavision]



Scope and 3-D films released on US Blu-ray (13 - 19 December):

• BRANDED TO KILL [殺しの烙印] (1967) [Nikkatsuscope]
• DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME [狄仁傑之通天帝國] (2010)
• THE EXPENDABLES (2010)
• FIVE ELEMENT NINJAS [五遁忍術] (1982) [Shawscope]
• FRIGHTNIGHT (2011) [3-D] [1.85:1]
• HEAVENLY CREATURES (1994)
• KUNG FU PANDA (2008) [CGI Widescreen]
• KUNG FU PANDA 2 (2011) [CGI Widescreen / 3-D]
• THE LEGEND IS BORN: IP MAN [葉問前傳] (2010)
• RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2011)
• THE ROCKETEER (1991) [Panavision]
• TOKYO DRIFTER [東京流れ者] (1966) [Nikkatsuscope]
• TRANSFORMERS (2007) [Panavision / Super 35]
• TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON (2011) [Panavision / HD / Fusion 3-D / 2-D to 3-D]
• TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN (2009) [Panavision / IMAX] [2.39:1 and 1.44:1]

Am I misremembering, or was yesterday's broadcast the first time THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT has played on ITV 4 at something like the original 2.39:1 ratio?

Sadly, I missed CHRISTMAS WITH THE CRANKS, so I can't confirm whether or not it was shown OAR. Anyone else able to say for sure?

It's rubbish, but it's a guilty pleasure, and damn good in its full ratio.


Well, that one's just rubbish. Such a disappointment. Why Stallone is allowed to direct films, I don't know. When you make an action film, INCLUDE SOME ACTION!! Beyond the first 10 mins and the last 20-25, there's none!

Caught a brief glimpse of Monster House. It looked widescreen.

TCM is continuing to disappoint me with cropped screenings of Patton and Valley Of the Dolls.

ITV 4 had the cheek to show Catch 22 in glorious full screen. Sky must be pleased with their exclusive contract for ITV sub channels in HD.

Monster House on 5* was shown in 2.35:1, my little brother loves that film and recorded it on our Humax HDR. It's never bloody off now...!

Oh, THE ROCKETEER took me completely by surprise, simply because of how much I enjoyed it! It's an unassuming picture, but still spectacular, with loads of cliffhanger thrills, a gorgeous leading couple, and a fabulous zeppelin climax. You certainly get yer money's worth, and no mistake! Pity the US BR is region A locked, with no signs of a corresponding UK release (unless anyone out there knows any different?).

Pointless trivia: For reasons known only to someone at Buena Vista, THE ROCKETEER was retitled ROCKETEER for UK theatrical release. Why the 'The' was dropped is anyone's guess, but I believe the DVD version is still missing that errant 'The'...

There. That'll keep you awake nights.


WARNING: Huge spoiler ahead for Japanese and US versions of THE RING:

Buy him the 3-D BR version, and not only will it get on your nerves, it'll come out of the screen like Sadako at the end of the first Ring film and invade your living room!!...

Post a question on IMDB?

There's lots of countries that used the same as us:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102803/releaseinfo#akas


Haven't seen The Ring, but I sometimes have problems with mine...

HEAVENLY CREATURES got its terrestrial TV 2.39:1 'premiere' on BBC 1 last night, whereas THE LAW AND JAKE WADE was cropped to buggery ('buggery', in this case, meaning 1.78:1) on More 4.

Westworld on BBC 1 is cropped to 1:85

Boogie Nights on ITV4 is widescreen

Dunno how I missed THE LINE (La Linea) from last Friday's listings, but it premiered on Film 4 late last night at an approximation of the original 2.39:1 ratio.

2.35:1 movies across the Freeview platform for the coming week (17 - 23 December):


Saturday (17 December)

• ABOUT A BOY (ITV 1)
• THE ALAMO (ITV 4) [Todd -AO (2.21:1)]
• THE BOAT THAT ROCKED (ITV 1)
• BOOGIE NIGHTS (ITV 4) [Panavision]
• CASINO ROYALE (ITV 4)
• DIE HARD 4.0 [Live Free or Die Hard] (E4)
• HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (ITV 1) [IMAX DMR 3-D (partly)]
• HELLFIGHTERS (5 USA) [Panavision]
• HOSTAGE (E4)
• KISS OF THE DRAGON (5 USA) [Technovision]
• MRS. DOUBTFIRE (5*) [Panavision]
• THE OMEN (C4) [Panavision]
• STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (Film 4) [Panavision]
• STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (Film 4) [Panavision]
• STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN [Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan] (Film 4) [Panavision]
• THE TOWERING INFERNO (ITV 3) [Panavision]
• ZULU DAWN (5 USA) [Panavision]


Sunday (18 December)

• THE ALAMO (ITV 4) [Todd-AO (2.21:1)]
• CARS (BBC 3) [CGI Widescreen]
• CITY OF ANGELS (ITV 3) [Panavision]
• DEEP BLUE SEA (ITV 2)
• FRED CLAUS (C4)
• HANCOCK (C5)
• HELLFIGHTERS (5 USA) [Panavision]
• THE HILLS HAVE EYES (Film 4)
• JACK FROST (ITV 1) [Panavision]
• LAST MAN STANDING (ITV 4)
• MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM (ITV 2)
• MYSTIC RIVER (ITV 3) [Panavision]
• THE NEVERENDING STORY [Die Unendliche Geschichten] (ITV 1) [Technovision]
• OCEAN'S TWELVE (ITV 1)
• THE SEEKER: THE DARK IS RISING (E4)
• STARDUST (Film 4) [Panavision]
• STAR TREK (Film 4) [Panavision]


Monday (19 December)

• BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (Film 4) [Panavision]
• CAROUSEL (More 4) [CinemaScope 55 (2.55:1)]
• THE LOVELY BONES (Film 4)
• MERRILL'S MARAUDERS (BBC 2) [Anamorphic]
• THE NEW WORLD (Film 4) [Panavision]
• THE NINTH GATE [La Neuvième Porte] (5*)
• PRACTICAL MAGIC (ITV 2)
• STEP BROTHERS (C5)
• WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY (C5)


Tuesday (20 December)

• AVP: ALIEN VS. PREDATOR (Film 4)
• THE BOURNE SUPREMACY (ITV 1)
• CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 2 (C4) [Panavision]
• THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW (Film 4)
• THE LOVED ONES (Film 4)
• NOWHERE BOY (Film 4)
• THE RED BARON [Der Rote Baron] (BBC 2)
• SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON (C4) [Panavision]
• ZOOLANDER (Film 4)


Wednesday (21 December)

• ANNA AND THE KING (Film 4) [Panavision]
• AVPR: ALIENS VS PREDATOR - REQUIEM (Film 4)
• BAD EDUCATION [La Mala Educación] (More 4) [Panavision and 1.85:1]
• CATWOMAN (ITV 2)
• THE CLASS [Entre les Murs] (Film 4)
• DRILLBIT TAYLOR (E4)
• KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE (Film 4) [CinemaScope (2.55:1)]
• MacKENNA'S GOLD (BBC 2) [Super Panavision 70 (2.21:1)]
• THE NATIVITY STORY (More 4)
• OLIVER TWIST (C4)
• THE QUEST (ITV 4)
• STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (Film 4) [Panavision]


Thursday (22 December)

• THE DESCENT (Film 4)
• FIERCE CREATURES (ITV 3) [Panavision]
• THE FOOTBALL FACTORY (Film 4)
• JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (Film 4) [CinemaScope]
• MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM (ITV 2)
• NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (More 4)
• SERENITY (ITV 1)
• STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN [Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan] (Film 4) [Panavision]
• TOMORROW NEVER DIES (ITV 1) [Panavision]
• THE YOUNG VICTORIA (BBC 2)


Friday (23 December)

• CITY OF ANGELS (ITV 3) [Panavision]
• DEMOLITION MAN (ITV 4) [Panavision]
• THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE (5*)
• FIGHT CLUB (Film 4)
• THE FOG (ITV 1) [Panavision]
• THE HEROES OF TELEMARK (BBC 2) [Panavision]
• HITMAN (Film 4)
• HOSTAGE (E4)
• MERRY CHRISTMAS [Joyeux Noël] (BBC 2)
• PINOCCHIO (BBC 2) [Panavision]
• RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION (5 USA)
• THE ROBE (More 4) [CinemaScope (2.55:1)]
• SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (ITV 3)
• STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (Film 4) [Panavision]
• TAMARA DREWE (BBC 2)
• TITANIC (Film 4)

The CASINO ROYALE which played on ITV 4 yesterday and is scheduled for a repeat today is the 1967 film (shot in Panavision), and not the 2006 reboot (shot in 'cropscreen') which I had originally assumed. Not that it matters, since it was cropped to hell and back.

Just thought I'd mention it for the record.

I missed the Neverending Story (unless it's still on... ba-dum-tish!). Was it shown properly? (presumably not)

Nah. Same tatty old print as always, cropped to hell and back.

Scope and 3-D films released on US Blu-ray (20 - 26 December):

NB. There are a number of UK BR titles on release this week, but none relevant to this particular listing.


• BIG TITS ZOMBIE [The Big Tits Dragon] [巨乳ドラゴン 温泉ゾンビVSストリッパー5] (2010) [3-D] [1.85:1]
• BLACKTHORN (2011)
• CATCH .44 (2011) [Hawk Scope (HD)]
• COLOMBIANA (2011)
• DOLPHIN TALE (2011) [3-D] [1.85:1]
• GLEE: THE 3-D CONCERT MOVIE (2011) [3-D] [1.85:1]
• MARGIN CALL (2011)
• STRAW DOGS (2011)
• UNDERWORLD (2003)
• UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION (2005)
• UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS (2009)
• WARRIOR (2011)

It would appear that MARGIN CALL doesn't belong in the BR listing, since all indicators are that it was shot and released with a 1.85:1 AR. Apologies for that.

Bugger the lack of an editing option on these forums!

MERRILL'S MARAUDERS screened on BBC 2 at the original 2.35:1 ratio this afternoon.

Ta. Typical ITV