[Pete_uk]

On our TV/DVD set up some films that are in widescreen still have letterboxes at the top of the screen. Changing the settings on the TV doesn’t seem to help.

But the aspect ratio looks right.

After about half an hour it gives me a headache watching a widescreen TV with a picture that only takes up half the blummin screen?

Does anyone else have such problems?

[Jarrak]

Nope I always watch 16:9 and 2.35:1 ratio movies and programing on my 28inch and 41inch TV's, I will always choose widescreen/letterbox over full frame.

What you are describing is the difference between 16:9 which is used by TV and many movies and 2.35:1 which is widely used for motion pictures both in the cinema and on DVD.
The 16:9 ratio is a compromise between an acceptable widescreen ratio that's far closer to you field of view then a 4:3 ratio picture and the full blown 2.35:1 which is a natural ratio but technically very difficult to use for CRT/Plasma/LCD displays.

[Digi_Master]

This might sound silly but have you set your dvd player display option to 16:9? when i got my widescreen tv i spent i few days confused why it wouldnt play proply but i found out that the dvd player was set to 4:3. hope this helps

[RedEarth]

Pete_uk: it sounds like your set-up is correct. True cinema frames are wider than 16:9 so you will still get bars at the top and bottom. Check your TV instructions to see if there is a zoom option for 16:9 format material - this will remove the bars but also loose a small amount of picture from the sides - you'll probably find this more comfortable to watch if you've been getting headaches.

Try a DVD which says anamorphic widescreen - I think this means that the extreme edges have been squashed in slightly so that it fits a 16:9 screen - this should fill your picture exactly.

[Kevo]

'True cinema frames' can vary from 4:3 to 2.76:1 depending on the ageof the film, where it was made etc etc.

Anamorphic is a process used to squash the widescreen image (be it 16:9, 2.35:1 whatever) into a 4:3 frame and thus using the maximum resloution available.

'Zooming' a 2.35:1 Anamorphic image will do nothing but make the pic quality look worse, not to mention the fact you will lose some on the sides. AVOID!

On;y use Zoom for non-anamorphic letterbox films.

Don't worry about the bars, just enjoy the film how it was meant to be seen.

[Beaney100]

there is quite a good article on aspect ratio's here http://www.dvdbulletin.co.uk/guides/aspectratios/

Try watching a film in the dark... Notice how the black bars aren't a problem. You are seeing the film the way it's meant to be seen. I honestly can't see how black bars can give you a headache..

Imagine how much worse the black bars would be if you had a 4:3 telly.

[Jim Rae]

I agree - turn the lights down and enjoy the films in cinema aspect and ignore the (very small) area of blck at the top and bottom.

It's quality not quantity you should be aiming for...

[RedEarth]

If the bars are black enough then you shouldn't even see them with the lights down - it'll just be like having a lovely ultra-wide TV!

[Jim Rae]

I agree...