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If you had asked me a few months ago if liked films I would have told you that I was a casual fan. I went to the cinema every month or so, I watched a movie on TV two or three times a week and I occassionally bought or rented a video. If you asked me what 'pan & scan' meant I couldn't have told you and I probably wouldn't have cared.
Then DVD came into my life.
Watching a movie is now a whole new experience. I feel like I've upgraded from a Skoda to a Ferarri -and I just can't stop driving around!
I'm no longer satisfied by watching a film on video or television. Now I have to have a Dolby 5.1 soundtrack. The picture has to be anamorphic, in it's original ratio and in pristine condition.
My DVDs sit in alphabetic order, away from the clutter and chaos that are the rest of my possessions. I even get finicky about the condition of the cases -I find myself standing in shops checking for the best condition box!
I've also become less passive in my interest in movies. I read everything I can from web site reviews to Film Studies text books. I always saw film as 'just another entertainment medium' but now it means a lot more to me.
DVD has made me appreciate the hard work that goes into creating a film. I want to know everything about the production process, about the sybolism and the directors intentions for a film. DVD has made me realise the significance of film -it isn't just about entertainment, films can have depth and give you a snapshot of events you would never otherwise see.
As a self confessed nerd, I have two questions that hopefully someone can help me with:
1) Does anyone know if their is a web site out their that gives side-by-side comparisons of different region DVDs? I'm sick of spending 15 pounds on a Region 2 DVD only to find that the Region 1 has an extra feature or that a new special edition is about to be released.
2) I need a new TV -should I go for widescreen? I understand that widescreen makes films look like they were originally supposed to but only if that option is available. If the DVD isn't in widecreen, or if you are just watching TV, isn't the image squashed? Whenever I see them in shops the image looks terrible because it is so squashed.
Then DVD came into my life.
Watching a movie is now a whole new experience. I feel like I've upgraded from a Skoda to a Ferarri -and I just can't stop driving around!
I'm no longer satisfied by watching a film on video or television. Now I have to have a Dolby 5.1 soundtrack. The picture has to be anamorphic, in it's original ratio and in pristine condition.
My DVDs sit in alphabetic order, away from the clutter and chaos that are the rest of my possessions. I even get finicky about the condition of the cases -I find myself standing in shops checking for the best condition box!
I've also become less passive in my interest in movies. I read everything I can from web site reviews to Film Studies text books. I always saw film as 'just another entertainment medium' but now it means a lot more to me.
DVD has made me appreciate the hard work that goes into creating a film. I want to know everything about the production process, about the sybolism and the directors intentions for a film. DVD has made me realise the significance of film -it isn't just about entertainment, films can have depth and give you a snapshot of events you would never otherwise see.
As a self confessed nerd, I have two questions that hopefully someone can help me with:
1) Does anyone know if their is a web site out their that gives side-by-side comparisons of different region DVDs? I'm sick of spending 15 pounds on a Region 2 DVD only to find that the Region 1 has an extra feature or that a new special edition is about to be released.
2) I need a new TV -should I go for widescreen? I understand that widescreen makes films look like they were originally supposed to but only if that option is available. If the DVD isn't in widecreen, or if you are just watching TV, isn't the image squashed? Whenever I see them in shops the image looks terrible because it is so squashed.
Widescreen can squash ordinary tv pictures, but only if you have it on widescreen mode. Most new widescreen tvs have an 'aspect ratio' selector button on the control which you can use to alter the picture, and you can watch tv unsquashed if you want to. The picture will be smaller than full widescreen if you chose 4:3 (normal tv ratio), though. You do get used to widescreen on normal tv, and watching the news is more entertaining now because anyone in a suit looks about 2 metres wide...:o)
Total DVD is good, compares both regions.
Widescreen is The Don for movies.
Widescreen is The Don for movies.
If you had asked me a few months ago if liked films I would have told you that I was a casual fan. I went to the cinema every month or so, I watched a movie on TV two or three times a week and I occassionally bought or rented a video. If you asked me what 'pan & scan' meant I couldn't have told you and I probably wouldn't have cared.
Then DVD came into my life.
Watching a movie is now a whole new experience. I feel like I've upgraded from a Skoda to a Ferarri -and I just can't stop driving around!
I'm no longer satisfied by watching a film on video or television. Now I have to have a Dolby 5.1 soundtrack. The picture has to be anamorphic, in it's original ratio and in pristine condition.
My DVDs sit in alphabetic order, away from the clutter and chaos that are the rest of my possessions. I even get finicky about the condition of the cases -I find myself standing in shops checking for the best condition box!
I've also become less passive in my interest in movies. I read everything I can from web site reviews to Film Studies text books. I always saw film as 'just another entertainment medium' but now it means a lot more to me.
DVD has made me appreciate the hard work that goes into creating a film. I want to know everything about the production process, about the sybolism and the directors intentions for a film. DVD has made me realise the significance of film -it isn't just about entertainment, films can have depth and give you a snapshot of events you would never otherwise see.
As a self confessed nerd, I have two questions that hopefully someone can help me with:
1) Does anyone know if their is a web site out their that gives side-by-side comparisons of different region DVDs? I'm sick of spending 15 pounds on a Region 2 DVD only to find that the Region 1 has an extra feature or that a new special edition is about to be released.
2) I need a new TV -should I go for widescreen? I understand that widescreen makes films look like they were originally supposed to but only if that option is available. If the DVD isn't in widecreen, or if you are just watching TV, isn't the image squashed? Whenever I see them in shops the image looks terrible because it is so squashed.
Then DVD came into my life.
Watching a movie is now a whole new experience. I feel like I've upgraded from a Skoda to a Ferarri -and I just can't stop driving around!
I'm no longer satisfied by watching a film on video or television. Now I have to have a Dolby 5.1 soundtrack. The picture has to be anamorphic, in it's original ratio and in pristine condition.
My DVDs sit in alphabetic order, away from the clutter and chaos that are the rest of my possessions. I even get finicky about the condition of the cases -I find myself standing in shops checking for the best condition box!
I've also become less passive in my interest in movies. I read everything I can from web site reviews to Film Studies text books. I always saw film as 'just another entertainment medium' but now it means a lot more to me.
DVD has made me appreciate the hard work that goes into creating a film. I want to know everything about the production process, about the sybolism and the directors intentions for a film. DVD has made me realise the significance of film -it isn't just about entertainment, films can have depth and give you a snapshot of events you would never otherwise see.
As a self confessed nerd, I have two questions that hopefully someone can help me with:
1) Does anyone know if their is a web site out their that gives side-by-side comparisons of different region DVDs? I'm sick of spending 15 pounds on a Region 2 DVD only to find that the Region 1 has an extra feature or that a new special edition is about to be released.
2) I need a new TV -should I go for widescreen? I understand that widescreen makes films look like they were originally supposed to but only if that option is available. If the DVD isn't in widecreen, or if you are just watching TV, isn't the image squashed? Whenever I see them in shops the image looks terrible because it is so squashed.