How do you stop the aspect ratio switching in the Dark Knight Blu-Ray?

TechnoCorruption · 29 Jan 2009 at 19:19

I have just started to watch this and have noticed that the ratio keeps switching when the different chapters load. Some scenes are full screen on my Panasonic LZD80 but then when the next chapter loads there are massive great borders top and bottom of the picture.

I have checked on the back of the case and it says that the video is 1080p HD 16x9 variable 2.4:1 and 1.78:1 (IMAX Sequences) Why would they do this and surely there must be a way to stop it? I have checked options and there is nothing there?

Chris1712 · 29 Jan 2009 at 19:30

You can't, 70% of the film is in the correct aspect (2.4:1) and the fancy scenes are in iMax aspect (1.78:1).

Must be a real bitch for those with a 2.35:1 projector setup

.

oli collett · 29 Jan 2009 at 19:32

You can't stop it, and you wouldn't want to if you could. We've had 2 pages about this already.

TechnoCorruption · 29 Jan 2009 at 19:38

Chris1712 said:
You can't, 70% of the film is in the correct aspect (2.4:1) and the fancy scenes are in iMax aspect (1.78:1).

Must be a real bitch for those with a 2.35:1 projector setup .

Thanks for the info mate

Hopefully it gets less distracting as the film gets going.

Attu90 · 29 Jan 2009 at 20:52

It does get less distracting, when i first started watching it I spent a while going through the menu's thinking id got some thing set wrong until i realised it was the IMax sequences, didn't bother me after that.

james.miller · 29 Jan 2009 at 21:25

oli collett said:
You can't stop it, and you wouldn't want to if you could..

obviously he does want to

TechnoCorruption · 30 Jan 2009 at 12:27

I am pleased to say that it did get less distracting to the point where I wasn't even paying any attention to it after several chapters into the film.

I can understand why the director made the Blu-Ray like this as it his work and he can show it how he wants but in this multi-media age it did surprise me that there were not options in the menu to have it the same way as the DVD release.

What a film though! One of the best I have seen in a long time.

eyetrip · 30 Jan 2009 at 13:02

Am still waiting on my free copy of this from Sony....

Hopefully it arrives by next Friday when I will have my new 46V4000.

I am curious as to this variable aspect ratio, and hope it doesn't bother me.

reflux · 30 Jan 2009 at 13:05

It's mostly used for the key action sequences, and outdoor heli shots. Looks absolutely breathtaking and makes a great movie even better

ScarySquirrel · 30 Jan 2009 at 13:06

I found it a little distracting but I also was gobsmacked at how awesome blu-ray looks when taking up the whole of my screen

Clipsey · 6 Feb 2009 at 17:00

Just got Hellboy II on Blu-ray and awesome to see that his is indeed full screen

-Ad- · 6 Feb 2009 at 17:54

I didn't notice it until this thread, now I can't ever watch it again.

Come on, just enjoy the film. it looks stunning on the iMAX scenes and teh screen gets a bit smaller for others scenes and it is a seemless transition. There is no delay for example

Hen_Dawg · 6 Feb 2009 at 18:26

I liked seeing when the IMAX footage kicks in. Didn't distract me, in fact, 2 people i was watching it with didn't know it was happening until i told them about it after the film.
P.s. Dark Knight is a must own blu ray if there ever was one