MovieChat Forums > DOA: Dead or Alive (2007) Discussion > What format was this shot in?

What format was this shot in?

posted 15 years ago by John_Dee_007
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I have two copies of this movie and neither are the correct aspect ratio. Check it out:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4857276232_f18665699d_b.jpg

In the first screencap, it's cropped to a 4:3 aspect ratio (old square style TV screen ratio), keeping the height but losing the width. In the second screencap, it's cropped to look like it's been 'letterboxed' from a 2.35:1 aspect ratio (cinematic widescreen ratio), but as evidenced in the 4:3 cropping, clearly this is false, as it keeps the width but loses the height. I'm guessing maybe this film was shot in a 16:9 aspect ratio (widescreen TV ratio) to go straight to DVD for home viewing? Or perhaps someone else can venture a better explanation.

If you have this on a legit DVD, could you please confirm what your aspect ratio is?

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[–] blame_thatcher_2003-2011 15 years ago

It was shot in super35, meaning that the whole of the frame area on the negative was exposed using spherical lenses - that's what you're seeing in the screenshot on the left. To get a 2.35/2:40 image for theatrical presentation, the image is cropped at the top and bottom (the screenshot on the right).

It's very rare to see a 4:3 presentation on home video or television these days. Home video presentations would favour the theatrical aspect ratio.

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