Just received the Full Metal Jacket DVD. When ordering it, I noticed it was only available in 4:3, and not widescreen. Upon further research, I found out that it was Kubrick’s intention to portray the film in 4:3, and this presentation is the original, uncut film, not a pan-and-scan. Unfortunately, other pieces of information seemed to conflict with this. Anybody have a reliable source as to whether the film was intended to be seen in 4:3 or widescreen?
Most 1.85:1 films (including Full Metal Jacket) are made by filming a full 1.33:1 image and then matting off the top and bottom for theatrical presentation. For full-screen video release these mattes are removed, so you see more than you did in the theater. Directors usually film with 1.85:1 in mind, though, so the intended composition can be lost.
Regarding Kubrick, there was an excellent post on alt.video.dvd about this by professional cinematographer David Mullen. To summarize the issue:
Kubrick is British and many of his films were produced in the U.K., where the theatrical standard is 1.66:1. FMJ was shown there in that aspect ratio, and it was shown in the U.S. at 1.85:1 (the standard here), simply by varying the degree of matting.
The 1.33:1 aspect ratio is not used in theaters, so it doesn’t make any sense to compose a theatrical film using it. When making films, home video release is a secondary consideration at best. It would be very unlikely for director to create an inferior composition for the theater and comfort himself that the “true” version would eventually be seen on VHS.
Kubrick has stated he prefers his films to be presented unmatted when shown on 1.33:1 televisions. But when the National Film Theatre in London was having a Kubrick festival, at which either aspect ratio could be used, before he died Kubrick instructed them to show most of his films in 1.66:1. So it seems safe to conclude he prefers his films matted to 1.66:1 for projection, and unmatted for standard television.
(This excepts 2001 and Spartacus, which are both filmed in true widescreen.)
To nitpick myself: Kubrick was born in the U.S. but moved to Britain around 1960 and lived there more than half his life. Whether he became a British citizen or not, I don’t know.