# Which movies should NEVER be shown in pan and scan? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 16, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626 "2003-08-16T18:58:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Short\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Short\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Short_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/1 "2003-08-16T18:58:37Z")
Okay, I know _all_ films should be shown in their original format, but let’s face it, a lot of films wouldn’t suffer that greatly from having their image cropped. There are, however, a lot of films that ‘lose’ quite a lot in pan and scan format. Examples: _American Beauty_. Some of the most evocative use of simple household sets I’ve ever seen. I can’t even imagine a cropped version of the dining room, or the painfully symmetric living room in the neighbours’ house. Hands off this one. _Unbreakable_. This film has some of the most beautiful framing in history. Shyamalan (whatever his flaws in storytelling and character building may be) evokes the separate frames of comic books in ways that make me wish Ang Lee had been inspired by this film before making _cough_ Hulk. The pan and scan version is a crime against humanity, and if it had been up to me, I would have returned the video. _Road to Perdition_, for basically the same reasons, combined with some simply beautiful sets. “Majestic” doesn’t work well in pan and scan. These are just a few off the top of my head. Any more that come to mind? ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/2 "2003-08-16T19:10:22Z")
Any of the Wes Anderson films (_Bottle Rocket_, _Rushmore_, and _The Royal Tenenbaums_). Anderson arranges each frame so perfectly that it would lose so much to see it in pan and scan. ---
**Author:** ![Keith\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@Keith\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keith_Berry)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/3 "2003-08-16T19:24:01Z")
Films shot in 1:85 ratio are usually soft-matted, where they are actually shot in 1:33 (or TV-sized) and then matted with those “black bars” for theatrical release. These films tend not to suffer too badly when presented in full-frame on video, since you’re seeing all the information intended and then some. Then there’s the Super 35 format, where again, the film is shot at a 1:33 ratio and then matted down to the “widescreen” ratio of 2:35. These movies, when presented 1:33 on video, tend to look a bit off and not really presented correctly, but again, you’re seeing all the image you’re supposed to see and then some, so you’re not missing out on anything. A good example is “Gangs Of New York”; compare the film on the DVD (widescreen) with the teaser trailer (full-frame) and its apparent that they filmed in Super 35 and chopped the top and bottom of the screen away for a 2:35 ratio. 2:35 anamorphic films are the ones that have to have 2/3rds of their image chopped away in order to fill a TV screen. These films should NEVER be presented in anything other than their original widescreen framing. I love it when people say “I want my whole TV screen filled up” without realizing that they’re losing 2/3rds of the movie in order to do so. All right, now I’ll answer the question! I think that no 2:35 anamorphic film should ever be panned-and-scanned, simply because of the fact that you’re losing image. 1:85 and 2:35 Super 35 movies, however, can be acceptable in full-frame versions if they’re done properly. I say “acceptable” only because I prefer to have the original ratio whenever possible, but sometimes do settle for the full-frame (American Pie 1 and 2, for instance, actually look more proportionate and balanced in their full-frame versions) ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/4 "2003-08-16T20:00:40Z")
When I was a kid I thought “pan and scan” was a camera technique. I remember watching “Westworld” and thinking, “Wow! How do they move the camera like that?”. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Duderdude2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/5 "2003-08-16T20:13:47Z")
**2001: A Space Odyssey** ---
**Author:** ![MusicJunkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@MusicJunkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MusicJunkie)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/6 "2003-08-16T20:21:50Z")
Ran. ---
**Author:** ![Short\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Short\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Short_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/7 "2003-08-16T20:37:02Z")
Absolutely. Who would watch Ran in Pan and Scan? (I’m so sorry. I couldn’t resist :D) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/8 "2003-08-16T22:55:54Z")
I’d say Kenneth Branaugh’s Hamlet, all the Lord of the rings movies, and any David Lean film. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/9 "2003-08-16T23:04:53Z")
_This is Cinerama_. What’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/10 "2003-08-16T23:47:47Z")
My answer tends to be “all of them, save perhaps for soft-matted films” as described by **Keith Berry**. But the shorter answer is two words: **Ben Hur** , specifically the chariot race. In its original aspect ratio, it’s magnificent; in pan-and-scan, it’s totally incomprehensible. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/11 "2003-08-17T01:45:16Z")
Laurence of Arabia ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/12 "2003-08-17T03:01:21Z")
Howyadoin, \*Unforgiven The Shining Excalibur \* -Rav ---
**Author:** ![Extraneous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@Extraneous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Extraneous)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/13 "2003-08-17T03:04:26Z")
Fantasia (a few will understand) ---
**Author:** ![International\_Playboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/48db29/32.png) [@International\_Playboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/International_Playboy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/14 "2003-08-17T04:09:06Z")
**Blue Velvet** ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/15 "2003-08-17T04:49:08Z")
Lion in Winter. The scene between Richard and what-his-name, the boy king of France, SUCKS on video. There is so much back-and-forth and intense personal interaction that you really have to be able to see both parties–and you CAN’T! Dang it. ---
**Author:** ![Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linus_Van_Pelt)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/16 "2003-08-17T05:48:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Extraneous \* > \*\*Fantasia > > (a few will understand) \*\* Yeah! What I want to know is when they’re going to release the wide-screen versions of _Casablanca_, _Citizen Kane_, or _The Wizard of Oz_. Do you think a mass e-mailing to the movie companies would do any good? ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/17 "2003-08-17T05:53:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duderdude2 \* > \*\ ***2001: A Space Odyssey** \*\* LOL good one! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/18 "2003-08-17T06:40:36Z")
I really hate watching **Lord of the Rings** or any **Star Wars** movie in pan-and-scan. For **Star Wars** , you get an opening crawl that has to go 2/3 of the way up the screen before you can even read it. And for **LOTR** , there are 9 rings given to only 5 kings of men. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/19 "2003-08-17T06:52:55Z")
> [@](#): > > the shorter answer is two words: Ben Hur I’m told that in pan-and-scan, the title of this movie becomes “en Hu.” ---
**Author:** ![Extraneous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@Extraneous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Extraneous)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626/20 "2003-08-17T08:18:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Linus Van Pelt \* > \*\*Yeah! What I want to know is when they’re going to release the wide-screen versions of _Casablanca_, _Citizen Kane_, or _The Wizard of Oz_. Do you think a mass e-mailing to the movie companies would do any good? \*\* Dont’ know about the others (except I seem to recall that petitions _in favor_ of something do no good). BUT, I’m quite sure that it will be the proverbial cold day when D\*sney releases an unedited _Fantasia_ (with the Pastoral scene intact). Rumor has it that even the print given to the Simthsonian is edited to remove the “pickaninney” centaurette. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-never-be-shown-in-pan-and-scan/195626.md?page=2)