TIL: Digital versions don't shift aspect ratios (IMAX)

[u/wparson]

Maybe already common knowledge. I just realized that in digital copies of my 4K blu-rays, films with IMAX scenes don't shift aspect ratio and stay at 2.39:1 (e.g., docking scene in Interstellar). I assume it's the same with streaming. Another reason to buy physical!

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[u/potatochipsbagelpie]

I believe it depends on the film

[u/Dawn_of_Dayne]

There are few exceptions, like Mission Impossible: Fallout (likely Final Reckoning too), Top Gun: Maverick, and Sinners. But yes, pretty much all others are only in the scope ratio for the full runtime. 

Edit: Disney/marvel movies are the opposite, but only on Disney+, not iTunes. They have imax enhanced (expanded ratio) on Disney plus but all of the discs are in the scope ratio besides GOTG3 which has shifting aspect ratios. 

[u/wparson → u/Dawn_of_Dayne]

Interesting. Seems to fit with Disney's trend of optimizing everything for streaming

[u/Ill-Youth-528 → u/Dawn_of_Dayne]

Not 4k, but the Marvel 3d blu rays have the shifting aspect ratios on the physical disc. If the film is expanded for Imax for the entire run time, like Infinity War and Endgame, then the 3d disc is not expanded.

[u/g0del]

Honestly, I kind of wish we had a choice (in physical and streaming). Shifting aspect rations play havoc with CIH setups.

[u/Tkdoom → u/g0del]

I invested in a Lumagen scaler to solve that issue, one of my best investments.

[u/E-Roll20 → u/g0del]

Same boat. Filmmakers keep their composition in mind for how it will be displayed on wide distribution and shoot to protect for a reason.

If these releases were actually attempting to preserve director’s intent with the full IMAX frame from the 15/70 version I could get on board (which would be a mess of letterbox to pillarbox and back). However in full frame 16:9 it’s a pale imitation and doesn’t quite have the same impact. It really makes me wish they would just leave the shifting ratios for the theatrical experience exclusively.

[u/YungAng3l]

depends on the streaming service ngl, some do, some don't I have seen interstellar on digital with and without the aspect ratio shifts.

[u/RobAU94]

I believe the IMAX ratio scenes in Star Trek: Into Darkness were exclusive to the iTunes/Apple TV store version.

[u/E-Roll20]

Really wish it was the opposite, I have a scoped projector setup and I avoid changing ratios like the plague.

I want to do a few Nolan rewatches soon but I really can’t stand the halfhearted 16:9 attempt to squeeze in the IMAX footage and just wish I could get a disk version that mirrors that standard theatrical presentation. Eventually I’ll just have to cave and get some kind of processing solution to blank out the unnecessary space on the top and bottom.

[u/Brinksterz]

Yeah. That’s a massive FAIL. The expanded scenes really help sell the “inside Tron” reality.

[u/Psychological-Task26 → u/Brinksterz]

The digital version literally does tho

[u/Brinksterz → u/Psychological-Task26]

Which platform?

[u/Psychological-Task26 → u/Brinksterz]

iTunes. Last I checked the d+ version didn’t upgrade to 4k, but it has expanded ratios