Tiny rectangle in middle of screen

[bemille3]

Hi everbody. I have only encountered this problem twice, but it is with 2 dvd's that I consider critical to my library. I am running Vista Home Premium 32-Bit and have a 22 inch lg flatron monitor that is 16:10. Regardless of the player, on these dvd's (both have an aspect ratio of 1.77:1), the movies appear as a rectangle in the middle of the screen with bars on all sides, both horizontally and vertically. I have no clue what the issue is, but I would like to reformat these dvd's (if necessary) so that they will fill up my screen. I have played hundreds of other discs including 1.33:1, 1.77:1, 1.85:1 & 2.35:1 aspect ratios and they all work perfectly.

By the way, I am willing to consider purchasing software to achieve this. Also, the software I have that works with dvd's is: [spam links deleted]. Don't know if they will be useful or not.

Any clues?

[Inspector.Gadget]

What are you playing these discs back with? Also, why the heck did you buy all that junk? The most flexible, best-maintained consumer-grade encoding applications are freeware or free software, almost without exception.

[CWR03]

What are the titles of the movies? I can think of at least three that play (at least at the beginning or during certain portions of the movie) the way you describe.

[manono]

If encoded as 4:3 they'll appear like that on a widescreen monitor. If you open a VOB (maybe the last and smallest one so it'll take less time to open) in VDubMod, my guess it that you'll have black only above and below. Also, open a VOB in GSpot and/or MediaInfo and see if it's 4:3 (my guess) or 16:9.

You could crop and resize it and then reencode it to 16:9, and on a 16:10 monitor there will be only small black bars above and below, not that I'd recommend doing that. You could also zoom the movie during playback, either on the monitor or on a standalone. That won't make it look any better, though, and will probably make it look worse.

My advice is to either live with it because it's a lousy DVD to begin with, or search out different DVD versions of the same movie that might be 16:9.

[bemille3]

Thanks, guys. Well the media convertor was for music, just thought i'd mention it. I actually inherited all the software, that is, got the registration keys, tho, as you perceived, know little about good software. Some was mentioned. thanks for that. One of the movies is lolita. i am actually afraid to buy other kubrick movies unless they have moved passed that series that was printed five or so years back. they all say "matted 16:9" other movie is the first clerks. Love that movie too, as well as many of kubricks films. Haven't tested 2001 or full metal jacket yet. Anyway, manono, i think i understand what you're saying and will try it. True tho. If I can't do it in an acceptable way it is just better to buy another edition.

[manono]

I don't know if you're R1 (US), or R2 (Europe, mainly), but both versions of the Kubrick Lolita are widescreen 4:3 (black on all 4 sides when viewed on a widescreen monitor or TV set):

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdcompare/lolita.htm

For the R1 Clerks, there are at several editions with the earliest one also being 4:3:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompare5/clerks.htm

Lolita is 1.66:1 and isn't all that much improved when encoded as 16:9. Clerks is 1.85:1 and was shot on 16mm film, and looks like garbage however it's encoded, although one of the 16:9 versions would be preferred.

I don't know exactly what the 'matted 16:9' comment means, but until proven otherwise I think your problem is best explained by you having 4:3 versions of these fine films.

Before buying DVDs of classic films, check the online reviews to find out if they're 4:3 or 16:9. That DVD Beaver link I posted is one very good place. Otherwise find online reviews of about any DVD and Blu-Ray ever reviewed here:

http://www.dvd-basen.dk/uk/home.php3