Whale Rider R2 Switzerland 2-disc edition DVD ADDED

[Rafael_Kuehn]

Hi folks, today I got something quite "exotic" for you: A Swiss DVD release of "Whale Rider", lacking some of the extras of the other releases, but apparently featuring a lengthy and exclusive making-of documentary. The aspect ratio is weird, mind.

Title: Whale Rider
Country: Switzerland
Region: 2
Releasing Studio: Ascot Elite
Case Type: Digipack
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1, but also see notes
Anamorphic?: yes, but see notes
PAL or NTSC?: PAL
Soundtracks:
English Dolby Digital 5.1
English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
German Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
French Dolby Digital 5.1
French Dolby Digtal 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles (are they optional?): German, French, optional
Cuts: (and if you know it, precise run time) 97:18
Commentaries: commentary by writer/director Niki Caro
Extras:
Disc 1:
The Film
German trailer (02:12)
bonus trailers: "Die Höhle des gelben Hundes" (02:57), "Bugs!" (00:57)

Disc 2:
"Riding the Wave - The Making of Whale Rider" documentary (45:41)
"The Making of Whale Rider" featurette (22:33)
interview outtakes (from the featurette):
- Keisha Castle-Hughes (01:01)
- Rawiri Paratene (00:15)
- Cliff Curtis (00:34)
- Niki Caro (01:06)
- Lisa Gerrad (01:07)
movie still slideshow (01:15)
Notes: The movie is presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, however in 1.85:1 with the additional black bars matted in.
Easter Eggs:
Amazon ASIN (UK, French, German, USA releases only):
Source:* I own it.

[James-Masaki_Ryan]

Trying to understand the aspect ratio.
So it is in 2.35:1, but it is windowboxed with black bars on the left and right, similar to this?


But as you said, it is anamorphic. Is this correct?

[Rafael_Kuehn]

Truly weird thing: The picture actually is 1.85:1, as I can clearly see from the regular black bars on my 4:3 TV. Then there are two ADDITIONAL black bars above and below, of noticeably different black values, which frame the movie's original 2.35:1 ratio. Those bars are actually part of the picture, therefore also featuring under anamorphic conditions, and almost certainly being detrimental to the resolution. I have no clue what has been done here or why, but that's the best way I can describe it, short of taking an actual photograph.

[Rafael_Kuehn]

Here is a pic to help you out. The darker bars are the actual bars from my TV, while the lighter bars are part of the picture. Basically it's 2.35:1 in a 1.85:1 matte. Really weird, right?

[James-Masaki_Ryan]

What's happening is that the black levels are incorrect - whether it's the disc having wrong black levels or your television, it's probably the DVD transfer. Since I can't confirm I won't memo it, but the important part is that it is anamorphic and in the correct ratio.

Added!

[Rafael_Kuehn]

What's happening is that the black levels are incorrect - whether it's the disc having wrong black levels or your television, it's probably the DVD transfer. Since I can't confirm I won't memo it, but the important part is that it is anamorphic and in the correct ratio.

Added!

I haven't seen that occur on any other DVD I own, so should be the transfer. Anyhow, owners of 16:9 TVs won't notice it at all. Note you forgot to include the commentary. Also, it doesn't come in a keep case, it's a digipack in a cardboard slipcase.

[James-Masaki_Ryan]

Fixed and fixed.

I've seen it on some titles before, most commonly on extras where the deleted scenes were from an analog master or something. As for a main feature, I'm sure I have. Just can't think of one at the moment.