MGM DVD Class Action Lawsuit

DXSSI · Post by **DXSSI** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:34 am

I'm sure most of you are aware of the news, but there's a class-action lawsuit going on against MGM for releasing improperly formatted "widescreen" movies. Those who own certain DVD's are eligible to exchange their copies for new copies, and UHF is listed among those DVD's.

I'm too young to have ever seen UHF when it was released in theaters, so can any DVD experts around here comment on whether or not UHF on DVD is true widescreen? I'm not sure if exchanging it is worth the time and trouble. I don't care about the $7.10 you can get instead of a new copy, but I do want the movie in its original format.

Link to lawsuit webpage

Post by **anthontherun** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:40 am

Of the titles I own that are on that list, the only one which I think has cropped picture is Spaceballs (which should be remedied by the new Special Edition to be released May 3).

I didn't see the movie in theaters either but as it's not really one of MGM's bigger catalog titles I can't see them reissuing it either way. Your best bet is to pick it up; AFAIK it's properly formatted.

DXSSI · Post by **DXSSI** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:46 am

I already have it, I bought it when it was first released. Just wondering if exchanging it should be necessary.

Post by **Bruce the Duck** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 3:55 am

I saw it in theaters, but it was so long ago, I couldn't possibly tell you if the DVD is correct or not. It's close enough for me though.

the42guy · Post by **the42guy** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 4:37 am

This lawsuit is largely for big movie/DVD fanatics. It really depnds on how you want things to look. Indeed, UHF is elegible for a replacement or $7.10. However, many people seem to be screwing the laswsuit details up - widescreen looks fine while FULLSCREEN is stretched - the films were shot in such a way that pan and scan is not the right thing to do - as a result, there is often image distortion. (this is my understanding: to understand yourself, see the links below)

For more details:
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?cid=115 ... 541&tid=97
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/home/wsfaq.html

Now that you know the details, you can decide if you want a replacement. For details, go to this website: http://www.mgmdvdsettlement.com/

Post by **mewrio** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 5:17 am

I have it under good authority that this lawsuit is basically bogus. The fullscreen version shown on VHSs is basically the widescreen cut of UHF with extra stuff in them, that really wasn't meant to be there when it was originally made. So there is nothing wrong with the DVDs.

CatraDhtem · Post by **CatraDhtem** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 9:57 am

Apparently, according to some key DVD web sites, this whole settlement thing is just a proposal for a solution, as there hasn't been any proof of any wrongdoing yet. This seems to be just a pipedream right now.

But anyway, "UHF" was shot in what is called an "open matte" format, which means the full width of the image would still be present in both the widescreen and full screen versions (makes sense, considering it's a movie about television). The widescreen version for "UHF" is created by matting the image on the top and bottom. VERY few movies are done this way, but it is not unheard of (perhaps the most known recent example is "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure"; the removal of the widescreen matte for the full screen version created the blooper of seeing the chain being fed through the bike's compartment). The best example of the difference as far as "UHF" is concerned is at the very end of the end credits. The widescreen matte would cover up that dangling final credit before the Orion logo seen in the full screen version.

Although there is actually more of the image present in the full screen version (since the top and bottom mattes are gone), nothing vital is lost in either version of "UHF."

But all of this is such a moot point anyway, since the DVD contains both versions of the movie, so I have no idea why it would even be included in this settlement thing.

Post by **mewrio** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:54 am

Yes. Ideally, the full screen versions of movies shot in open matte format (and I have actually heard that most if not all movies are shot in this way) are not meant to be - they sometimes contain bloopers like boom mikes, and the whole movie and its atmosphere is affected by how it is cropped.

But this doesn't really apply for UHF. Methinks they just got a list of every DVD released by MGM.

DrDecay · Post by **DrDecay** » Sat Feb 19, 2005 9:30 am

There is another way to see UHF in its original format is to rent the video. You can find UHF on VHS in most mom and pop owend viedo stores. I think the movie is fine ether full screen or wide, I can watch that movie and never get sick of it. I think this lawsuit is just another way to get money.