MGM's DVD Class Action Settlement

MrFreak writes "Apparently all of MGM's 'theatrical wide screen' DVD releases for the last few years have been the pan-scanned versions with the top and bottoms cut off. I checked this against my copy of CQ, and it's true. The list (PDF) of butchered movies includes almost every Woody Allen film, Silence of the Lambs, and Ghost World, just to name a few. If you own any of the eligible movies, you have until March 31 to either opt to exchange your copy for $7.10, or a new DVD from MGM, presumably in its proper aspect ratio." Update: 01/28 19:44 GMT by M : The above is not correct. A comment does a reasonable job of explaining; see the Aspect Ratio FAQ for background. The movies themselves have not been cut twice; they've been cut once, because they were originally formatted for television.

I'm aghast!

[bigtallmofo]

I noticed this recently when I downloaded the iso .torrent of Silence of the Lambs and burned it to a DVD with DVDShrink. I'm outraged that they would rip me off like this!

I'm going to contact them immediately and ask for them to make restitution.

Sick, outraged.

[t_allardyce]

At some point in time someone must have invented the process of pan & scan and I would bet the horse that it was some PHB TV network producer with too much coke up his nose. pan & scan is like raping the director, although some directors feel its 'ok' to do this if they are getting enough money, im sure those same directors would feel it ok to pimp their daughters for the right price. Doing that to a film and then cropping it though! I don't know who would be sick enough.

Ok, Breakin and Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo

[brutusbuck]

What are the other 2 on page 1?

BIODOME

[killmenow]

YES! Thankfully I can get a new, proper wide-screen formatted version of BIODOME. Full screen just ruins that movie (not to mention the cast).

What's your pride worth?

[ksdd]

If you own Body of Evidence, Lambada, or Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (just to name a few), you would need to acknowledge that 1) you not only own the film in question but 2) think enough of it to want a pristine copy (or $7.10).

Is the remedy really worth your last shred of dignity?

What this?

[Anonymous Coward]

Is hell freezing over or did I just hear a European wanting to be included in the US legal system?

Re:Pfft...

[BlackHawk-666]

The best aspect ratio for Woody "I *really* love my daughter" Allen film is 1:0 - then turn the sound down too. To quote Ned Flanders "I like Woody Allen films except for that nervous guy who is always in them."

Can I sue?

[HarveyBirdman]

I want to sue movie studios for all those 2 hour blocks of my life wasted on dumbass movies that I had to take dates to see. Gawds, the tripe I have been dragged to in the pursuit of a fuck.

Troy. I was made to sit through Troy.

*shudder*

I had to watch Lawrence Of Arabia *and* The Quiet Man the next day as an antidote.

Re:R1 only?

[plague3106]

Um, if only the pamplets are wrong, why are they letting you EXCHANGE the dvds you already have for new ones? If it was just the pamplet, sending out a new pamplet would suffice.

Re:silence of the lawyers...

[DarkSarin]

Because even serial killers wouldn't touch that unsavory dish?