Stupid Question about Widescreen and Movies

[admin_exported]

I have a 32" Panasonic LZD-85 LCD screen which I think is a good size for my 15ftx15ft living room whilst watching freeview.

However, when I watch a movie on DVD the widescreen bands appear across the top and bottom of the screen. I find this quite annoying because it then makes the picture too small. The only way I can get round it is by pressing zoom 1 on the TV remote.

I've noticed that some movies such as Saving Private Ryan are full screen and do not have the black bands. Can anyone explain why they do this and the best way to get rid of the bands. It's something that has always annoyed me - You have a widescreen telly so why make the picture even smaller!?

 

[Anonymous]

Generally the TV will sort it out if you leave "aspect ratio" set to Auto. When it can't you see the black bands top and bottom. You probably notice that using zoom 1 you cut a bit off of each end of the picture. It's up to you really what you like.

It hapens because if the original movie was in super wide screen and it's put on the DVD that way then the only way the TV can get the aspect ratio right horizontally is to compress the picture vertically - hence the black bands.