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Author Topic: Technical issues with Matrix Reloaded David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 05-19-2003 11:07 AM                        This is a continuation of the discussions about the sound mix, framing, and whatever else comes up (started in Reviews). Framing: I've seen Reloaded twice. Both times, the framing issue jumped out at me -- I wasn't looking for a problem because titles etc. were perfectly framed. Then all of a sudden there's a string of closeups where the eyes are at the very top of the screen -- most of the forehead is missing. My first thought was "this is some kind of Super35 transfer/framing error", especially since not all shots were framed that way. Sound Mix: The SR-D mix at the first theatre (Cinemark 17) was very impressive. They had it cranked, and for once the subs were working. Very crisp, clear, directional, and visceral. The second theatre (Regal Cinema World 8) was almost dull and uninvolving by comparison. I think it was SR-D too but not positive. I have an email dialog going with Regal's northwest technical guru, hoping he will confirm that something was wrong. That Regal show was VERY disappointing soundwise. There was more bass coming from the adjacent theatre (also showing Reloaded) than there was in that one. Lastly, has anyone confirmed yet that Reloaded is an SDDS-8 mix?  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 05-19-2003 01:37 PM                        I agree that misframing in projection or in optical printing is a serious problem. But since "Matrix Reloaded" is a "scope" release, any misframing would be immediately obvious as visible framelines, or at least seeing the negative splices. The scope answer print would have been approved by the director and cinematographer, who would have rejected any mistakes made in printing. Remember, composition is subjective. I agree with Brad that the character's eyes are often the focal point of any composition, and many compositions often follow the photographic "Rule of Thirds", where the most important part of the scene (e.g., the eyes) are located 1/3 ways in from each edge of the frame, even if it means cropping the tops of heads as you note in your review. Composition and "Rule of Thirds": http://www.silverlight.co.uk/tutorials/compose_expose/thirds.html Kodak Composition Suggestions http://7hcc.tripod.com/technical/composition/rothirds/rothirds.htm http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?78 Nature Photography Of course I assume the theatre where you saw "Matrix Reloaded" was showing the full 2.39:1 aspect ratio (0.825 x 0.690 inches projectable image area) specified by standard SMPTE 195, and not a cropped image area.  |  IP: Logged David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 05-19-2003 01:45 PM                        JP, that's what I was alluding to, that this was a scope print and there were no other signs of misframing. It could very well be a deliberate artistic decision, but it sure looked odd to me. Did I forget to mention that Regal ran 2 flat ads for Matrix games (or some such thing) in scope?  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 05-19-2003 01:55 PM                        Sometimes odd framing is used to create a sense of disorientation or uneasiness in the audience.  |  IP: Logged Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 05-19-2003 04:57 PM                     This "artistic" framing also causes the end result on DVD to REALLY look like it's "cutting off the top and bottom" in the widescreen edition. =TMP=  |  IP: Logged Mike Olpin Chop Chop! Posts: 1852 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Jan 2002 posted 05-19-2003 05:49 PM                     Not only the eyes, but do the opening titles and logos look missframed to anyone else? Particularly the village roadshows logo. It is way to high on the screen! This was the case with it on 2 seperate prints, one of which i threaded, and i know was in frame. Whats the deal? Lab mistakes on all of my prints?  |  IP: Logged Aldo Baez Master Film Handler Posts: 266 From: USA Registered: Mar 2001 posted 05-19-2003 10:44 PM                    I mentioned this in my review but yes the Warner and village logos are high for me.  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 05-20-2003 09:56 AM                    How high is "high?" I didn't notice any problems with either of our prints.  |  IP: Logged David Favel Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 764 From: Ashburton, New Zealand Registered: Feb 2002 posted 05-21-2003 08:46 PM                     Off centre, I watched this at someone elses cinema & was tempted to rack down various times throughout the flick.  |  IP: Logged Aldo Baez Master Film Handler Posts: 266 From: USA Registered: Mar 2001 posted 05-22-2003 02:14 AM                    High enough to show a very visible black bar along the bottom of the screen  |  IP: Logged Darren Briggs Master Film Handler Posts: 371 From: York, UK Registered: Dec 2001 posted 05-23-2003 04:03 AM                        Cant see any of the above problems on my print? The opening logos are bang in the middle of the screen. Here in the U.K. we also have a warning on the front of the film about film piracy and warn people if they video tape the film they will be in serious trouble if caught! The same warning was on the front of X2 here in the uk also. Darren  |  IP: Logged Michael Brown Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1522 From: Bradford, England Registered: May 2001 posted 05-24-2003 06:44 PM                     Just saw it. The Village logo seemed a little high. But saying that, I would need to see it on another film to compare.  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 05-25-2003 10:13 PM                     Has anyone playing 'Matrix:Reloaded' in analog having what seems to be the DTS timecode being picked up on the analog reader? I have received a call that this is happening on two different prints on two different machines, one of which has been recently A-chained. They say it occurs on either reel 4 or 5 (they aren't 100% sure which reel but it is one of the two) and doesn't happen before or after that reel. -Aaron  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 05-27-2003 09:20 AM                        If you have a reel where the DTS time code is being heard in the analog track, it's easy to check to be sure it was printed in the proper position. The centerline of the DTS timecode track should be 0.297 inches (7.54 mm) from the reference edge of the print, per standard SMPTE 115. If any part of the timecode track is closer than 0.281 inches (7.14 mm) to the reference edge, you may hear it in the analog track.  |  IP: Logged

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