We are lucky, in this day and age, to have so many movie formats at our disposal. We can view our favorite flicks on VHS, DVD, Blue Ray, television, On Demand cable, theater and the internet. There was even a short-lived laserdisc phase. VHS was nice while it lasted, but it's quickly on the outs in favor of more durable digital formats. I think the most common ways to see a movie lately, have been DVD or television. So, here's our verdict on which way to go.
Pros TV: The convenience of movies on television is definitely a bonus. Making a special trip to the store, incurring late fees and even awaiting your next DVD via post can be a drag. Several channels, such as AMC and IFC offer uninterrupted viewing, eliminating the need to mute those pesky commercials. If cable is an option, On Demand offers a variety of films that can easily be rewound, paused and fast forwarded, just like a DVD. The list of free movies changes frequently and new releases can be purchased, often for a lower cost than at the video store.
Pros DVD: The invention of the DVD was an absolute improvement over VHS. Not only do they not wear out and streatch like magnetic tape will, the picture quality and chapter-to-chapter scrolling make this format superb (not to mention the elimination of the need to rewind). DVDs usually include subtitles in several languages, extra features, behind the scenes peeks and commentaries that were never available before. Plus, if you've got the time, DVDs can be watched over and over again without incurring extra cost. DVDs are frequently available in widescreen format as well, which allows you to see the entire screen shot.
Cons TV: Watching a movie on television has its share of drawbacks. If you elect to see a film this way, you must put up with a number of detriments. First, there are commercials. Even if you can avoid those, networks almost always edit your films for time, content and the dreaded "formatted to fit your screen". You see, when filmmakers set up camera, they usually intend for what they're shooting to end up on a movie theater sized screen. Notice the rectangular shape of a theater screen. Now, notice the shape of your TV at home (unless you've got a fancy wide-screen version). It's square, isn't it? That means, when a movie is formatted, each end of the picture must be severed to account for the change in size and shape. That's what is often referred to as "pan and scan". So, not only are you missing part of the original picture, you must rely on the editors to focus on the most important bits of the shot. They don't always do a great job of this. If you have children watching, it might be important to you to have some of the dialogue edited so as not to offend their delicate ears. But, being the purist that I am, I enjoy viewing a film in the most original format possible. And, if English isn't your first language or if it isn't the original language of the film, the availability of subtitled versions is limited. Even On Demand is flawed. The newest releases are around $5 and you can only review the movie for 24 hours without paying again. The selection of free movies is terribly lacking and even something as recent as Top Gun is off the list. Normally, you will find yourself settling for a B grade horror flick that never even made it to theaters.
Cons DVD: Unless you have Netflix or something similar, renting a DVD comes with the inconvineince of running back to the store or paying an extra charge for returning your selection late. The discs can get lost or broken or arrive so scratched up that they're unreadable. Then, there's the financial factor. Are you willing to shell out the charges to keep a movie for a few measly days? I'm often surprised at the bill from my local video store.
While either option carries its advantages and disadvantages, I overwhelmingly recommend DVDs. The selection is usually broader, the movies are available unedited, and the special features often shed some light into the movie that one may not gather otherwise. But take my advice and always, always rent the widescreen version!
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