by Dai » Mon Nov 21, 2016 4:47 pm
The blu-ray just came out in the UK. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie when I saw it in 2D at the cinema, so I was startled to watch the blu-ray tonight and find it presented in a very different way. I'm not talking about the extended cut, but rather that the 2D blu-ray has been derived from the Imax 3D master. Blu-rays copying the modern Imax irritation of switching back and forth between different aspect ratios is nothing new, but the way Ghostbusters handles it is different; something I hadn't heard about until it cropped up while watching it tonight. It maintains the appearance of a letterboxed 2.35:1 ratio for all but one scene, but, during almost every action scene, effects elements (ghosts, proton streams, etc) will break frame and move out over the black matte. It's an effect specifically intended for 3D, where I imagine it would be quite effective, but for 2D it's a constant distraction.
I tried the bundled Ultraviolet digital copy of the movie, and that is the standard 2D version will nothing breaking out onto the matte bars. So an HD master of the normal 2D version does exist, but it hasn't been used for the blu-ray. It's such a baffling decision that I'd almost think it's an authoring error. Can anyone who owns a non-UK release of the blu-ray confirm if the 2D disc is this Imax version with the frame breaks? For reference, the first instance is about 20 minutes in, when the ghost from the basement sprays slime everywhere. It's then much more pronounced during the subway scene where they test the prototype beam on the convict ghost.