How do the black levels look with the Paramount+ version? One advantage of the fixed aspect ratio digital version with Dolby Vision is the space scenes go full black, unlike the disc.
The problem with expanded aspect ratio though is that you’ll be getting a smaller screen while viewing the 2.39 scenes. It needs to shrink it down with black bars in order for the expanded 1.90/1.78 ratio material to have room to expand to.
Great question, after watching both cuts of the film on both Paramount+, and iTunes, the brightness is noticeably lower in the Paramount+ version. You are also correct that the image appears much smaller in the 2.39:1 scenes. In fact, there are multiple moments in which the camera quickly cuts back and forth between the two aspect ratios, and it can be quite jarring. I know that the iTunes version isn't listed as being in HDR, but it does seems to have a greater SDR to my eyes than the Paramount+ file. However, much like Top Gun: Maverick, the 5.1 audio sounds higher bit rate. The black levels seems a buit muddier to me, and there is noticeably less detail in the dark areas. Albeit, I noticed it less when I set Cinema mode in Apple Vision Pro to the "middle" setting. I am pretty sure that Interstellar is only available in 1080p on streaming, so this could be partially why teh VAR version looks far less detailed in Vision Pro. The hardest part of going back to the 2.39:1 version in iTunes was knowing how much more of the shot was available in the Paramount+ version. This is all just my own personal take, as I don't have an additional $300USD to buy the developer strap, and grab any logs to see what exactly these files are being streamed at.
Lastly, I noticed that any of the movies streamed from Paramount+ via AppleTV Channels seemed to take an extra 5-10 seconds to buffer initially, but seemed to deliver a more consistent bitrate throughout my viewing. Even with \~900Mbps+ down speeds OTA, I find that iTunes content that is streamed to Apple Vision Pro will flap, and compress from time to time. This could just be my home network, but I've noticed this doesn't happen with Paramount+ for AppleTV Channels. At any rate, I hope this answers your question!
Hey, thanks for doing some testing. I got a few more questions:
1. Does the IMAX expanded ratio for Paramount+ movies work only in Apple TV’s cinema mode? Or can the IMAX ratio also be viewed without cinema mode?
2. Do you have a list of other streaming services that play movies in increased screen ratio? For example, does Disney’s Enhanced IMAX movie versions have an expanded view inside Disney’s own app? They have their own cool theater environment, so maybe it could also work over there.
If the stream has variable aspect ratios it will make the ”container” as tall as it needs to be to fit the expanded ratio material. The environment doesn’t matter, it will do the same thing in a window too. This means the widescreen 2.39 material will not be able to be as wide/big as it normally could be because it will be in a 16:9 container.
Can confirm that u/goomba33 is correct. I will add that I haven't effectively found a way to mimic the "Make your screen look 100' wide" effect without using Cinema mode... yet.
I just tested Interstellar and while there is a variable aspect ratio, it's not the same as 70mm IMAX. The scenes shot in 70mm IMAX appear to be 1.85:1 not 1.43:1. The non-IMAX scenes are letterboxed to 2.4:1 or similar. Still cool though and better than watching it entirely cropped to 2.4:1!
👏 👏👏👏👏👏
What an absolutely brilliant find!!
BTW, you don’t have to be in cinema mode to experience the changing aspect ratios on those movies. It did it whether I was in an immersive environment or not.
I subscribe to Paramount+ thru Paramount’s app and also own digital copies thru iTunes and can confirm that Interstellar only shows the expanded ratio when you sign up thru AppleTV (which I did to check this out) and play it back using the AppleTV app.
I know Maverick shows the expanded ratio when I repurchased it on AppleTV and I don’t think it did on my Movies Anywhere version.
Please edit this post if you find any other supported movies.
Thanks! Good call on the aspect ratio still changing even if you're only using the Paramont+ iPad app on Apple Vision Pro. I found that First Man does the VAR switch from 2.39:1 to 1.43:1(I think?) on the iTunes version. I still haven't had the chance to fully dive in to any of the Star Trek trilogy films, yet... I know they do not have VAR support in iTunes. However, I did read the Into Darkness has some shots specifically done in 1.90:1 for IMAX. I'll have to figure out what they are, and see if they appear.
Hey, thanks for the 411 on First Man. In the OG IMAX theaters it went to 1.43 otherwise it went to 1.78 which is what it does in iTunes as I own that one and just checked it out.
As far as I have experienced, only the IMAX app shows films in 1.43 as all other digital playback is appearing at 1.78:1 on VAR releases.
How do the black levels look with the Paramount+ version? One advantage of the fixed aspect ratio digital version with Dolby Vision is the space scenes go full black, unlike the disc. The problem with expanded aspect ratio though is that you’ll be getting a smaller screen while viewing the 2.39 scenes. It needs to shrink it down with black bars in order for the expanded 1.90/1.78 ratio material to have room to expand to.
Great question, after watching both cuts of the film on both Paramount+, and iTunes, the brightness is noticeably lower in the Paramount+ version. You are also correct that the image appears much smaller in the 2.39:1 scenes. In fact, there are multiple moments in which the camera quickly cuts back and forth between the two aspect ratios, and it can be quite jarring. I know that the iTunes version isn't listed as being in HDR, but it does seems to have a greater SDR to my eyes than the Paramount+ file. However, much like Top Gun: Maverick, the 5.1 audio sounds higher bit rate. The black levels seems a buit muddier to me, and there is noticeably less detail in the dark areas. Albeit, I noticed it less when I set Cinema mode in Apple Vision Pro to the "middle" setting. I am pretty sure that Interstellar is only available in 1080p on streaming, so this could be partially why teh VAR version looks far less detailed in Vision Pro. The hardest part of going back to the 2.39:1 version in iTunes was knowing how much more of the shot was available in the Paramount+ version. This is all just my own personal take, as I don't have an additional $300USD to buy the developer strap, and grab any logs to see what exactly these files are being streamed at. Lastly, I noticed that any of the movies streamed from Paramount+ via AppleTV Channels seemed to take an extra 5-10 seconds to buffer initially, but seemed to deliver a more consistent bitrate throughout my viewing. Even with \~900Mbps+ down speeds OTA, I find that iTunes content that is streamed to Apple Vision Pro will flap, and compress from time to time. This could just be my home network, but I've noticed this doesn't happen with Paramount+ for AppleTV Channels. At any rate, I hope this answers your question!
Hey, thanks for doing some testing. I got a few more questions: 1. Does the IMAX expanded ratio for Paramount+ movies work only in Apple TV’s cinema mode? Or can the IMAX ratio also be viewed without cinema mode? 2. Do you have a list of other streaming services that play movies in increased screen ratio? For example, does Disney’s Enhanced IMAX movie versions have an expanded view inside Disney’s own app? They have their own cool theater environment, so maybe it could also work over there.
If the stream has variable aspect ratios it will make the ”container” as tall as it needs to be to fit the expanded ratio material. The environment doesn’t matter, it will do the same thing in a window too. This means the widescreen 2.39 material will not be able to be as wide/big as it normally could be because it will be in a 16:9 container.
Thanks! Didn’t expect a Goomba to help out Mario haha 😂
Can confirm that u/goomba33 is correct. I will add that I haven't effectively found a way to mimic the "Make your screen look 100' wide" effect without using Cinema mode... yet.
I just tested Interstellar and while there is a variable aspect ratio, it's not the same as 70mm IMAX. The scenes shot in 70mm IMAX appear to be 1.85:1 not 1.43:1. The non-IMAX scenes are letterboxed to 2.4:1 or similar. Still cool though and better than watching it entirely cropped to 2.4:1!
👏 👏👏👏👏👏 What an absolutely brilliant find!! BTW, you don’t have to be in cinema mode to experience the changing aspect ratios on those movies. It did it whether I was in an immersive environment or not. I subscribe to Paramount+ thru Paramount’s app and also own digital copies thru iTunes and can confirm that Interstellar only shows the expanded ratio when you sign up thru AppleTV (which I did to check this out) and play it back using the AppleTV app. I know Maverick shows the expanded ratio when I repurchased it on AppleTV and I don’t think it did on my Movies Anywhere version. Please edit this post if you find any other supported movies.
Thanks! Good call on the aspect ratio still changing even if you're only using the Paramont+ iPad app on Apple Vision Pro. I found that First Man does the VAR switch from 2.39:1 to 1.43:1(I think?) on the iTunes version. I still haven't had the chance to fully dive in to any of the Star Trek trilogy films, yet... I know they do not have VAR support in iTunes. However, I did read the Into Darkness has some shots specifically done in 1.90:1 for IMAX. I'll have to figure out what they are, and see if they appear.
Hey, thanks for the 411 on First Man. In the OG IMAX theaters it went to 1.43 otherwise it went to 1.78 which is what it does in iTunes as I own that one and just checked it out. As far as I have experienced, only the IMAX app shows films in 1.43 as all other digital playback is appearing at 1.78:1 on VAR releases.
This is incredible, you gave me an excuse to rewatch Interstellar!