Jun
27

Why do new television sets suck for films?

TV Projection of Film

Is this a conspiracy? A whole generation is growing up looking at distorted films on television without knowing the beauty of 24 frames per second, which has existed since the beginning of sound. Every hotel I check in, every apartment or home I visit, even my mother(!) watches Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman on an image so squeaky clean and immediate, they could be on ‘Entertainment Tonight’ behind the scenes footage—shiny wax museum images brought weirdly back to life. And yet Mom, who loves films, doesn’t see the difference. Few do. Forget about the correct aspect ratio the filmmaker intended (that went out a long time ago), but it’s kind of become like Government Surveillance -- people shrug when they notice and say ‘what can you do about it?’

But films are NOT high-definition sports or news events, or sitcoms for that matter. I despise this 30 frames per second motion (except for sports) and I certainly don’t need it to be imposed on me. I can’t even get the right motion off of a HD DVD or Blu-ray on these new TVs. I don’t need Matt Damon right next to me in my living room, demolishing another villain in stuttering action. I prefer a veiled distance and mystery between my brain and the film. These movies were shot at 24fps by trained eyes, and I want to see them projected at 24fps.

So what is the solution in this Television Age? I’m told by some, go out and get a 120 or 240 hertz-powered (more expensive) TV set. Avoid 60 hertz TV because they can’t accurately reproduce 24 fps? Can someone guide me? Am I the only one going nuts?


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