Aspect Ratios, Anamorphic Images and You: A Basic Guide

The world of aspect ratios in movies can be really confusing. Why are some movies wider than others? Is widescreen always a good thing? What's it mean when a DVD is "16x9 enhanced"? Why is it that when I play my older DVDs on my new widescreen television, they have black bars on the sides as well as the top and bottom?

( 1. What IS an Aspect Ratio? )

( 2. A little bit of history )

( 3. How this all works on DVD )

Anyway. There you have it. Widescreen in a nutshell. Any questions?