Anamorphic

1.) Films can be shot using anamorphic lenses and then projected anamorphically, and 2.) DVDs can be authored anamorphically. Each of these processes are essentially unrelated to each other yet each uses the same basic principle of "squashing information" into an area to be unsquashed into a larger area later. An anamorphically shot film does not automatically result in an anamorphic DVD. An anamorphic film has to be projected anamorphically and an anamorphic DVD still has to be authored anamorphically. Furthermore, and without getting too complicated, an anamorphic DVD can be made from a non-anamorphic film (ie. a matted 1.85:1 film).

DVD Anamorphic enhancement (or "16x9 enhanced"), for DVDs is a clever way to gain more resolution from the screen for widescreen films (1.66:1 or wider). Essentially what occurs is that anamorphic DVDs do not waste processing power for the black bars seen on widescreen movies. It instead concentrates the amount of 'work' into the visible area of the screen (where there is moving picture information). Hence the image quality can be vastly improved. This becomes most noticeable when the image is blown up on to larger surfaces (projection systems) where the true difference between anamorphic and non-anamorphic DVDs becomes quite evident. Anamorphic DVDs should now be de rigeur for all films wider than 1.66:1. Anamorphic enhancement does not benefit 1.33:1 films and is thus not a detriment to those DVDs. (NW & GT)
 

Letterboxed

Region Coding

Regional coding is a way to limit a disc from playing in some DVD players of certain regions of the world. Example; a disc that is coded in region 1 (North America) cannot be played by a DVD player that is coded in region 4 (most of South America). This is done to control distribution rights and essentially gouge the consumer. Purchasing a "Region-Free" DVD Player is not at all illegal although the powers that inflict Region controls would like you to believe that.

Region 1: Canada, United States, U.S. Territories Region 2: Japan, Europe, South Africa, and the Middle East Region 3: Southeast Asia and East Asia Region 4: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America Region 5: Eastern Europe, Indian subcontinent, Africa, North Korea, and Mongolia Region 6: China Region 7: Reserved Region 8: Special international venues (airplanes, cruise ships, etc.)