+-----------------------------------+ <- Top edge of raw negative exposure | OPEN MATTE ONLY | +===================================+ <- Top of theatrical crop | | | THEATRICAL SCOPE (2.39:1) | <- What you saw in theaters | | +===================================+ <- Bottom of theatrical crop | OPEN MATTE ONLY | +-----------------------------------+ <- Bottom edge of raw negative exposure Direct Framing Comparison Theatrical Release Open Matte Release 2.39:1 (Cinema Scope) 1.78:1 (Full 16:9 Screen) Black Bars Present on top and bottom Completely absent Vertical View Restriced / Cropped Significantly expanded CGI Rendering Optimized for wide lens Unmasked raw production frames Why "Godzilla 1998" Changes on a Full Screen
In the era of home video, the shift from theatrical screenings to television broadcasts and DVD releases created a significant challenge: the difference in screen shape. Films were shot for the wide, cinematic experience of a movie theater, while most home televisions were built with a nearly square, 4:3 aspect ratio. To bridge this gap, studios used several methods:
Open matte is a filming technique where the camera captures a larger, taller image than what is seen in theaters. For the theatrical release, the top and bottom of the frame are "matted" (covered) to create a cinematic widescreen look. In an open matte version, these bars are removed, revealing more visual information at the top and bottom. The Technical Evolution of Godzilla 1998
: For many fans, the open matte version is preferable for a kaiju movie because the vertical "extra" space makes Godzilla feel taller. Filmmakers like Steven Spielberg famously used a taller 1.85:1 ratio for Jurassic Park for this exact reason: it fills more of the vertical frame with the creature. Visual Impact and Drawbacks Godzilla 1998 Open Matte
Roland Emmerich set his American reimagining in the vertical landscape of . Because of this, the open matte version alters how viewers experience the movie's geography and scale:
High-definition open matte masters are typically created for HDTV networks (such as HBO, Starz, or international broadcast stations) to fill the entire screen of viewers' televisions without resorting to a destructive "pan-and-scan" crop that cuts off the sides of the image. Film preservationists and fans have since captured these rare broadcasts, preserving them digitally to share within niche cinephile communities. The Verdict: Is It Worth Watching?
, directed by Roland Emmerich, remains one of the most debated entries in the franchise's history. Beyond the discussions regarding its creature design and departure from Toho's original vision, a niche but dedicated community of cinephiles and home media collectors has kept the film alive through the lens of its presentation. What is "Open Matte"? For the theatrical release, the top and bottom
Conversely, fans of the animated series that followed (which was vastly superior to the film) love the Open Matte version because it preserves the scale of the creature design that the cartoon later utilized.
: Open matte versions are often sourced from HDTV broadcasts (like the French channel ) or certain older full-screen DVD/VHS releases. Comparison: Widescreen vs. Open Matte open matte & full screen main thread
The (often found in HDTV broadcasts or specific old DVD releases) removes those black bars. Instead of cropping the sides to fit a TV, it "opens" the top and bottom of the frame, showing extra visual information that was previously hidden. What the Open Matte version changes: Filmmakers like Steven Spielberg famously used a taller 1
Roland Emmerich intended the film to be seen in widescreen. That is the artistic truth. However, for the home viewer on a 16:9 television, the version is often a more immersive experience.
This is where things get more interesting. Many widescreen films, especially those shot on the Super 35 format , use the full frame of the film negative, which is roughly a 4:3 or 1.33:1 shape. For a theatrical release, the top and bottom of this image are "matted" out (covered or cropped) to create the desired widescreen composition. However, for a home video or television broadcast, this matte can be "opened," revealing the entire, un-cropped height of the original frame. This is the open matte version: a taller image that includes visual information that was never meant to be seen in a theater.
Visual effects shots are often only rendered for the intended widescreen frame. Open matte versions sometimes reveal unrendered textures or abrupt edges at the extreme top or bottom.
By "opening the matte," viewers see more of the image at the top and bottom of the frame—pixels that were originally hidden behind the black bars of a widescreen display. For a monster as tall as Godzilla, this change in perspective can transform the entire viewing experience. What is "Open Matte"?