Before the Movie Plays, Why do they have to tell us?!
Question: "This film has been modified from it's original version, it has been formatted to fit this screen"
Answers: "This film has been modified from it's original version, it has been formatted to fit this screen"
Because they are contractually obligated - when obtaining broadcast rights - to inform the audience if the film has been changed from its original authorized version. This includes the different aspect ratio for TV use - the movie looks different in that format with "pan and scan" oft being necessary and simulating camera movement that the director never authorized. Directors cannot be forced to have their name on a picture they feel is different from the way they wanted it - they long used the pseudonym "Alan Smithee" when they didn't want their own name on a movie the studio re-cut or changed drastically. I forget who it is - I think it's a big action movie director - so hated the cut-down unrecognizable airplane/TV version of one of his movies that he asked that "Alan Smithee" be used for that one, since it was so different from what he'd made.
Probably due to copyrights that the studio has on it.
By doing so It may modify the original content of the movie and therefor change the contractual obligations
Law
Because when movies are made they use a different film type for big screens and sharp pictures.
The film has to be digitially formatted for regular T.V."s or for any T.V. even if it's HD.
The difference is basically you can't use the regular movie format for a regular T.V.
If they did, our movies would look bootleg.