The only time I have seen the subtitle issue you describe is on a nonanamorphic DVD. On nonanamorhic DVDs, the picture is in a sort of box (maybe the larger bars and squishing to which you referred? I know 27 dresses was released on DVD in both widescreen and fullscreen.). You then have to use the zoom function of either your TV or player to make it fill up the screen of your HDTV. However, when you do this, the subtitles "fall off" the picture and reside below the picture and are no longer readable.
Seriously, I post at several home theater forums, and the problem you describe (a difference betwween the way BR and DVD project images) has never come up.
The one movie was my example. The only one I used subtitles on.
“Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium” have seen both formats. (because the DVDs are easier to rent. If it’s good we buy the Blu-Ray).
As well as
“Speed Racer”
“The Forbidden Kingdom”
“Night at the Museum”
“Spiderman 1-2-3”
“Hairspray” which I own three copies of
“Enchanted” own both formats.
Perhaps it would be wiser to compare my example to an actual Blu-Ray, which I am speaking of, rather than an HD-DVD.
I’m not speaking of a zoom feature, you are. If one zooms, one loses the sides of the film (which of course is WHY one letterboxes, to get a WIDER picture) Yes, it fills the screen, but you lose your resolution and the sides of the shot. A full screen addition of any movie would NOT give you a letterbox look. No matter what it’s played on.
Maybe the people on your forums don’t have a screen as big as we do. I have no clue. But people can judge for themselves.
And maybe the word “squishing” was the wrong choice so we are not on the same page.
I meant thinner picture and not distortion of that picture.