52" LCD major aspect ratio problem

[schnubins]

I recently purchased a Samsung LN52A650 (1080p) television and I have noticed something amiss.

It seems that all of my movies from my cable box (1080i) and stretched the full height of the TV. Movies such as I am legend, 300, and Armageddon are all stretched like this and it’s kind of annoying because I can discern where there should be a thin black bar on the top and bottom of the screen.

I have read the manuals on both the DVR and the TV and nothing is stretched sue to a Picture Mode or anything of the sort.

I even know that one my X-Box 360 in 1080p the screen is stretched to the very top of the TV but that may be correct due to it being a game system.

Any ideas?

 

[pinaplex]

this is normal. it depends on what aspect ratio the original movie was shot in. many movies are still shot in 1.85 aspect ratio, which would fill the entire screen. if the movie is shot in 2.35 anamorphic widescreen, only then will you see small black bars on your screen.