My TV is a 39" Samsung 1080p. Why are there two black stripes when Im watching Blue Ray at the top and bottom like it's widescreen? Can this be changed?
Because the movie was shot with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, and your TV's aspect ratio is 1.78:1. Your TV is not wide enough to show the entire image without letterboxing. HDTV programs are shot at an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. There is a button on your remote marked P.SIZE. You can use this control to fill the screen, but you will be cutting of the ends of the image.
There are different film sizes which directors choose based either because of budget restraints or simply for the look they are going for. So some film sizes will be wider aspect ratios and you will get black bars on the top of the screen. You cannot fit a wider aspect ratio film on a 16:9 aspect ratio screen without cutting down the image size.
1.78 to 1 will fill 16:9 aspect ratio TV screens perfectly, 2;35 to 1 will have black bars on the screen.
Sure you can use the zoom feature, but honestly i would strongly suggest you get used to it. One you know your getting the best picture quality and you will not be cutting off any part of the picture. with the zoom feature because it zooms in it will both cut off part of the picture to make it fit on the screen and will add significant noise to the picture which defeats the whole purpose of blu ray.
It is normal and this way you know your getting the best picture.
you have the black bars on top and bottom because the director filmed in cinemascope which is wider than your standard widescreen. you can zoom in the picture but then you will cut off sections of the side of your tv