(I have only a basic understanding of what it actually is so if I err please do not crucify me). The NON anamorphic (and NOT enhanced for widescreen TV) widescreen DVD picture is ALWAYS sent out of the DVD player as a 4:3 shape signal... so the "black bars" at the top and bottom of the signal use up those scan lines as black bars in the 4:3 TV.
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However in an ANAMORPHIC DVD, the signal CAN (not neccessarily so) sent out to a compatible TV (16:9 or a TV that can do the anamorphic squeeze: like my Sony 36XBR400) where the whole signal is only in the 16:9 portion and the "black bars" outside of the 16:9 area are just blank space.. (no scan lines are wasted in creating those inches of black)
So: the picture is sharper and clearer as all the scan lines are used to create the visible 16:9 area.
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If the widescreen movie is a 2.35:1, and you have a 16:9 TV,you will get some top and bottom bars anyway. (((on this I am not clear, if the anamorphic superwidescreen picture gets ALL the scan lines 'just in the viewing area' or if the DVD format just creates a 16:9 size scanned area?)))
The major advantage of 'anamorphic/enhanced for 16:9' is in greater picture clarity for hdtv ready 3:4 sets (3:4 sets that can 'take' a 16:9 input and use it).. But also for the day in the future (for those who do not yet have such a set, or plan on getting a 16:9 set) you will thank yourself for buying anamorphic/enhanced for 16:9 DVDs!!!!! And the DVDs you will have that aren't, will be second class mistakes that will give you a 4:3 size picture in your 16:9 tv that will add black bars to the top and bottom of the 4:3 area in you 16:9 set. and when you squint to see the tiny picture area, you will curse. (unless you have some expensive electronics that can "fix" the problem, or an expensive TV that can fix it.. now most normal HDTV ready 16:9 DO NOT FIX this in the TV!!!)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
However in an ANAMORPHIC DVD, the signal CAN (not neccessarily so) sent out to a compatible TV (16:9 or a TV that can do the anamorphic squeeze: like my Sony 36XBR400) where the whole signal is only in the 16:9 portion and the "black bars" outside of the 16:9 area are just blank space.. (no scan lines are wasted in creating those inches of black)
So: the picture is sharper and clearer as all the scan lines are used to create the visible 16:9 area.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=
If the widescreen movie is a 2.35:1, and you have a 16:9 TV,you will get some top and bottom bars anyway. (((on this I am not clear, if the anamorphic superwidescreen picture gets ALL the scan lines 'just in the viewing area' or if the DVD format just creates a 16:9 size scanned area?)))
The major advantage of 'anamorphic/enhanced for 16:9' is in greater picture clarity for hdtv ready 3:4 sets (3:4 sets that can 'take' a 16:9 input and use it).. But also for the day in the future (for those who do not yet have such a set, or plan on getting a 16:9 set) you will thank yourself for buying anamorphic/enhanced for 16:9 DVDs!!!!! And the DVDs you will have that aren't, will be second class mistakes that will give you a 4:3 size picture in your 16:9 tv that will add black bars to the top and bottom of the 4:3 area in you 16:9 set. and when you squint to see the tiny picture area, you will curse. (unless you have some expensive electronics that can "fix" the problem, or an expensive TV that can fix it.. now most normal HDTV ready 16:9 DO NOT FIX this in the TV!!!)