Which aspect ratio for this shot looks right to you?
The first image is the 1.33 aspect ratio from the DVD.
The second image is the 1.78 from the Blu-ray.
The Criterion is actually 1.85 which loses even more of the image.
It is pretty obvious what aspect ratio Stanley Kubrick composed this now iconic and climactic shot for. You can see how the circle is cropped and cut off in a wider aspect ratio. Also, notice how the piano in the back is only visible in the 1.33.
Kubrick composed Eyes Wide Shut in the full frame academy aspect ratio of 1.37, therefore Criterion should include multiple aspect ratios for Eyes Wide Shut in the box set. It is understandable that some viewers prefer the cropped 1.85 in to order fill their widescreen televisions, however it does not represent Kubrick's true vision.
He shot the movie with 1.85 markings on his monitor to protect for theatrical presentation. He primarily composed the film and preferred the full frame aspect ratio, which is why the VHS and early DVD releases of the film came with a disclaimer stating this. By the late 1990's, movies were overwhelmingly viewed on television screens through formats such as VHS, which is why Kubrick composed this film with that in mind.
We can never know what aspect ratio Kubrick would have preferred nowadays with the advent of the 16:9 widescreen television screen, but it is very much possible that he would have had the film pillar boxed to preserve his composition.
Another note, there are many Easter Eggs and mirror images that are cropped out in the 1.85 Criterion 4K, as in they are entirely missing from the frame. Mirror images meaning matching objects which appear in different scenes. Kubrick likely didn't place these in the film just so they could be cropped out of existence.
Criterion has an opportunity to remedy the issue with the upcoming box set by including multiple aspect ratios of the Eyes Wide Shut. It would be a shame to see them make the same mistake twice, especially considering Eyes Wide Shut might never receive another release. It's been about 25 years since Eyes Wide Shut was last distributed in Kubrick's approved aspect ratio. It would be nice if this changed, so that the 480p DVD could stay on the shelf for good.
Lastly, Eyes Wide Shut was actually projected in some theaters across the United States in 4:3. I'm sure that some of you might have been lucky enough to have experienced it.