1. A method for video image decompression tangibly embodied on a video image decompression system, the method comprising: providing a sequence of predicted and bi-directionally predicted frames each comprising pixel values arranged in picture areas, wherein at least one of the picture areas in at least one of the bi-directionally predicted frames is predicted from picture areas in one or more reference frames using direct mode prediction; determining a predicted motion vector with a frame-distance method, wherein the frame-distance method comprises: given a predicted picture area in a first reference frame, a bi-directionally predicted frame of the predicted picture area, and at least one motion vector between the predicted picture area in the first reference frame and a co-locating picture area in a second reference frame, determining a predicted motion vector that is linearly proportional to the at least one motion vector and a distance between the bi-directionally predicted frame of the predicted picture area and at least one of the first or second reference frames; determining the predicted motion vector as a function of multiplying the at least one motion vector with a frame scale fraction; and utilizing a processor at least to determine the predicted motion vector with the frame-distance method and the multiplication, wherein both the first and second reference frames are in a display order that is prior to a display order of the bi-directionally predicted frame of the predicted picture area.