What are the best dvds to show off your Home Theater?

[pbc74]

There are always times when people want to hear my setup and I'm looking for movies that have great sound throughout. I already have Matrix 1 & 2 but I am looking for more. I want movies that really use the rear surround often. What do you guys think are best ones? It doesn't matter if the movie you suggest sucks...just as long as the sound is good.

[ken brydson]

This may sound silly but for a quick 5-10 minute demo I always use Monsters, Inc. The THX intro is killer and the first little bit of the movie is very impressive.

[bikezappa]

A couple of tracks from the Roy Orbison DVD "Black and White" always works for me. I love his music and the DTS surround makes you feel like you are in a small nite club enjoying the tunes and drinking a beer. This DVD makes visitors feel goood and want to listen to more. Not to loud to start with however.

The helicopter attack scene from from "Apocalypse Now" still gives me goose bumps.

[tonyv1]

I use "Dances with Wolves" the buffalo hunting sequence makes you feel like you're there. Buffaloes stampeding all around!

[Ron-P]

Band of Brothers: Carentan. The main attack sequence on the city, friggen awesome. A little gory for the weak hearted though.

Open Range: Final gun fight or the thunder sequences.

The two most recent worthy demo scenes I can think of.


Peace Out~:D

[amulford]

Star Wars ATC. I dig the opening scene whenn the Naboo ships fly in, it sounds like they're coming in over top of you. The THX bit in the intro is cool too, and when they blow the ship the effin windows almost break!

[Airplay355]

theres a list somewhere, try searching the forums. i've seen dr spec post the list once or twice i think.

[Ron-P]

Yeah, you can search for some of the older stuff, but a thread like this every now and then is nice for the current demo material.

Try typing "demo" into the search feature and I bet quite a few threads will pop up.


Peace Out~:D

[therockman]

Terminator 3! With a good sub it will shake your whole house to the foundations.

[shiznit311]

U-571 - Depth charges to rattle that azz.

[Frank Z]

Finding Nemo!
LOTR FOTR and TT
Air Force One (Superbit-DTS)
The Hunt for Red October (SE)
The 5th Element (Superbit-dts)

[braveheart]

Open Range in DTS, gunshots sound like they are fired right next to you.
Lion King
Braveheart
Gladiator
Pearl Harbor
Platoon
Band of Brothers

[hamzahsh]

These are my favourite DVDs to demo HT!

The Haunting
LOTR-FOTR-EE & TTT-EE
Jurassic Park III
Saving Private Ryan
Gladiator
Final Fantasy
Terminator 3
Die Another Day
Cast Away
STAR WARS EP1 & EP2
U-571

;)

[PolkThug]

Final Destination 2 highway wreck scene. This will bring out the best of your expensive gear. It is in DTS also.

Regards,
PolkThug

[avelanchefan]

Well t3 for sure, and anything off of Band of Brothers.

Open Range was excellent throughout the movie. From the rain storms to the final gun fight.

Underworld was also a very "hot" movie. The entire DVD is one huge sub workout.

[jakedubb]

Try Topgun. Sounds badass!

[bikezappa]

If it doesn't have big base or big action, then the movie's not on the anyone's list. WTF? Are we all this one dimensional with our expensive equipment. No wonder our Honeys think we are all crazy.

We are talking demo disks, correct? I have made the mistake of always trying to make my friends deaf during the demos. I may be used to loud demos but the guests are not I'm afraid.

The demo should try to interest the guest in Music or Movies. Playing it a 100db's may repulse or reject people. Some is good!

Ask your freinds and Honey if they really enjoy really loud demos? You have the remote, so if starts to hurt your ears you turn it down, what can the guest do but grit it out if they have more sensitive ears.

I turn the volume down about 10% to 20% of my highest volume set point during demo's now. You can hear the dynamic range much much more with the system. Some times the guests even ask me to turn it up a bit. I know they are listening then.

Ever try and get a drink from a fire hydrant?

[disneyjoe7]

Well this may sound silly also.

But Finding Nemo when Dara bangs on the fish tank... it's GREAT the best I've ever heard. Great sub workout.

[dholmes]

Try Blade 2 at the disco, Bade 1 at the slaughter house, Star Wars epi 1 the light saber battle at the end, Underworld(a little harsh )

[therockman]

I have to agree with bikezappa, he makes some very good points regarding system demonstration and WAF. But I have to chime in and just point out that a well tuned system will provide such extraordinary dynamic range, that you can really give your system a good workout and still come in under the covers of the dreaded WAF. My first suggestion in this thread, TERMANATOR 3, is a very good example. This movie has a lot of subtle dialog, that with a good system is barely audible at more than normal conversation level through nothing but the center channel speaker. But when the action heats up, the whole house will start thumping with audible energy from all 5.1 speakers. Thus, I feel that a well recroded movie, FINDING NEMO or MEN IN BLACK II or TERMANATOR 3 will provide a great demo disc with very low conversations and mind numbing special effects in a well set up system. It is up to us, the owners and hobbyists, to make sure that the system is well set up so that a movie dosen't just blare all the way through, but instead provides a pleaseant mix of dynamics.

On another level, if you really want to impress a woman with your system, I highly recommend AN EVENING WITH THE DIXIE CHICKS on DVD. This disc is great, and the 5.1 DTS is phenomenal, a great workout for the musically inclined. In another vain entirelly, the LED ZEPPLIN DVD is great when you want to show your system off to some buddies that like to rock. This disc is by far the loudest, rockingest disc out there. For a nice quiet evening alone with your significant other, I highly recommend the DVD of A CONCERT FOR GEORGE. The DTS 5.1 is so beautiful, that it will bring everyone in the house to tears.

[michael_w]

The new THX intro thing at the beginning of Finding Nemo is great (just watched it yesterday). It combines the old thx intro with some new stuff that really gives you the feeling of being there.

[disneyjoe7]

The new THX intro thing at the beginning of Finding Nemo is great .


I know did you feel the COWs RUNNING:p

[pbc74]

Everyone, Thanks for all your suggestions. I'll have to check these movies out.

Question: When you guys mention the thx intros (ex. Finding Nemo), do you have to have a thx receiver to get the full effect?

[Dennis Gardner]

For the best 5.1 DD movie track that I have yet to experience,
Darkness Falls will simply blow your mind at near reference levels.

There hasn't been any that can come close to this. There are times that the use both front and back tracks together for some sounds while panning front to back with other sounds that truly make it sound as though items sounds are coming from areas beyond the normal depth of soundfields that other soundtracks show.

The movie itself is only fair in video, storyline and acting. Standard horror flick fare.

Rent it and turn it up loud and then come back here and let me know what you think, a "real diamond in the rough for surround"

Dennis

[pbc74]

thanks. I'm making a list of all the suggestions.

[ken brydson]

Originally posted by pbc74
Everyone, Thanks for all your suggestions. I'll have to check these movies out.

Question: When you guys mention the thx intros (ex. Finding Nemo), do you have to have a thx receiver to get the full effect?

No. Any DD or DTS works. Monsters Inc intro is my favorite. When the cows stampede you feel like you're in the middle of it all. Really cool :)

[disneyjoe7]

Sorry, was it Monster inc. not Finding Nemo with the COWs running? Must be getting older ;)

Anyway I think both are cool, I have both.

>>Monsters Inc intro is my favorite. When the cows stampede you feel like you're in the middle of it all. Really cool<<

[michael_w]

Sorry, was it Monster inc. not Finding Nemo with the COWs running? Must be getting older

lol ok cause i was wondering how i managed to miss that part in finding nemo :p

[jdhdiggs]

It was on the "finding nemo" full screen... (THX cow moo...)

[ken brydson]

Originally posted by jdhdiggs
It was on the "finding nemo" full screen... (THX cow moo...)

You're right. It was on Nemo but on the WS version, not full screen. I just watched both the intro's. Maybe some discs were different.

[hamzahsh]

I watched "UNDERWORLD" today, whole movie is a demo disc for the sub. Full of surround effects as well. Looks like I'm going to watch it over million times. The trailer itself is kick ass! Love the deep bass this movie has, which really kicks butt.:D

[therockman]

Your right Ken, some discs must be different. On my copy of FINDING NEMO the cows running are on the full screen version, not the widescreen.

[nemos2]

Another great couple of DVD's for what it is worth.

1. The fifth element superbit. This one will push your audio and video

2. Once upon a time in mexico is good as well. The first 30 min or so are really good with the guitar playing.

just my $0.02

[michael_w]

Your right Ken, some discs must be different. On my copy of FINDING NEMO the cows running are on the full screen version, not the widescreen.

Hey I just watched the ws version (the one with cows for me) and I didn't like it half as much as the other one where the thx thing breaks down and the robot fixes it.


1. The fifth element superbit. This one will push your audio and video

Yeah I forgot about the superbit one.... Heavy Metal has it as well.

[therockman]

I just picked up a DVD called OUTKAST THE VIDEOS. This DVD is great, and the discreet 5.1 surround sound mix is a killer demo for a well set-up system. If you want to test the integration of your sub with the other speakers, just play the song THE WAY YOU MOVE. The well mixed 5.1 version of this song will have your house rockin in a very tasteful and smooth way. For some real fun, the video of HEY YA is just great fun, very original.

[braveheart]

I can also add Titan A.E. to my list. WOW! I got this for $5.50 at Walmart and it rocks. The sound is incredible.