Top 5(10) DVDs to challenge new system

[HTnewbie]

Finally getting around to set up a new HT in our new home. I have purchased many of our favorite movies & show compilation on DVD over the years but have mostly watched them on older 27-30" CRTs or on a circa 1994 RCA 60" RPTV (don't laugh, cutting edge back then and it still works well for the kids).

Anyway, wondering what would be your list of best DVDs to challenge and/or showcase the audio and video of a new system?

Also, what calibration disks (audio or video) would you not be without?

[DTS]

I'll throw out my choices:

1. Master & Commander
2. U 571
3. Spiderman 2 - SuperBit
4. Throw in some Pixar movies
5. All the Star Wars movies

Hard to limit to 5

[HTnewbie]

Love M&C but on 27" CRT with internal speakers it should be criminal.

U571 - the latest version?

No LoTR?

[Leprkon]

1. for seperation across the front- the A10 napalm attack in Courage Under Fire (the F18 missing man flyover at the end is really good too)
2. for seperation front to back- Pale Rider. Michael Moriarity digs in with a shovel at front left, and you hear the dirt hit behind you right rear
3. for really cool action, StarGate. The first flyer attack scene is pretty awesome. It also takes a really good system to make James Spader sound like much more than just mumble..
4. Highlander (TV series) season 4, show 1. the vocalist on the song in the middle of the show is incredible
5. any of the Mortal Combat movies (stupid yes, but they put alot of effort into the sound)

[big deal]

We Were Soldiers is one of my favotires to test with. The scene where they are calling in air strikes and taking heavy fire will give your system a workout. The Matrix trilogy does a good job as well.

[clt1bkc]

Pearl Harbor Chapter 24 the planes fill like they are flying over your head. From the back to the front of the speakers. The bass blowing up the ships is great. I use this DVD and chapter to show why I don't go to the movies anymore! :)

[jordanny]

Try 'Independence Day'. The scene where the alien spaceship's shadow moves across the moon made my huge clock fall off the wall, hit my mantle, flip over and land on the floor! All I could say was "Cool..." :D

[Rob Babcock]

Unforgiven, the Clint Eastwood film, has very clear & concise surround effects and some very cool thunderstorm sounds. The Extended Directors Cuts of the entire LotR trilogy is phenomenal sounding, too. The Red Violin sports a superb sounding soundtrack, much of it played by Joshua Bell. Jason X is a fun slasher/comedy with some eyesocket-rattling bass. Master & Commander: On the Far Side of the World is a fine film with a great soundtrack, and The 13th Warrior also has a fantastic soundstage with great effects.

[JohnA]

I just watched King Arthur (2004) last night and I must say that the film will soon become a classic. (A very new and possible "true/historical" origin of Arthur. The battle scenes are wonderful and on a system that is set up good the audio was great.

5th Element

Matrix (first one) Lobby scene

M&C

Band of Brothers

13th. Warrior

Hero

The Blind Swordsman (just a good, fun movie)

Ronin

Kill Bill V.1

And another few just for fun: Bubba Ho-Tep....If you haven't seen it...go rent it! Boondock Saints, Big Fish


That's my $0.02

[Jota]

Finally getting around to set up a new HT in our new home. I have purchased many of our favorite movies & show compilation on DVD over the years but have mostly watched them on older 27-30" CRTs or on a circa 1994 RCA 60" RPTV (don't laugh, cutting edge back then and it still works well for the kids).

Anyway, wondering what would be your list of best DVDs to challenge and/or showcase the audio and video of a new system?

Also, what calibration disks (audio or video) would you not be without?

#1. Underworld (DTS version is awesome and Dolby Digital is still excellent)
#2. Lotr The Two Towers

;)

[Zarg]

]
4. Highlander (TV series) season 4, show 1. the vocalist on the song in the middle of the show is incredible


Another HLTS fan? I've been delaying purchasing the DVDs because I blew so much $$ on the videos ... but I love the show!

[Leprkon]

Another HLTS fan? I've been delaying purchasing the DVDs because I blew so much $$ on the videos ... but I love the show!

I'd say it was much better than the movies but that would still be very faint praise... I liked it alot more than X-files, but then I work for the Government so I'm not much of a Chris Carter fan ;) .. One more season still to get. :)

[Rob Babcock]

I'd say it was much better than the movies but that would still be very faint praise... I liked it alot more than X-files, but then I work for the Government so I'm not much of a Chris Carter fan ;) .. One more season still to get. :)

Hey, now! :mad: You can diss the sequels, but the original rocked! No way the series can touch that! :D

I've succeeded in blotting out the memory of #2 & #4, though! :p

[Leprkon]

Hey, now! :mad: You can diss the sequels, but the original rocked! No way the series can touch that! :D

I've succeeded in blotting out the memory of #2 & #4, though! :p

Consider the sequels dissed... :p

[Rob Babcock]

You gotta love the first one. You have a french actor playing a scotsman, a Scottish actor playing an Egyptian/Spaniard and an American playing a Russian! :p The Queen soundtrack puts it over the top!

[Leprkon]

I just watched King Arthur (2004) last night and I must say that the film will soon become a classic. (A very new and possible "true/historical" origin of Arthur. The battle scenes are wonderful and on a system that is set up good the audio was great.
$0.02

It surprised me how many people who loved Excalibur didn't like this movie. I personally thought it was pretty much equal to Excalibur as a movie (since I wasn't there and don't know which version was real- Gene can ya fill us in ?? :p ) and was far better than other period films like Gladiator and the Patriot.

The ice cracking scene in particular has some awesome sound.

[Zarg]

You gotta love the first one. You have a french actor playing a scotsman, a Scottish actor playing an Egyptian/Spaniard and an American playing a Russian! :p The Queen soundtrack puts it over the top!

Highlander #1 is a totally fun movie. I still watch it! I was a nut for the series, however. While at times uneven and wooden, it still offered some great character continuity. If folks are into TV series DVDs, I would recommend HLTS.

But I'd recommend Babylon 5 even more. :D

Regards!

[Rob Babcock]

Highlander #1 is a totally fun movie. I still watch it! I was a nut for the series, however. While at times uneven and wooden, it still offered some great character continuity. If folks are into TV series DVDs, I would recommend HLTS.

But I'd recommend Babylon 5 even more. :D

Regards!

Hey! Have you been rumaging around in my movie rack!? :p

[Clint DeBoer]

Highlander #1 is a totally fun movieHaha... "There can be only one... or two... Hey, we have to keep this going somehow!"

[jmgillespie]

A few favorites: Man on Fire, Resident Evil, Equilibrium, Fight Club, Kill Bill (really anything by QT). Oh ya and of course Saving Private Ryan.

[Francious70]

I was watching U-571 tonight and the scene where the resurface in front of the destroyer was awesome. The Germans were shooting the deck cannons at the sub and in the middle of all the noise, I see my center channel fall off the top of my tv. All I could say was, "DAMN!!! That was cool." Paused the movie, rehooked everything, duck-taped the speaker to the top of the tv, rewound the movie about a minute, and kept on going.

Paul

[dloweman]

Some of my favorites are:
U571 - the depth charges, and squeeks in the submarine make it so
real and intense
Matrix - the original has some great parts, the lobby scene and the helicopter
scenes are great
Lion King - yah its a kids movie, but the picture quality is great, the songs are
amazing and there is a part in the elephant graveyard that shakes
the house
Rounders - Okay, so not the best for Home Theatre, but Matt Damon is
awesome, a must watch for any texas hold 'em poker fan
Finding Nemo - Again, great video, and cool when the fish swim to each
speaker, and when darla taps on the fish bowl it made my
door shake.
Just a few that haven't really been mentioned yet, other than U571!

[mcwilson]

In no particular order:

For Audio:

Jurrasic Park - The T-Rex scene is always great to watch.
Matrix Reloaded - Swarm of Smiths scene. This on clipped my rx-v2400 so much, I had to upgrade to separates!
The Dream is Alive (IMAX) - Shuttle re-entry with sonic boom and first Shuttle Launch
U-571 - First scene with all the depth charges
Saving Private Ryan - First scene - storming the beach

For Video:
Coral Reef Adventure (IMAX)
Cold Mountain
The Magic of Flight (IMAX)
Gladiator - (could be in either section - audio or video)

[howie85]

plane explosion on fight club was good.

[Johnny Canuck]

I just saw Master and Commander last night for the first time and I have to say the canons going off and the ensuing explosions is the best thing I have heard to date. Those cannons are felt , not just heard. Breathtaking and scary... Saving Private Ryan was at the top of my list until last night. I also think the scene in Pearl Harbour where the Japs start dropping bombs is top notch.

[Sleestack]

I highly recommend Ghost in the Shell 2. Great animation and a superb DVD for testing your surround sound system.

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

This gets asked so many times that people should just post their favorite system demo's in their 'signature'.

Slightly different question: I have several DVDs that I like to use select parts of to use as a Demo (examples: LOTR:FOTR "escape from Moria", Kill Bill "showdown at the house of blue leaves", Matrix Revolutions "Final Neo/Smith fight", so on and so on).

Is there any computer software that would allow me to copy select chapters from multiple DVDs to make one DVD-R "mix tape", and allow me to keep the 5.1 audio? I own all of the DVDS in question and certainly do not intend to use this to pirate anything, but all the DVD burning software I currently know-of only allows a 2.0 audio track, and whats a good DVD demo-mix withoutits full 5.1 sound?!

[Die Hard Yammy]

The entire Indiana Jones trilogy can be pretty demanding at times for any system. IMO
Bad Boys II superbit: Phenominal in the car chase scene
Terminator II: the scene with the mini-gun and the building blows up is A1.
Cliffhanger: The first scene with the chopper moving all around you is demanding BASS wise.
Top Gun 6.1 DTS ex: All the air combat scenes aswell as music, AWSOME!
Gladiator (i'm suprised no-one's said it) The first fight at the coloseum has big bass with the chariots and the fight against TITUS with the tigers has awsome high's with the swords clashing!

These are all I could think of off the top of my head!

[Buckeyefan 1]

The Haunting - will bring tears to your eyes. Hard to find.

Need For Speed 1 - the street race scene. Turn it up. Great highs and bass. Also some great tunes in the so so flick.

Isn't it great impressing friends with your new HT system? I love the thread where the guy lost his clock off the wall! Those SVS and HSU subs must be causing a ton of damage!!!

[Triplicate]

This gets asked so many times that people should just post their favorite system demo's in their 'signature'.

Slightly different question: I have several DVDs that I like to use select parts of to use as a Demo (examples: LOTR:FOTR "escape from Moria", Kill Bill "showdown at the house of blue leaves", Matrix Revolutions "Final Neo/Smith fight", so on and so on).

Is there any computer software that would allow me to copy select chapters from multiple DVDs to make one DVD-R "mix tape", and allow me to keep the 5.1 audio? I own all of the DVDS in question and certainly do not intend to use this to pirate anything, but all the DVD burning software I currently know-of only allows a 2.0 audio track, and whats a good DVD demo-mix withoutits full 5.1 sound?!

There is great freeware software to handle your DVD needs. Visit www.Doom9.org.

Get DVDshrink and DVD Decrypter for starters and follow the "Guides" on the website. There is a lot to learn but it's all here.

[JP_Silver_S2k]

TOP GUN: DTS-ES 6.1 edition
GLADIATOR: DTS 6.1 Edition
KILL BILL VOL:1 (DTS TRACK)
THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: DTS (bad movie, but great zoning the engine sounds are great)
BAD BOYS II: Superbit
LOTR Trilogy: DTS

Pretty much any movie with DTS sounds great (DTS Being better than dolby digital)

[vega ls-12]

stir of echoes-some of the best surround effects-dts
terminator 2
predator-dts
last of the mohicans-dts
paycheck

[krzywica]

Definetly Chronicles of Riddick, also;

Underworld
Master and Commander
The Incredibles (believe it or not) :eek:
Saving Private Ryan

[Leprkon]

A good video stress test is the recent version of Resident Evil. All those little computer read-outs way out at the edges (where your TV is least sensitive) is a good way to compare resolutions.