Best Sound in Movies

[crashguy]

What do you think of comparing best sound effects in movies?

Here's my list:
- Best Bass in a movie - Pearl Harbor - Oklahoma Explosion of battery
- Best Overall Sound Quality - Top Gun (new 6.1 ed)
- Best use of the Surround Speakers - Rules of engagement beginning battle sequence

What are your favorites in these or other categories of sound??

 

[Leprkon]

One that has some surprisingly great sound is Thirteen Ghosts.

 

[zyepod]

I do like Pearl Harbor, and would like to see Top Gun 6.1... I like Master and Commander. In this movie not only will the Cannon sounds rock your room, but you can hear the wood chips flying all over the ship when they are hit. You can hear the men running on the upper deck... great to me. Another is Return of the Kings 6.1 DTS the sound really moves around the room...

 

[crashguy]

Yes, Master and Commander had great sound. I actually own that one, and I should have added it to my list as well. The cannon fire is incredibly realistic, complete with the "BINGGGGG" sound of the cannon as it fires. Great sound design on that movie.

 

[20to20K]

Spiderman 2...the operating room scene with Doc Oct was amazing on my
Polk LSi's and Velodyne sub. My 12 year old was terrified...more for the sound than the images. OK...I admit, I was a little bothered as well...

The train battle scene had great sound as well...

Unexpectedly the sound on Fahrenheit 9/11 was pretty intense as well.
Not the best I've ever heard, but wasn't expecting much in way of sound
from a documentary was was pleasently surprised!

 

[Peppy]

There so many excellent soundtrack in the past 2 year...but the most recent one...Master&Commander should be one in the best 3 off every one. The first few moment, when the sailor walk inside the ship, if I close my eyes I can almost fell the ship sailing, if it would last a bit more long it miss only the smell of warm, wet wood ......and I would be sea sick!

 

[dr.sound]

Peppy,
Yes "Master and Commander" was a very fine mix. As a matter of fact that mix won an award at "The Cinema Audio Society" last year. Go to the C.A.S. webpage here to read up about what Mixers of these movies think about what is an award winning mix.
Here is a link: http://www.cinemaaudiosociety.com/

There are pictures and some good reading about the C.A.S.
The C.A.S. is having a banquet next month (Feb) and the ballots are out to our members for voting to see what the 5 best sounding movies are. That 5 will then be narrowed down to 1 winner. I will post here some more information about who the nominees are.

Marti D. Humphrey C.A.S.
Secretary of The Cinema Audio Society

 

[Peppy]

I am happy that I'm not good enough to be one of the judge on that type of panel. Choosing the best one in so many well craft soundtrack movie would tear me apart. It's depend so much on how good the equipment you have on hand but also the characteristic\type of the movie play a big role. For example a Sci-Fi type movie can bring in 10 minutes a lots more possibility to than a drama type movie that last 90 minute, and yet the few passage in a drama movie "could" be the best soundtrack.

Cheer and good luck !

 

[WorkerBee]

Hard for me to say "the" best but Spiderman 2 is good when he shot that web...........it "sounded" sticky. During that new movie IRobot.....man, it seemed like the sub really didn't stop pounding through the whole movie.. What Zye said about the cannon thing...holy cow you could hear the cannonball coming towards you before it came crashing through the walls of the ship and when it did, get ready to dodge the splinters. Peppy mentioned "feeling" the ship sailing and the wood creaking and rocking back and forth just as if you were there.

 

[squid413]

The matrix lobby scene is a good scene for audio.

 

[zipper]

I'm not much for animateds but the "Lion King" has some great sound to it. Also the gunfight at the end of "Open Range" is spectacular. Not just the gunshots themselves but the way they seem to echo..........."Independence Day" is pretty cool but I think it could have been better.

Has anyone seen the original "Star Wars" since it came out on DVD?

 

[HoneyMan]

The Punisher sounds awesome. I'm yet to listen to it with my 5.1 setup but in 2.1 it was amazing.Starwars Episode II is the best Ive heard in 5.1 however.

I'm going to rent Master & Commander, Pearl Harbour, Alien Ressurection, Pirates of the Caribbean and Enemy at the Gates as I have a feeling these movies will sound good.

Can I just say that LotR ROTK was extremely disapointing. So many places they could have added deeper bass and rear sound effect but didnt.

 

[BOTTLEDZ28]

I really like the beach invasion in Saving Private Ryan. Im surprised that no one has mentioned that movie

 

[sab30]

Heat - the gunfight in the street will make you duck under the sofa!!

SAB

 

[HookedOnSound]

I really like the beach invasion in Saving Private Ryan. Im surprised that no one has mentioned that movie

I conquer.

The opening sceen gave me chills - i had goosebumps when I heard it on my brother-in-laws surround setup. It the way the bullets were 'zipping' by.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

My list, in no particular order would include:

-Pearl Harbour (especially the part when the bombs start dropping)

-Top Gun 6.1. (Rear centre. Enough said.)

-Black Hawk Down (superbit is a little better)

-
-Saving Private Ryan (DTS version of course. Bullets zinging by in the rear surrounds, and zinging through the water. I particularily like when the sound comes from underwater, to above water, then back under...awesome...Not the best picture quality as it was meant to be grainy and grey)

-Master and Commander (the first battle scene when the cannons go off...blew my sub, had to buy a new one...and the people running up the stairs and on the decks above...so real it was amazing!)

-Braveheart. My all time favorite movie. I would like to see a DTS version, but the 5.1 is still good.

-Lion King (someone mentioned this and I agree. Especially for setting up the center channel. Very clear dialogue. And the stampede scene really rumbles the room)

-Eagles Hell Freezes Over. Still used as the DVD to really show off to my friends.

I tend to buy more music DVD's as I can only watch a movie so many times, and music DVD's let you see the picture too. Some recent purchases that I really find of high sound quality are AC/DC Live at Donnington, AC/DC Family Jewels, Led Zeppelin (double DVD), Sarah McLachlan Afterglow Live, Pink Floyd The Wall movie, Nickelback The Videos (awesome 2 channel) .

JC

 

[tmanasa]

1. War of the Worlds (2005)
2. Touch the Sound
3. Transformers
4. The Incredibles
5. The Exorcism of Emily Rose

I wrote up a detailed review of these movies for sound on my blog for those interested. If the #5 choice looks weird it's because Emily Rose is infinitely more scary will a well calibrated system.

http://directionanddiapause.blogspot.com/2008/02/top-5-movies-for-sound.html

 

[The Chukker]

Surprised "The Incredibles" didn't make this list -- talk about inspired sound design and it's "only" DD. Saving Private Ryan was pretty good, but you need to watch Band of Brothers to see how what they learned (in terms of sound design) really paid off in their subsequent project -- the sound of the MG42 going off at night in the episode of "Crossroads" is eerily realistic.
If you are looking to give your subs and surrounds a great workout check out the two animated movies Ghost in the Shell; they are expertly mixed with lots of ambient stuff going on in the background, not just gunshots.

 

[Sheep]

Surprised "The Incredibles" didn't make this list -- talk about inspired sound design and it's "only" DD. Saving Private Ryan was pretty good, but you need to watch Band of Brothers to see how what they learned (in terms of sound design) really paid off in their subsequent project -- the sound of the MG42 going off at night in the episode of "Crossroads" is eerily realistic.
If you are looking to give your subs and surrounds a great workout check out the two animated movies Ghost in the Shell; they are expertly mixed with lots of ambient stuff going on in the background, not just gunshots.

I have the complete 10 disk box set sitting beside me as I type this. Great series. I hear there is going to be another one.

SheepStar

 

[Geno]

Another one that impressed me was The Patriot. The cannon fire in that one literally blew stuff off my walls.