[hump]

Which 5 films should I buy to prove to my wife and grown-up kids that the money was well-spent?

I want lots of whizzing around, explosions and 3D HD effects flying around the room. Some good music too. Oh and fantastic quality visuals are a must!

What will really blow them away?

I'm aware this is slightly off-topic but I wasn't sure where to post. Feel free to shift it but thought it would make for an interesting discussion for all you amp fans!

[dicklodge]

Spiderman 3 Blueray is one I use as a sort of test disc, The bit towards the beginning, where the guy gets de-molecuralised is a good test for your sub and various action scenes troughout have great surround effects.

[UPLOADER]

Ghost rider and Star trek thats what I use to show off my kit

[spearce8]

Also, if you want the Family to see Blu is just not for the modern films, try Zulu, for a film that's over 40yrs old, it could have been made yesterday, Dr No is another that stands out.

[tele1962]

Try: Baraka.
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind.
2001 A Space Odyssey.
The Dark Night.
Planet Earth.
Wall-E.

[Dubliner1]

Bee Movie- fantastic picture quality in 1.78:1 so it fills up the whole screen (no black bars on a 16:9 display) so the colorful animation is really striking.

[Blue Triangles]

Monsters Inc - fantastic in both audio and video departments. It makes excellent use of the rears.

[hippo99]

For big explosions, you have to get Transformers & Transformers2 (IMAX edition if possible). No other film in my collection has as big explosions.

The Dark Knight, Blade Runner & Planet Earth for jaw dropping picture quality.
Any Pixar film as well, as they are flawless.

For your wife, you should definitely get the Wizard of Oz Blu-ray Review: The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition | High-Def Digest
After she watches that, she'll never doubt you ever again

[shil]

Black Hawk Down.
Underwold Evolution (PCM version)
Heat - Downtown shootout

[Wesleynettleton]

The Fall, Amazing quality

[lgans316]

Live action

Incredible Hulk
Man on Fire
I,Robot
Knowing
King Kong
Transformers
Select scenes from Seabiscuit
Deja Vu
Speed Racer

Animation

Any PIXAR flick
Kung Fu Panda

[hump]

thanks a lot, guys. plenty to keep me going there!

[robfosters]

I would recommend Braveheart as well. Great PQ and a superb thumping soundtrack.

[twelvemonkeys]

I've just watched the Iron Man blu for the first time, and can highly recommend that, both for visuals and audio. Stunning.

[mooperman]

The Dark Knight above everything else, the iMax scenes are fantastic.

Quantum of Solace for SQ on the opening car chase.

Band of Brothers boxset for stunning audio, battle scenes are awesome.

Wall:E also amazing in all aspects.

Transformers (1st one - 2nd is total pap imo!) for all round great PQ, SQ and the movies not half bad as well.

[mckee74]

Hellboy 2. Looks lovely even before you even think of the PQ. A great disc.

[Stoatman]

Knowing , watched it really loud last night and its insane in parts !!! OMG

[smitsa]

The Forbidden Kingdom,amazing pic and sound quality! It's a film the kids will enjoy,it mixes fantasy with martial arts and works very well imo.

There are some outstanding bass moments and one especially towards the end of the film managed to bottom out my monolith,no damage fortunately!

[Racquel Darrian]

I go for the killer scene in Rambo or the tank scene in The Incredible Hulk.

[stoplis]

The best discs I've found would be:
Transformers 2: IMAX Version - The actual film isn't very good, but the picture and audio quality is superb.
Blade Runner - It's really amazing what they have done with it. The picture and sound quality is better than most modern blu-ray releases.
Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy - Brilliant films and they look and sound fantastic.
The Matrix Trilogy - Whether you get this or just the first film you will love the quality.
The Thing - Like Blade Runner they did an amazing job with it. It also amazing how well the special effects hold up.

[^TANK^]

Braveheart

Sin City

Blade Runner

Starship Troopers

Cars

[tele1962]

I know i mentioned this before but Baraka is truely out of this world for demo material.

[Leumas_10]

Originally Posted by tele1962

I know i mentioned this before but Baraka is truely out of this world for demo material.

It is great looking. But I'm not sure it's a film I'd put on, sit the wife and kids infront of, and expect them to understand why I'd spunked this years xmas money on AV gear .

Rambo from a few posts up is a good shout, mainly because it may well shock the wife into never going near your set-up again - win.

[PezzMonkey]

For me some of the best visuals come from the discs that aren't films. As High-Definition is supposed to be "like looking through a window", some directors et al choose to put all kinds of filters and post-production visual trickery over that crystal clear window which can tarnish the realism. Depending on what you and the family are into, some sporting and concert blu's to me are truly amazing. As an example WWE Wrestlemania 24 (sorry for this) looks absolutely "real". As it's an open-air event, when night falls and all the pyro, lighting and screens are blazing it looks amazing. Obviously this kind of disc isn't to everyones tastes UFC stuff is also excellent.

Would also like to join the consenus by saying Knowing looks and sounds brilliant. Ratatouille for me personally is my favourite looking Pixar on Blu (The Paris skyline shots look warm and vibrant with plenty of depth and detail). Coraline is a good animated as well, although not a big fan of the film. And yes Transformers 2 IMAX

[hump]

Originally Posted by Leumas_10

It is great looking. But I'm not sure it's a film I'd put on, sit the wife and kids infront of, and expect them to understand why I'd spunked this years xmas money on AV gear .

Rambo from a few posts up is a good shout, mainly because it may well shock the wife into never going near your set-up again - win.

Here's a man who totally understands the question I posed!
It's all about superficial whizzbangs - first impressions and all that. They have to be good enough to justify the cost.

I'm still working on how I go about explaining that the setup forms her xmas pressie as well as mine...

[Beany31]

Transformers
Transformers 2 IMAX edition
iRobot
G.I Joe Rise of the Cobra
Wall-E
Ratatouille
Quantum of Solace
The Dark Knight

Pick 5 out of that

[simonblue]

Originally Posted by hump

Here's a man who totally understands the question I posed!
It's all about superficial whizzbangs - first impressions and all that. They have to be good enough to justify the cost.

I'm still working on how I go about explaining that the setup forms her xmas pressie as well as mine...

Then i say
Kung Fu Panda
Blackhawk Down
Darknight
Up

[bobbymax]

second Dark night also Batman begins

Master & commander

blade Runner

planet Earth

[bobbymax]

Originally Posted by mooperman

The Dark Knight above everything else, the iMax scenes are fantastic.

Quantum of Solace for SQ on the opening car chase.

Band of Brothers boxset for stunning audio, battle scenes are awesome.

Wall:E also amazing in all aspects.

Transformers (1st one - 2nd is total pap imo!) for all round great PQ, SQ and the movies not half bad as well.

Seconded Dark night

and especially Band of brothers..........Brilliant

also Planet Earth is great

[Cooney]

Public enemies is a great film with stunning PQ and SQ. One of my favourites so far.

Some other suggestions are:-

'The Good the Bad and the Weird'
'The Watchmen'
'Sin City'
..and for sports fans... 'All the goals of the world cup'