Fantasy/Sci-Fi

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Men In Black: International (PG-13)

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Men In Black: International (PG-13)

The franchise does more than proving that aliens can be cute and humorous with its bigger and more bombastic sound effects in this installment. It takes full advantage of today’s sound technologies to deliver crips and precise surround sound effects from the various types of whirring from guns and automobiles. Sound directionality is still exceptionally well-portrayed, even during fast-paced action sequences. You can hear the care taken in mixing intricate layers of sound that engages you through your surround channels. Energizing bass spreads across the floor with every explosion and signature MIB humor comes through with dazzling clarity that fits right in with its A-star cast.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐

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The Meg (PG-13)

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The Meg (PG-13)

Watch this on days when all you want to do is to submerge yourself in the sea of reliable surround sounds. Right off the bat, the movie will tease with its opening scene that showcases the punchy warm bass and immersive ambient claustrophobic pressure. It then swallows you whole with its revolving soundstage when you enter the deep ocean. Brillant spatial ambient details shine through physical surround speakers that are capable of picking up realistic high frequencies to depict the perfect day at sea. Overhead sounds from large crashing waves, and gigantic sea creatures enough additional dimension and pressure - just enough to keep you lusting for more. Nothing in this presentation overshines. Every detail seamlessly blends and works together to drown you in a sea of great surround sound.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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The Last Airbender (PG)

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The Last Airbender (PG)

Making full use of nature’s elements to showcase the level of sound fluidity from your surround system, The Last Airbender is definitely not one to be taken lightly. The seamless flow of atmospheric sounds are well-noted through your surround channels and accurately transforms your room’s life to suit the screen’s activity. Battles are portrayed with a dramatic flair of power and intensity to unlock the might of your subwoofer(s). Amour clashing and unleashing of each supernatural powers are not only outstandingly reproduced but, excellently layered on top of one another to provide an overall 3D soundscape.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Lord of The Rings Trilogy (PG-13)

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Lord of The Rings Trilogy (PG-13)

One trilogy to rule them all. Lord the Rings is definitely spatial surround reference material. Overhead to down below, there is no space that is left untouched in the array of sound sets that provides so much depth to create a 3D soundstage. Pay close attention to the dynamic changes in dialogue during the scenes with Smeagol and Gollum. Battle sequences are where your subwoofer(s) will shine with bass assaults from the earth-shaking roars and footsteps of the trolls. Fury from the Balrog will cap your surround bubble to ignite the life of the movie right into your living room. We say, giddy-up on your saddle for a journey to Middle-earth.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Lost in Space (TV-PG)

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Lost in Space (TV-PG)

SEASON 1 EPISODE 1 (01:18 - 06:00)

An excellent scene to test how clean as well as complete your surround sound system can sound. Pay attention to the crystal-clear dialog at the start, followed by a distinct beep coming from the left of you. Then, notice the subtle change in the crew’s voices as soon as they put on their space helmets. Next, there would be a very sudden loud, shocking crash that intensifies everything. Look out for the space debris that whiz past your ears.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐

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Okja (TV-MA)

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Okja (TV-MA)

Netflix’s first toe-dip in Dolby Atmos features a sonically delightfully immersion with a simple yet compelling storyline. Deliberate separation in sounds creates a lush soundscape environment that springs life to stir emotions in Okja’s fight. Every flicker, steps, and even breaths are programmed to envelop you into its finesse. Clarity in dialogues grips onto you with a desire to engage you. Environmental sounds splashes across with first-class details that intertwine with one another to fully display what Dolby Atmos can do.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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The Old Guard (R)

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The Old Guard (R)

(8:27 - 9:30) , (36:13 - 43:55)

Helicopter flying overhead? Check. Fight scene that circles around you? Check. The scenes listed are like your guide to what a good surround sound journey is like. Within the first 10 minutes of the movie, you will experience what it is like to be in a helicopter with a crew that has a deadly objective, with suspenseful music and the sound of helicopter rotors being perfectly translated into your room. Hear and feel the constant rumble and drone of the airplane in the background, as the cast engages in a heated exchange that quickly turns messy through your center channels. You will suddenly find yourself in the center of furious hand-to-hand combat action, with the sound of each blow being replicated to the T by your surround speakers. All this happens while adrenaline-pumping music thumps through your subwoofer(s) to inject the needed dose of excitement into the action.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Outside the Wire (R)

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Outside the Wire (R)

From the Studio that brought The Old Guard and Extraction, this movie is all about futuristic killer droids and military machines with deadly firepower and accuracy. The sound of heavy arms and metadors in all-out gunfights will excite and pound your house down through your subwoofers, with enough squelch effects and bloody fight scenes happening across all surround channels to make you squirm, as the futuristic droid takes every opportunity to show what it is truly capable of.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Pacific Rim (PG-13)

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Pacific Rim (PG-13)

Fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion will either hate or love this movie but, there is no denying that it features some of the best robot surround sounds. The clarity of the mechanical whirring and every creak shines though, regardless if it is merely programmed to be a background mood enhancement or designed to be the leader of your center channels’ show. With building-sized robots, of course, there will be larger-than-life battles that will test your subwoofer(s) ability to reproduce every ground-shaking fall and explosion accurately.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (PG-13)

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Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (PG-13)

No part of this soundtrack suggests dead. Penetrating depth of sounds can be observed in this installment of Pirates of the Caribbean. Lucid details of every frequency, be it high or low, demands for your attention in the most belligerent way possible, and all done without overshadowing one another. The exceptional separation of each sound detail virtually creates and sets the eeriness of the mood in perfect synchronization when Davy Jones plays his gothic piano during a turbulent storm at sea. Every “aye” is heard with pinpoint definition and echoes are delivered with realistic sound vigor that seamlessly travels from one speaker to the next.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Ready Player One (PG-13)

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Ready Player One (PG-13)

A community favorite, this movie is no stranger to surround movie buffs! It features EVERYTHING a surround sound fan can ever ask for – plus, a healthy dose of nostalgia that firms this film as a classic surround sounds movie go-to! The VR car racing scene that Wade competes in literally had us bopping our heads to the “Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – I Hate Myself for Loving You “whilst, marveling at the whirring vehicle transformation from the surround speakers. Background revving is noticeable clear in their respective distances and as the cityscape transforms, your surround speakers will highlight all the motions while your subwoofer(s) will play complement in the final thump, before the gun fires from top-down to signify the start of the race. Motors speeding and revving will drift around you and cause literal goosebumps. Listen up for the familiar clinking sounds of coins collection from arcade games and feel King Kong’s wrath filling your floor with warm undistorted bass

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker (PG-13)

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Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker (PG-13)

This delivers exemplary surround audio in J.J. Abrams’s attempt to conclude decades worth of the Star Wars universe. Apart from the signature sound effects that we love from their plasma-powered lightsabers, this movie serves up an additional challenge for your surround system through Rey’s and Kylo Ren’s high energy lightsaber battle in the midst of a howling thunderstorm. Environmental sounds and sparks from the clashing lightsabers are clearly transmitted through the surround speakers, turning your living room into the battle scene. Leaving no channels idle, the thunderous thuds made by both are noticeable through your subwoofer(s) even with huge crashing waves stealing the spotlight.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Stranger Things (TV-14)

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Stranger Things (TV-14)

SEASON 3 EPISODE 1 (00:00 - 05:00)

This scene has everything and will put your sound system to the ultimate test. At the start, the intense music, workers walking intently with fast, heavy footsteps and echo create a spacious soundscape, making you feel like you are in the middle of an immense basement compound with the anxiety that something devastating is about to happen. As the reactor powers up, you will hear a cacophony of ear-splitting screeches, static, electric shocks and metallic clanks that gradually build up to an epic explosion, pushing all speakers and subwoofers in your sound system to overdrive. Watch this at your own risk.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Terminator 2: Judgement Day (R)

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Terminator 2: Judgement Day (R)

Not many sequels will live up to its predecessor, much less to say, surpass it. This is one that surpasses it. Close-shaved motorcycle chase scenes that have you on the edge on your seat, and various morphing sound effects, are just the tip of the iceberg. With Arnold Schwarzenegger fronting this, expect larger-than-life explosions that will showcase its weight as it punches straight to your chest. Endless rounds from an array of firearms will not only make sure you have your fill of bullets whizzing by you (and might have you say, Hasta la vista, baby!) but also, marvel at your surround speakers’ dynamic capabilities.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Transformers: Dark of the Moon (PG-13)

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Transformers: Dark of the Moon (PG-13)

Proving once again that oversized robots are exemplary in displaying a variety of surround effects, Dark of The Mood, is both a treat to the eyes and ears. Clarity in dialogues is perhaps best shown when Bumblebee speaks. The varying change of frequencies in pitch and tone from the numerous radio channels never fails to surprise us. Every effect - from the overhead aircraft to the robot bugs crawling, takes its rightful channel positions to fully absorb you into the action. The epic fight between the Autobots and Decepticons will utilize every audio channel available to produce dazzling ambient details that round every destruction. With massive explosions that are not afraid to show its might through your subwoofer(s), we ask that you keep an eye on the frames on your wall.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Umbrella Academy (TV-14)

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Umbrella Academy (TV-14)

OPENING SCENE

A full array of surround effects is packed within 7 minutes of this Netflix Original series. You will first be greeted with narration in the frontal array while your surround speakers pace itself, producing various background effects to complement. Oldies classics then take centerstage with every other sound (dialogues, overhead rain, and background chatters) are stunningly reproduced. In the final minutes, your subwoofer(s) will come right in with resounding bass impacts from the explosions while bullets ricochet all around you to cradle you in a surround bed of sound effects.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Upgrade (R)

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Upgrade (R)

Directional sound cues take centerstage in this wildly imaginative sci-fi film. Tightly coordinated ambient effects such as the delicate whirring of highly sophisticated chipsets and drones overhead latch onto your ears to propel your listening experience. To further grip your attention, the movie introduces potent bass effects from gun blasts and explosions that will have you surrender to its warm reverberation and adds weight to the gory visual cues. Fatal squelches are delivered disturbing clear. Motion in fight scenes are swift enough to take your breath away from the edge of your couch.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

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Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (PG-13)

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Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (PG-13)

OPENING SCENE

Boasting beautiful sci-fi cinematography, the opening sequence of this movie’s surround sound is just as beautifully arranged. David Bowie lends his voice with a rendition of his song, “Space Oddity” being played through your stereo channels. Basking in his limelight through your ambient speakers are the flying satellites that emerge from the side, as well as other intricate sounds from space crafts and beeping alarms. Despite not heavily relying on your main channels, every sound effect and detail emitting from the surround speakers grab your ears’ attention with its utmost clarity. Tiny bell chimes and rings will draw your space travel to an end, together with David Bowie’s voice fading into the distance.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Warrior Nun (TV-MA)

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Warrior Nun (TV-MA)

SEASON 1 EPISODE 10 (19:33 - 24:19)

Loosely based on a 90s comic book, this Netflix Original does not disappoint with its surround sounds. In the final episode of S1, you will be transported to the middle of an ongoing Medieval fight where weapons clanking and horse neighs will greet you upon arrival. Grunts, wails, and slashes will leave its mark on your surround speakers. Scenes with purposefully slowed down motion of heavy weaponry such as waving of ax mid-air and grunts will allow you to listen to every detail of the sound trail before a shriek sneaks up on your center channels and a high-pitched ringing sound takes over from your side channels' initial track.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐

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The Witcher (TV-MA)

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The Witcher (TV-MA)

SEASON 1 EPISODE 8 (28:26 - 30:20)

A sword showdown is one of the better ways to test your surround sound system due to the unique, sharp, ringing sound effects that come with it. Without much background music and chatters, this showdown allows you to soak in every micro intricacy of swordplay; the drawing of swords from their sheaths, to every clink and clank of the blades meeting and resisting one another. Hear the directions of swords wielding round your surround speakers and listen for the amplified motion movement in the air.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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