What starts out as fun and games quickly becomes dangerous as three high school students develop uncanny telekinetic powers beyond their understanding. Throughout this movie, you can hear loud heart-thumping bass from your subwoofer(s), which can be very authoritative and wall-rattling. One will definitely feel like being in the middle of a war zone when your surround speakers generate a wide and expansive soundstage with well-prioritized vocals and flawless terrific clarity during the pandemonium!
The Dark Knight (PG-13)
The Dark Knight brings a greatly scored masterpiece coming from Hans Zimmer, with the movie winning an Oscar for "Best Achievement in Sound Editing". Hear the crackling gun sounds in their harsh and raw form firing past your living room space through your surround sound system, and be immersed in the bright and abrasive visuals. With the roar of the Batmobile (literally) and music delivered from the movie bringing the on-screen action to life, "The Dark Knight" is a must-listen on your sound system.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Justice League (PG-13)
An epic movie remake made just for DC Fans, this movie contains the full vision that Zack Synder had for Justice League. With the entire movie done to Synder's taste, this remake is sure to pound your house down with superhero wooshes that fly past your surround channels, dramatic music and intense all-out battles. The weekends are the best time to sit back and enjoy the epic soundscape from this 4 hour long filled with non-stop action superhero adventure!
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
47 Ronin (PG-13)
Inspired by Japanese folklore, this diamond in the dark definitely deserves a place on your Blu-ray mantle. Embracing true Japanese spirit, it showcases a variety of tactfully programmed surround sound effects that will give your surround speakers a run for their money. Every mystical transformation provides excellent directionality that lingers long enough for you to discern the discrete separation of each channel. Background dialogues in crowd heavy scenes are realistically rendered while the thunderous thumps from the beasts flood the floor of your soundstage with warm resounding bass.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
2012 (PG-13)
With an apocalypse-based storyline, fans of big-screen spectacle, this is definitely your cup of tea (or bucket of popcorn). Courtesy from your surround speakers and subwoofer(s), every disaster you can possibly imagine is accurately brought into your living room. Word-perfect dialogues flow through your center channels with no signs of strain amidst the demolition-heavy ambient sounds. Collapsing building, sinking roads and explosions give your subwoofer(s) a run for their money in rendering every realistic bass treble. With so much bang going on, the convincing visual effects remain strictly in synchronization with the sounds, creating a lifelike experience of what an actual apocalypse could possibly feel like.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
The 5th Wave (PG-13)
Sci-fi dystopian enthusiasts, this is for you. In this adaptation of the New York Times Bestseller, you will notice an active mix of dynamic range that tickles your surround system throughout the movie. The interesting bit is that, at each wave, a featured dynamic will command your soundscape. It lays itself as a bed for the next star ambient effect to layer on top, creating an almost tactile depth of sound. The cherry right on top is the overhead sound elements that pressurize and that ticks the experiential box as the intensity builds. Clean bass impacts from your subwoofer(s) command presence through resonating across your floor to further engage you in the on-screen visual.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
A Quiet Place (PG-13)
(42:00 - 55:00), (1:19:00 - 1:24:00)
Who would have expected a movie based on being quiet to have so much sound. Get ready for some jump scares as noise-sensitive creatures are hungry for humans. The first recommended scene is super intense, where you will hear spine-tingling screeches of the creature from all directions very abruptly, as it tries to hunt a lady in her home. Soon afterward, you will hear whistles and explosions from behind you, as the family tries to distract the creature with noise to make it go away. In the second recommended scene, one of the characters attempts to agitate the creature's sensitive hearing by playing a high-pitched feedback noise, which is reproduced by all surround speakers, truly putting the high-frequency reproduction capabilities of your surround speakers to the test.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Avengers: End Game (PG-13)
This tribute piece to Marvel's 10th year in the cinematic universe – (and also, the fastest and highest gross blockbuster to date!) is nothing short of good surround sounds. You will be fully transported to the center of every action. Very delicate yet noticeable ambient sounds, even in non-action driven sequence immerses you further into the movie. While your subwoofer(s) will surely perform at its peak and possibly, rattle your walls and couch with every earth-shattering explosion, we encourage you to also listen out for the sound of falling debris that emanates through your surround speakers. The enchanting and electrifying superpower sound effects reproduced across all directions will swaddle you into the heat of the battle. Sound effects are so realistic that you could possibly have a taste of how it is like to be Iron Man in his suit whenever he communicates with Friday. Unique to this installment is also how the emotional aspect is communicated with sounds – with soft grunts, heaves, sighs and even dragging footsteps that reinforces the humanity of even the worst monster.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Avatar (PG-13)
This movie’s audio is just every bit of impressive against all their numerous awards in production and visual effects. As Jack makes his first foray into the Pandora as an Avatar, the ethereal portrayal of the variety of sounds and soft background music from your surround speakers leaves a vivid impression in your living room about a perfect life existing outside of this world. Breaking that illusion is the concluding war between humans and Pandora’s natives. Overhead helicopters, rapid firing of Ammos, and missiles promise a full immersion with each effect displayed crisply. Every explosion packs a meaning punch straight to your chest and solidifies why this is unforgettable.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Battleship (PG-13)
(40:50 - 49:10), (53:15-56:08),
(01:31:40 - 01:36:10), (01:40 - 01:56:20)
Remember the thrill and nerve-wracking feelings you had when playing the board game, Battleship? Multiply that by 10 folds when you load this up. The sequences in this movie confront your soundstage straight-on with its low-frequency dynamics. Especially for dual or more subwoofers, it leaves no room to escape from its perfectly pressurized impact. Scenes that feature larger-than-life battleships that emerge from down under are the absolute definition of breath-taking. Ambient sounds sync perfectly with scenes to create a tight correlation with the video presentation to take you straight on board with the Captain at sea.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
Bohemian Rhapsody (PG-13)
Watch this if you do not believe that sound moves you. The First Aid concert before Freddie Mercury bids the entertainment world goodbye, shows extraordinary immersion that guarantees hair-standing on your arms. The way the crowd sings along in the background to every word in the lyrics showcases the depth of both the ambient layers as well as their love for Queen. Camera pans provide stunning directionality with the music traveling effortlessly through the drivers of your speakers. Passionately reproduced bass during hit tracks, “We Will Rock You”, “Radio Ga Ga”, and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" will have you feel that you time-traveled to the live gig. The perfect homage to the legendary flamboyant rockstar that redefined everything you have come to love in music while showcasing surround immersion at one of its finest.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
Clash of the Titans (PG-13)
This highly driven action film on Greek Gods and Demigods VS Hades is definitely a surround sound treat. Precision in every detail’s articulation of each win-or-die battle invites itself to transform your room to sync with the on-screen activity. Every deadly blow instantly rushes to your sweetspot from your subwoofer(s), allowing you to feel the mythical creatures’ fury. Sounds of despairs channel through your surround channels are realistically reproduced and the overall mood is further enhanced by the overhead lightning and raging waters that bombard your surround bubble.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
Coming 2 America
When an African Monarch King learns that he must build a relationship with his long-lost son, expect mayhem as African tradition meets modern American standards. As the African monarchy tries to get along with westernized ways and family and political standoffs ensue, expect a night full of laughter as the comical dialogue goes off from your center channels, as every hit from the African percussion makes their impact felt through your subwoofer(s)
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐
The Core (PG-13)
Be engulfed in the sound of wild lightning super storms, crumbing infrastructure, molten lava, and bleeding-edge drilling machine in this thrilling sci-fi movie. Centering most of its moneymaker in larger-than-life explosive actions, you can expect nothing but the best bass experience that takes over your room by sheer undistorted force.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐
The Covenant (PG-13)
When a group with supernatural powers find themselves forced into locking horns on a mysterious entity that is even more powerful than them, expect nothing but an epic listening experience. The force and impact from every spell cast (and at some points, the level of creepiness) can be clearly felt through your subwoofers, with the sound of falling debris, explosions and licking flames clearly heard through every speaker channel. The movie is also topped off with the sound of rain and stormy weather to add depth to the scene and showcase your speaker's ability to reproduce height effects, with moments of clear dialogue and old school rock-and-roll recreating the club atmosphere within your home.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
Cruella (PG-13)
Watch the sequence of events that turned a young, talented fashion designer into a notorious, dangerous criminal. Featuring Cruella's younger days before turning to the dark side, the movie plot is unique and potentially, one of Disney's best live-action film. The unpredictable story plot and rich display of on-screen colors keeps the movie interesting, all while well-balanced, life-like Dolby Atmos height and surround effects fill your room.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Day the Earth Stood Still (PG-13)
This movie builds up a sense of urgency within 10 minutes, and with good reason: A mysterious orb with an alien lifeform and robot lands on earth. With this unknown being and robot invading US grounds, the full power and wrath of military hostaility against unknown alien visitors can be felt through almost every turn of the movie. The sound of whirring helicopters and fighter jets can be heard distinctly through every channel - almost as if it happened in your living room, all while the impact from the military's best payload shakes the room. As humans try to reason with the Alien when they discover it's true purpose, the increasing desperation can be clearly heard and felt emotionally through your center channels.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Eagle Eye (PG-13)
We are forecasting all-out FBI assaults, dramatic crashing buildings, and head-turning wild pursuit chases in Steven Spielberg’s signature style. The frontal array features a range of frequencies from dialogues by both human and AI. Chase scenes add the touch of femininity in the otherwise bass-heavy sequences that ooze impact delightfully from your subwoofer(s). Clear separation of everyday ambient sound in crowded scenes provides a good sense of space that places you right there. Tension can be felt through the accurately paced sound elements in the supporting channels that keep you on the edge of your couch in this "race-against-time" thriller.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
The Fifth Element (PG-13)
Is your surround system ready to take on the mind of 16-year-old Luc Besson? In this over-the-top trippy space action-adventure, no ambient detail is left behind. Every drift from the street cab is artfully interpreted to not only sweep you off your feet but also, to soak you into its element (see what we did there?) Lines are clearly disseminated through your front channels and during firearms scene, the relentless whizzing bullets will cause a delightful orderly chaotic exchange from speaker to speaker. Explosions that follow will paint your subwoofer(s) red to join the spectacular range display party. The film’s classic alien opera singing sequence adds on to the colorful frequency to match its avant-garde movie wardrobe and cements this as the wackiest audio reference piece ever.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
Ford v Ferrari (PG-13)
This 2020 Academy Award recipient for Best Sound Editing, is sure to ignite your inner racer passion. The escalating rivalry between Ford and Ferrari is clearly depicted through the use of thumping bass background tracks that invades your sweet spot. Highly-tuned race cars zooming past your screen, mechanical failures, car crashes and even the directionality of dialogue and crowds cheering are accurately and realistically replicated in-sync with the visual that draws a super tight correlation to put you in the race. It is no wonder that this history retold story has also gained recognition for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing from the Cinema Audio Society. This is one that will leave trails of electrifying sparks in your surround soundscape that might get you in the mood for a race or two.