Well, like the titles says.

These are DVDs you use to show off your system to your friends....and the same ones you take with you when you are shopping for a system/television to demo the units.
Mine are based on sound mixes and picture quality based on a good transfer.

Here some of my top ones:

The Fifth Element
Anything Pixar
Attack of the Clones/Revenge of the Sith
Opening D-Day scene of Svg Pvt Ryan
Believe or not...Fast and the Furious with the DTS track.
Several scenes from the LOTR trilogy
Lobby shoot out in the Matrix.

 

and the Matrix Reloaded highway scene

 

I like using "Pearl Harbor"... the scene of the first attack...

I also like using "Master in Commend", the irony is... I don't care for Russel Crow... nor have I seen the whole movie... but there are a couple scenes I love using when showing off my system... there's a battle between two ships... and you'd swear the cannon balls are landing in the living room... then there's a scene where they're down below deck... and the sound of the creeking of the wood is all around you... you feel like you're actually there! as I mentioned in the other thread about "Lord of War" that's a good DVD for demo-ing... I LOVE it when I see "DTS" on the back of a DVD cover... IMO DTS>THX


...oh, and "Blade Trinity" is good too (DTS ES, not to mention... Jessica Beal!)

 

DTS imo tends to be a louder crisper mix. Yes I prefer it over stand DD.

THX is a sound certification...a standard...not a mix.

You have Dolby Digital (used to be known as AC-3) and DTS.

 

I too prefer DTS, seems to be more seperation in-between tracks, which may not be the most realistic sound, but I like hearing what I paid for. heh.

Gladiator (opening scene with all the arrows shooting), Heat (when they attack the armored truck).

 

I have to second the opening scene from Saving Pvt. Ryan..

Also, they have a clip from a movie called "House of Flying Daggers".. or something like that playing at Best Buy in my area to show off their systems... It's actually a really good clip for showing off a home theater.

 

That gets my vote.

 

Batman Begins is also good.

 

Gladiator is great. I also like the boat scenes in Master and Commander and The Patriot with Mel Gibson has some great battle scenes. I also like to use my Fleetwood Mac DVD when they played on PBS to give a nice changeup to all the blood and gore that I like to show!

 

Everyone has pretty muched already mentioned my showoff titles. The only one I'll add is Ronin. The sound of the gunfire during the attack scene in Nice is awesome.

 

For something a little different - I've seen/heard Days of thunder on a good system and it kicked ass.

 

"Master in Command"? Isn't that a XXX movie?

I've seen a number of stores use Top Gun when displaying Home systems.

 

...that reminds me... I, sometimes use the Eagles - live in concert DVD... it's also DTS

 

Problem is Top Gun doesnt the best transfer. Though I havent seen the special edition.
Same with Days of Thunder. I love both the movies...but I wouldn't use them as show offs.

 

Barney and Friends

 

Hands down one of if not THE BEST in picture and sound...

 

haven't even seen the superbits one.

 

I guess I need to see that movie then.

 

Also worthy:

- Hero
- Appleseed

 

Gladiator

But on Heat, do you mean the street shootout?

Opening scene in Saving Private Ryan

Master and Commander, when the two ships are firing cannons at each other

House of Flying Daggers

 

I agree, I own Top Gun on both DVD and VHS and the VHS version actually sounds better...wierd.


My favorite show-off movie for sound is Mission Impossible 2, the flamenco scene.

 

No. The beginning, when the rob the armored truck.

They use explosives to blow the back doors open... and the blast blows up all the windows in the row of cars at the used car lot next door...

Sounds awesome.

 

Fixed.

 

Hmmm, I remember that scene, I just don't think I've encounter anyone who mentions that scene before the street shootout.

Another good thing (for sound) is The Eagles: Hell Freezes Over (DTS)

 

I think this is the part I use. I haven't actually watched the movie in forever, I just know where to skip to on the disc. I go to the scene where the studdering guy is taking a leak, some planes fly over head, then all hell breaks loose. It's a very impressive selection not just because its loud, but also because it's a good demonstrator of surround with things flying all around.

I also like to use some scenes from U-571 where the destroyers are dropping the sub sinkers (idk the technical term, basically exploding 55 gal drums) in the water. If you have a good sub (or two) that can keep up - it will shake the hell out of the neighbors house! Really makes you feel like you are inside the sub with all this exploding around you....

I don't play any music in surround because I think it's stupid.

 

While for the most part i somewhat agree...I have always wanted to buy the NIN DTS concert DVD...I've wanted it for years, and I dont know why I havent....I have a feeling that one is awesome.

 

"the incredibles"

 

i like the 1st 10 minutes of bulletproof

 

...OMG, I can't believe I didn't think of this before... and no body else has... but one of my favorite things to use to show off the system is the animated THX in the beginning of Pixar DVD's like "Finding Nemo"... ya know? with the sound of the cows running through the living room? and that robot flying around... it's actually probably one of the best thing to use for demo-ing.

 

My buddy just showed Mission Impossible 2 ... when the lady is dancing ... looked pretty cool. Plus... tom cruise is dreamy

 

Noone else wanted to admit to owning a copy of "Finding Nemo".

The girlfriend bought it

 

I said ANY pixar movie.

 

...but you didn't specifically point out the intro to THX, sometimes I don't even show any of the actual movie, but just THX thing... like the other day when my roommate's friends came over, she asked me to show it, cause she gets a kick out of it

 

This is a bit off topic, but if you are looking for an Audio CD to really push your system to its limits pick up Time Warp The CD has a copyright of 1984 and contains music from various SciFi films.

It will really challenge your amps and speakers. Be careful not to melt a tweeter.

I suggest getting the CD and not looking for MP3s. MP3s will not do this music justice.

 

Great choice Doopster! I have that CD along with it's companion releases, Star Tracks and Star Tracks II. Star Tracks II in particular has a sound effect of the Star Trek Enterprise engaging warp drive that is really spectacular.

Speaking of old "show off CD's," I remember my Dad getting this CD right after he got his first CD player. "The THX Sound" was on this one long before it ever became well known in theaters. It also has a F-15 takeoff at close range which is pretty impressive.

For my money, however, I have a CD which I've nicknamed "the destroyer." If your system doesn't get damaged, the room it's in very well may. Regretably, the CD has been out of print for a while now. It may be available on E-bay but anyone that was enough of an enthusiast to purchase the CD probably doesn't want to part with their copy. Here's a pic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...liftoff-cd.jpg

 

U-571 was awesome! That is a great movie to show off to friends. The parts where the creaking metal from the sub are sounding is awesome, not to mention the exploding depth charges are great!

I think I will watch that after I play tennis today!

 

club shootout scene from collateral

 

Fifth Element (Super-bit)
Master and Commander
Saving Private Ryan (D-day beach invasion)
LOTR trilogy

...and DTS > DD

 

Terminator 2

Saving Private Ryan

 

Mainstream: The Incredibles, Pearl Harbor DTS version
Anime: The End of Evangelion 6.1 DTS version