Everyone wants to replicate the experience they get down the local Cineworld at home these days, and up until recently that wasn’t ultimately possible. Now, with the birth of whopping big LCD and Plasma TV’s, along with snazzy Blu-Ray players and Dolby Digital and DTS sound, anything is possible. I still can’t find a supermarket popcorn that hits the right spot as yet though… can you?
Here THN cound down our top Blu-Rays that will show off your system…
Begin.
#10 – TRANSFORMERS
Transformers
Dir. Michael Bay
Available on: Blu-Ray, DVD – Amazon
Okay, so not the greatest movies that we have seen in the last few years, but in terms of wham-bam action, you could not go far wrong with a film with the name Michael Bay attached to it. The film contains scene after scene, almost custom made to make your woofer boom and you plasma or LCD glow.
Key Scene: The climactic battle on the highway in the original movie is one that you have to go a long way to beat. Rich in sound and vision, the sequence is literally mind blowing.
#9 SPIDER-MAN 3
Spider-Man 3
Dir. Sam Raimi
One of the very first movies to be released on Blu-Ray – in fact this film was the one that Sony put out their to flog a lot of their early BD players, including the Playstation 3. Visual effects galore, action a plenty and superb sound make this a must. Okay, so the film is not the best in the series, but if you want to show off your new system to your mates, then this is definitely one that should feature in your top ten…
Key Scene: “Spider-Man saves Gwen Stacy.” Yes, look that one up in your chapter list for utter carnage as a crane destroys the hell out of an NYC skyscraper and rescues his damsel in distress, in the form of Gwen Stacy, played here by Bryce Dallas Howard. Check out a You Tube version below, which frankly, does not do it justice.
#8 BAD BOYS II
Bad Boys II
Dir. Michael Bay
What do you know? We’re three into our countdown, and already two of those are Michael Bay movies. BAD BOYS II is quite possibly the best man film on the list, and full of break-neck action scenes to get your senses going on a tip-top home cinema system. Big Willie, little Martin, the KKK, bullets in the ass, flying cars, exploding boats, and awesomely lit images of Miami make this 2003 movie an absolute must!
Key Scene: Has to be the scene on the highway as Marcus and Mike pursue a car transporter in a very expensive silver Ferarri. When approaching said transporter, the bad guys on board start to throw each of the cars onto their pursuers, narrowly missing them and literally flying above our heads. Just imagine watching this on a 50″ with amazing 7.1 surround. Great stuff.
#7 THE INCREDIBLES
The Incredibles
Dir. Brad Bird
Had to include an animated film on the list, and it had to be a Pixar movie, and it had to be THE INCREDIBLES. This film is perhaps the most ‘adult’ out of all of the Pixar movies, but I love the superhero story, I love the characters, I love the actors behind said characters and I love the humour, but above all, I love the animation and it’s all gloriously captured on this Blu-Ray release.
Key Scene: The chase scene at the end of the movie featuring the two kids. Flying saucers, flying insects, a massive chase through the jungle engulfing the audience in a barrage of audio and visual treatage. Take a look at the clip below.
Great movie.
#6 300
300
Dir. Zack Snyder
The first of no less than three movies from director Zack Snyder on THN’s best home cinema movies list. This was one of the first movies that I purchased on the HD format, largely because I like it very much. I previously said that BAD BOYS II was ‘the best man film on the list,’ while 300 is the one that contains the most men (vs. women). Perhaps that’s why I like it? No, really. The film probably is one of the most visually stunning out there, and it’s totally at home on the HD format. You can literally make out every single ab of Gerard Butler’s eight-pack in every shot, every cell of blood splashing across the screen, and every hint of nipple during those wonderful scenes with the funny women in cloth at the beginning. Ahem, I bring you… 300.
Key Scene: Aforementioned nipple-tastic women in cloth scene (see below). No, the key scene to show of your system? Literally all of them. Visually stunning.
#5 WATCHMEN
Dir. Zack Snyder
The second, but not final, Zack Snyder movie on the list, WATCHMEN is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and is based on the comic book by Alan Moore, a publication that many said was unfilmable. Well, that didn’t stop Snyder attempting to bring the flick to screens, and the result is pretty good. It’s also one which, like 300, will bring out the best in any system with it visual treats and boom, boom 7.1 sound (Blu-Ray). If you buy it, go for the special extended edition.
Key Scene: Like 300, most of the movie is a visual and audio treat. Here’s a taster.
#4 THE MATRIX
The Matrix
Dir. Andy & Larry Wachowski
The film has been on Blu-Ray for a little while and can be picked up for a reasonably low price (along with its two sequels), and eleven years after its theatrical release THE MATRIX still has a big pair of balls, even on the home HD format. There are many scenes that one could mention to play in front of you mates to impress them, including the opening scene that introduced the world to Trinity, or the famous bullet-time sequence… but for me….
Key Scene: …. the key scene is the now ultra-famous lobby attack sequence. Not seen before, not bettered since.
#3 SUCKER PUNCH
Sucker Punch
Dir. Zack Snyder
Zack Snyder numeron trez, and admittedly, the reason for putting this list together. SUCKER PUNCH is Snyder’s first post-WATCHMEN movie, and while the film doesn’t beat that one in terms of total satisfaction, you’d be hard pressed to beat this bad boy on looks and sound – a bit like the ladies in the movie. Who wouldn’t like to see five gorgeous Hollywood actresses larking around the screen semi-clad in thigh-length stockings and skimpy shirts. No, me neither….
Key Scene: The WWII-style sequence with zombie Nazis and massive zephyrs burning out of the sky!
#2 TOY STORY 3
Toy Story 3
Dir. Lee Unkrich
Okay, so I lied when I said that I included just the one animated movie on the list, but who could leave out TOY STORY 3. Last year’s best-in-the-series release is now available on HD BD supplied with an AVC encode and DTS-HD Master Audio track. Now, if you know what an AVC encode it then you know more than me, but I’m told it’s a pretty good thing to have, and I know DTS 7.1 is very good, but the film is one to test your state-of-the-art gear to the max!
Key Scene: The scene where the toys almost cop it in the furnace (see below)!
#1 AVATAR
Avatar
Dir. James Cameron
The biggest film of all time, is our best home cinema movie to show off your gear… so far. I don’t have to repeat that the flick is visually stunning, or has a killer soundtrack do I? It does, and then some. This is the BD to show you exactly what the format can look like, and the 5.1 DTS-HD mix shows you what it can sound like. Like the film, or loathe it, you have to agree with me…. don’t you? If not, feed back below…
Key Scene: End scene (Spoilers)! See below.
SUCKER PUNCH is released on UK DVD and Blu-Ray from Monday 8th August 2011. See an exclusive clip from the release here.
