As requested
in alphabetical order
for your viewing pleasure
the worlds greatest demo scenes
turn it up to 11
and enjoy
Akira
This is a platter that you simply have to own, if only to see if you
can hear any difference between its 'hypersonic' audio mix and every
other disc in your collection.
Manga's Blu-ray release of the famed 1980s Japanese animation offers
two soundtrack options – English TrueHD 5.1 and Japanese TrueHD 5.1.
Stick to the latter, as this was recorded at 192kHz/24-bit, as per the
wishes of madcap audio scientist and score composer Tsutomu Ohashi
(credited under his pseudonym Shoji Yamashiro). Ohashi's claim is that
hypersonic cues in the mix, up to 100Hz and beyond human hearing, still
affect your brain – if your playback gear is of sufficient quality, you
should apparently feel the sound to be 'more beautiful, pleasurable and
impressive,' and notice an improvement in picture quality. Whether or
not you buy into that notion, there's no doubting the clarity and
dynamism Manga's disc brings to this vintage soundtrack.
Battleship
When you're making a film based upon a high-concept board game and
casting pop warbler Rhianna in a lead role you need something special to
appeal to discerning home cinema owners. Thankfully, Universal's Battleship packs an awe-inspiring DTS-HD MA mix that will have you forgetting about the ridiculous plot in no time at all.
If forced to sum it up in one word we'd probably plump for 'loud' –
this is a brainless movie with explosions and low-frequency slams where
the narrative should be, but it's all presented with such relish. The use of the rear channels, in particularly, is
astonishing.
The Book of Eli
'Weapons? I'll show you some weapons!'
So begins our favourite sequence from 2010's post-apocalyptic actioner The Book of Eli,
where Denzel Washington's stoic traveller finds himself holed up in a
battered house on the prairie under attack from Gary Oldman's goon
squad.
The audio here is a snapshot of the care and attention that's put into
the film's entire DTS-HD MA 5.1 track. The scene is set by a delicious
thump of bass as a book is thrown from a window and lands on the ground.
Then, when it turns out to be a bomb, all hell breaks loose, with a
shootout involving an arsenal of automatic weapons ripping holes in the
building's timber framework.
Gun-fights are often a source of multichannel magnificence, but few are
as insanely authentic (we assume) as this one. Bullets criss-cross the
soundfield with frantic energy, and the swirling camera causes
everything to flip from front to back to front again. And then an RPG is
brought into play...
Crank 2: High Voltage
Following the success of Crank, writer/director duo
Neveldine/Taylor surprised some viewers by making its 2009 sequel even
more visually lo-fi than the original. But this B-movie sensibility
doesn't extend to the audio mix.
Knowing that a key part of the Jason Statham franchise is immersing the
audience as much as possible in Chev Chelios' hyper-aware, frenetic
state of mind, the soundtrack here is a constant barrage
of audio embellishments, from bizzare electrical effects – our
anti-hero is battery-powered! – and rapid-fire bursts of music, all
brought forth by a crisp DTS-HD 7.1 mix. That the foul-mouthed dialogue
manages to remain intact above the mayhem is all the more remarkable.
Those looking for a standout sequence should head to the power station
fight. It builds from its eerie beginnings – the gentle hum of the
generators and squawking birds – to an LFE-heavy slo-motion Godzilla-style rumble, replete with swirling synths, sparking cables and what sound like air-raid sirens.
In fact, we reckon the kitchen sink may be in there too. Deliciously deranged.
The Dark Knight 
It's hardly surprising that superhero flicks are a terrific source of
phenomenal Blu-ray soundtracks. But it is perhaps a little bit of a
shock that one of the very best still belongs to that most human of
superheroes: Batman.
Bruce Wayne's vigilante alter-ego covers up his lack of brute strength
with an array of fantastic gadgets, and this dics's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix
makes the most of them as it sets about creating a soundfield every bit
as epic in scale as the film's IMAX vistas. Demo sequences don't come
any better than the thunderous roar of bass, crunching metal and brittle
shards of glass as the Caped Crusader rides into action on his Batpod
and sets about flipping over a truck commandeered by the Joker. It's a
scene we've watched over and over again and never tire of.
Also marking this mix out for greatness is the superb balance evident
throughout – each element is perfectly weighted and effortlessly
combined into a truly superheroic audio experience.
Drive
Great sound design isn't just about the amount of room-rattling audio
bombast that can be unleashed. There are also those mixes that dazzle
through the lightness of their touch, the depth of their tonal range and
their skillful atmospherics. Director Nicolas Winding Refn's acclaimed
2011 thriller Drive is a case in point.
While the setup may promise plenty of high-octane action (a Hollywood
stunt driver doubles as a getaway driver), it's actually a much more
low-key movie, but one that still makes a remarkable impression with its
DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix. And, thanks to its taciturn protagonist, Drive
regularly relies on the ambience and music in the track to drive the
narrative forward. From the pure musicality of the opening electronic
beats of Kavinsky's Nightcall over the main titles, to the seemingly ever-present tension-building rumble of bass, this is a perfect cohesive whole.
Fight Club
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing in 2000, Fight Club
is a showcase piece of sonic wizardry. Inventive and inspiring, it
makes it worth revisiting a film you probably haven't watched in a
while.
A track of remarkable breadth and
vigour, it's difficult to elect individual demo sequences – although the
brutal beating of Angel Face, with each deliberately over-amplified
blow landing like a sledgehammer made of pure LFE, is the kind of scene
that actually hurts.
Even the BD's extras get in on the fun with an interactive 5.1 audio remix feature. Geek heaven!
Flight of the Phoenix
A long-standing favourite among home cinema fans, this 2004 remake
flies into our list by virtue of one solitary scene – the plane crash
towards the end of the first act. Astonishing on DVD and even better in
lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1, this lengthy sequence features some of the most
precisely-engineered sound design around (and not matched anywhere else
in the movie).
While the crash in The Grey (see below) stays within the
confines of the plane, here we see the action from all angles, letting
the post-production team create a soundfield of immense scale and
movement as the camera pans around. The Gobi desert sandstorm whips
through the mix, while every tear of metal and clank and whine of engine
is painfully loud. All the while, the plane's propellers are given
constant, room-shaking presence in the LFE channel. Is this what an
actual plane crash sounds like? We'll be glad if we never find out.
The Grey
Joe Carnahan returned to the form shown in his debut movie Narc
with this haunting survival thriller starring Liam Neeson. And what it
may lack in genuine man-punching-wolf action (as the trailer may have
led you to believe), it makes up for with some expertly crafted sonics.
Carnahan is smart enough to keep his CGI beasts at bay for large chunks
of the movie, instead signalling their presence via skin-crawling
offscreen howls – when these cut through the otherwise silent forest
locations, all around the DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundfield, it'll set your pulse
racing that little bit faster.
And then there's the film's plane crash sequence – accomplished
filmmaking packed with tiny details, backed up by sterling sound design.
Carnahan also shows that the complete absence of noise can be just as
effective as a storming subwoofer throb to jolt an audience.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Big, stomach-churning bass is the order of the day in Guillermo del
Toro's action-packed comic book sequel. What else would you expect from a
film where the hero is a beer-swilling demon armed with an oversized
revolver and a giant stone hand?
DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtracks don't come much more aggressive
and immersive than this. Indeed, Hellboy's final showdown with the
titular Golden Army remains one of the most thrilling surround sound
experiences you'll ever hear.
Each speaker in your setup explodes into action as 'Big Red' takes on
the clockwork army, creating a convincing 360-degree aural landscape
populated by smooth panning effects and massive amounts of LFE.
Jaws
Forget the big rubber monster – John Williams' iconic score is the real
source of the scares in Steven Spielberg's 1975 seminal Summer
blockbuster. The deceptively simple shark theme is one of the most
recognisable pieces of music in film history, now intrinsically linked
to the idea of approaching danger.
The tune resounded around the heads of most cinephiles when it was announced that Jaws
would be getting a DTS-HD MA 7.1-channel remix for the film's belated
Blu-ray release, but anyone worried that the new multichannel soundtrack
would spoil the movie's impact can rest easy. This is a very smart and
subtle piece of re-engineering; one that opts to expand the soundfield
and clean up the existing elements rather than reinvent the wheel. Crowd
scenes now have an immersive feeling, ambient surround effects feel
natural and (best of all) the score positively bursts from your
speakers.
Kung Fu Panda 2
Dynamic. Exhilarating. Potent. None of these are words you would
traditionally associate with a panda. But when was the last time you met
a panda who was also a master of kung fu?
DreamWorks' hit animated sequel benefits immensely from the involvement
of supervising sound editor Ethan Van der Ryn. Building on the
knowledge gleaned from working on live-action blockbusters like Saving Private Ryan and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Van der Ryan definitely brings his A-game to crafting what he calls 'the film's sonic tapestry'.
Tapping into the musical and rhythmic tempo at the heart of the martial arts genre, Kung Fu Panda 2's
mix is a riot of surprising sound effects and cues that continually
takes you unawares and puts a smile on your face (a prime example being
Boss Wolf's attack on the Artisan Village). And the BD's expansive Dolby
TrueHD 7.1 mix recreates it absolutely flawlessly in the comfort of
your own home. A kids' film with grown-up sound.
The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Extended Edition)
One boxset to rule them all? Well, that's certainly the case as far as
lossless Blu-ray soundtracks are concerned. This must-own set includes
the Extended Editions of Peter Jackson's epic fantasy flicks, each split
across two BD50s to ensure optimal AV performance. Which is a good job,
because this trio of bewitching DTS-HD MA 6.1 mixes deserves nothing
less than the best.
The audio here is so unbelievably powerful and so unrelenting in its
use of the full soundfield (that additional channel really helps envelop
you) that your neighbours may think they're being invaded by hordes of
Uruk-hai or in danger of getting trampled underfoot by an oliphaunt.
Amidst all of the trilogy's action, Tolkein's dialogue is given weight
and perfectly picked out in the mix – when Gandalf bellows 'You shall
not pass!' at the Balrog, you know he's not joking around. And
throughout the movies, Howard Shore's memorable orchestral score is
given a rich, rousing presentation. Spellbinding stuff that we hope The Hobbit can match.
The Pacific
Almost a decade after it unleashed Band of Brothers, HBO took us back to World War II with this equally brilliant 10-part miniseries. And, like its predecessor, The Pacific
made use of some of the most talented technicians in the industry –
such as supervising sound effects editor Benjamin L. Cook and sound
mixer Nerses Gezalyan, who between them had previously worked on the
likes of Gladiator, Kill Bill, Hellboy II and The Book of Eli.
Therefore, it won't come as a shock to discover that, despite its TV origins, The Pacific's
gung-ho DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack does a remarkable job of bringing war
to life in your cinema room. Tightly-controlled gunfire flies around the
soundstage, panning effects are delightfully precise (you can follow
the movement of planes by the audio alone) and there's no flabby bass to
be found – just tight, impactful low-frequency effects accompanying
every mortar shell. This is what war is good for!
Prometheus
Ridley Scott's long-awaited Alien prequel is one of the most
accomplished stereoscopic films around. But there's no point in having
great 3D visuals if your audio mix isn't similarly immersive.
Thankfully, the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix accompanying Fox's Blu-ray
release is the perfect partner to the film's eye-popping visuals.
From the flyover of a primordial Earth to the final shot of that
creature, this is one soundtrack that simply refuses to quit. The
surrounds are continually engaged to breath life into Scott's locations –
whether it's the sounds of computers on the bridge of the Prometheus
or the dripping water and footsteps echoing through the tunnels of the
alien compound, the mix never fails to make you feel you're right there
in deep space with the rest of the cast. And this is just its
atmospheric prowess – just wait 'til the more explosive sequences, such
as the silica storm, to hear what this BD is really capable of.
Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Back in the early 1980s George Lucas' sci-fi spectacular was a mainstay
of every AV fan's VHS or Betamax collection. Skip forward to the
present day and it's much the same, only there are now six Star Wars films and they can all be enjoyed with DTS-HD MA 6.1 tracks in this impressive boxset.
We all knew what to expect from the prequels, and from The Phantom Menace's Pod Race to Revenge of the Sith's
climactic lightsaber duel they don't let fans down with the scale and
depth of their sonic delivery. However, it's the original trilogy that
provides some of the biggest acoustic thrills. Here, the team at
Skywalker Sound went back to the original audio elements and recreated
the tracks from the ground up. The results are a revelation –
sympathetic to the original material, while simultaneously bringing them
into the modern age with dynamic surround effects and phenomenal bass
response. The Dark Side has never sounded so good.
Sucker Punch: Extended Cut
Director Zack Snyder had already treated us to a triple-bill of superior flicks (Dawn of the Dead, 300 and Watchmen)
when he ushered in this surreal action thriller in 2011, and while it
was a relative box office failure, its surround sound mix is reason
enough to grab it on Blu-ray.
Warner Home Video's disc packs an intricate DTS-HD MA 5.1 track that
dovetails perfectly with the outlandish onscreen action. As Snyder
frequently moves his camera around in head-spinning 360-degree turns, or
orchestrates his battle sequences in slo-mo, the audio follows suit.
Effects are placed in every corner of the soundstage – from scraping
samurai swords to whirling helicopter blades – and the LFE channel is in
near constatnt use to add ominous heft to everything from footsteps to a
rumbling train. Add in the guitar-heavy, pop-influenced soundtrack and
you have an outrageous audio experience that's hard to beat.
Tron: Legacy
Three things stick in the mind when watching this overdue sci-fi
sequel: the immersive 3D presentation, Olivia Wilde in her rubber
suit, and Daft Punk's electro-tinged soundtrack.
The latter is a treat for AV-hedz. Hollywood often likes to play it
safe with its film scores, but the decision to hand the blockbuster
reins over to a French dance music duo was utterly the right one – Tron: Legacy's futuristic soundtrack feels so natural against the backdrop of director Joseph Kosinski's stylised CG sets.
Although recorded with the help of an 85-piece orchestra at London's
AIR Studios, Daft Punk's score is full of rich, synthesised bass and,
through Disney's seven-channel DTS-HD mix (although the movie was
released theatrically in Dolby 7.1), fills your room to bursting point.
The rest of sound mix is pretty nifty, too...
Wall-E
We're yet to meet anyone who doesn't have a soft spot for Pixar's
comedy sci-fi jaunt, and much of the film's appeal – beyond the lush
animation – lies in its scintillating surround sound. Hollywood
certainly agrees, nominating Andrew Stanton's 'toon for original score,
sound editing and sound mixing at the Oscars.
With entire sections devoid of dialogue, the work of audio engineer Ben
Burtt is brought to the fore. On Blu-ray, this equates to a playful
DTS-HD MA 5.1 track that raises the bar for atmospherics and pin-point
accuracy. The desolate, windswept, future Earth of the opening act seems
frighteningly real, while sonic effects, such as a clicking cockroach
or Wall-E's robot voice, are startling in their clarity. Burtt famously
went to extreme lengths to capture the film's array of audio tricks,
utilising everything from a slinky to a 1950s hand-cranked generator.
For some reason it still wasn't enough to bag him an Academy Award.
