A Disney classic that stirred up waves of excitement before its official launch is nothing short of a spectacular display of sounds that matches up with its reference video presentation. It paces each ambient sound intricately to its on-screen motion. The movie slowly increases its intensity and emphasis to draw out the emotional attachment as you watch the cubs move from the different stages of their lives. Directional stomps from the wildebeest’s migration layers as the main base for the other subtleties of ambient sounds to slot themselves in position. Every detail of every aspect is well-looked after and interpreted to create a marvelous realistic sensory experience that redefines what true surround sound is.
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: ⭐
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (PG)
Hailed as the “Greatest Spidey Movie of Them All” by Rolling Stone, the surround sounds is just as reflective of its stunning visual. It gave us hair-raising and ting-a-ling sensations at the movie peaks and with every build-up, footsteps, and echoes that are lucidly produced by your surround speakers. If you have overhead or up-firing speakers, prepare to dodge the webs that are shot in the air, towards you and feel Spider-Man swinging past you. Not leaving music lovers behind, the soundtracks that accompany this movie will have your feet unknowingly tapping to the thumping rhythmic beats from your subwoofer(s).
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Superman (1978) (PG)
Good news, the movie that is considered the paramount building block for today’s superhero movies, just got a massive upgrade in sound. Each detail receives an appropriate amount of sound treatment that immerses you through your surround speakers even more than before. A noticeably wider soundstage is present in this remastered piece and that has certainly brought out the realism in every dialogue. Low-frequency effects from crashing cars and building falls are comfortably pressured, while background panic screams are layered tenderly on top to give meaning to “Sound that you can feel”. Heroic fly-ins from Clark Kent, will most definitely have you say, “It’s a Bird”, “It’s a Plane”, “Oh, it is just really good surround sound.”
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
Top Gun (PG)
A definite must-watch not only because this movie helped launch Tom Cruise’s career (pun intended), but also because it hinges its whole storyline on heroic aviation action. With the restored version of this, tuned to take full advantage of the capabilities of today’s sound technologies, you are definitely going to feel and hear the MiG-28s fighter jets soar and roar above you. Spoiler Alert: "Danger Zone" withstands the test of time and will certainly have you moving your tushies, as the jets take-offs from the runway.
IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐
TRON: Legacy (PG)
Tron Legacy is no ordinary movie because Daft Punk's phenomenal music artistry flows throughout this. Directional cues are realized effectively and precisely by drool-worthy motorbikes. Overhead sounds by flying drones and aircraft fulfill the 3-dimensional sound element and work together with your surround speakers to give you a tight surround hug. Well-positioned ambient whirring and electrifying buzz and hums are as ear-catching as the attention-grabbing neon lights shown before you. The star of this show is definitely the soundtrack that hits you at all the right spots, at the right time. Bass is tightly controlled, and when it punches, it punches ruthlessly to your chest. Signature Daft Punk beat patterns fully absorb you into the music sequence that will soak you up in an electrifying bed of euphoria.