Rating: R

, , , , , ,

Jumanji: The Next Level (PG-13)

, , , , , ,
Jumanji: The Next Level (PG-13)

With a heavyweight star-studded cast, this Jumanji sequel definitely holds its sound effects weight. The start of every new challenge is marked by a fast resounding drumbeat that creates a tight correlation between the on-screen information to throw you into the action. The sequences unapologetically barge into your living room with a range of lifelike ambient effects that will give your surround speakers a run for their money. Comedic dialogues are keenly and cleanly reproduced to keep you in the “game”. Coupled with the surreal visual effects, this is definitely a movie that is perfect to bask in the glory of your full home theater.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

, , ,

Okja (TV-MA)

, , ,
Okja (TV-MA)

Netflix’s first toe-dip in Dolby Atmos features a sonically delightfully immersion with a simple yet compelling storyline. Deliberate separation in sounds creates a lush soundscape environment that springs life to stir emotions in Okja’s fight. Every flicker, steps, and even breaths are programmed to envelop you into its finesse. Clarity in dialogues grips onto you with a desire to engage you. Environmental sounds splashes across with first-class details that intertwine with one another to fully display what Dolby Atmos can do.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

, , , ,

The Old Guard (R)

, , , ,
The Old Guard (R)

(8:27 - 9:30) , (36:13 - 43:55)

Helicopter flying overhead? Check. Fight scene that circles around you? Check. The scenes listed are like your guide to what a good surround sound journey is like. Within the first 10 minutes of the movie, you will experience what it is like to be in a helicopter with a crew that has a deadly objective, with suspenseful music and the sound of helicopter rotors being perfectly translated into your room. Hear and feel the constant rumble and drone of the airplane in the background, as the cast engages in a heated exchange that quickly turns messy through your center channels. You will suddenly find yourself in the center of furious hand-to-hand combat action, with the sound of each blow being replicated to the T by your surround speakers. All this happens while adrenaline-pumping music thumps through your subwoofer(s) to inject the needed dose of excitement into the action.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

, , , , , ,

Outside the Wire (R)

, , , , , ,
Outside the Wire (R)

From the Studio that brought The Old Guard and Extraction, this movie is all about futuristic killer droids and military machines with deadly firepower and accuracy. The sound of heavy arms and metadors in all-out gunfights will excite and pound your house down through your subwoofers, with enough squelch effects and bloody fight scenes happening across all surround channels to make you squirm, as the futuristic droid takes every opportunity to show what it is truly capable of.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

, , ,

Ozark (TV-MA)

, , ,
Ozark (TV-MA)

S3E8 (39:15 - 41:33)

This dialog-heavy scene will really put your front speakers to the test, especially your center channel. The scene starts with a group of people having a conversation in a police officer's room, of which their voices sound clean and natural. The scene then progresses into a more aggressive confrontation between a lawyer and her detained client in a cell, where there are more echos. Upon hearing his fate, the detainee starts screaming. His screams progressively get louder and more insane, and at the same time, the soundstage becomes increasingly wide as the screams gradually get outputted by the left and right speakers.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐

, ,

Predators (R)

, ,
Predators (R)

The Alien vs Predators series is an exciting movie classic that never fails in delivering exhilarating action, and this sequel is no different. Mercenaries of various tough backgrounds suddenly found themselves in an unknown world filled with deadly, cunning monsters, forcing them to work together with the limited firepower they have to survive another day. With our best mercenaries going against the ever-adapting predators, expect the impact of every shot and explosion to be felt through your surround channels. The rustling of leaves in a forest filled with death will come through your surround channels, subtly gearing every listener towards high alert against the deadly predators.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

, , ,

Project Power (R)

, , ,
Project Power (R)

Fiery escapes, intense armed combat, and stunning visual effects are just some of what this Netflix Originals have to offer. Your subwoofer(s) will not shy away and take on the ferocity of the explosive sequence, head-on. Ambient mumbles are carefully layered on top of other effects to bring life out of the visual presentation. Colors are as boldly presented as the engineered sound - which creates a tight immersion relationship to drown you in a myriad of non-stop action. Center channels display a seamless flow of energizing dialogue that is rendered rich and clear. Combat segments will allow marveling at its unhesitating and clean sweep. It is definitely powered loaded, so be sure that your surround system is fully armed to take it on.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

, , ,

The Punisher (TV-MA)

, , ,
The Punisher (TV-MA)

S3E8 (39:15 - 41:33)

Adapted from Marvel's comic book series, this wows right from its pilot episode. Sound effects from shots fired between the moving car and motorcycle immediately draw you into the scene with every impact clearly heard. Tires screeching seamlessly draws the perfect curve from speaker to speaker. Just mere minutes after a chaotic exchange, a huge contrast in the absence of sound will have anyone jump out of their seat when a shot from a sniper delivered through your channels.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐

, ,

Pulp Fiction (R)

, ,
Pulp Fiction (R)

This cult-classic is definitely one to play if you want to gauge the overall soundstage of your surround system. It features a balanced sound design that does not overpower either channel even if you decide to blast your speakers in the iconic $5 milkshake diner scene. The film enjoys overall atmospheric subtleties that inject life into your living room. Directionality in dialogue is remarkably produced with utmost clarity. Soundtracks in this provide the extra dose of overall era immersion the film is set in.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐

, , ,

Requiem for a Dream (R)

, , ,
Requiem for a Dream (R)

Playing with the simple concept of replicating and pacing sounds, each voice that plays through your surround channels creates a whirlwind that unknowingly pulls you into each character’s mind through the different stages of their addiction. The accompanying soundtrack enhances each experience just enough to tug onto your heartstrings to feel the pain and ache. No elaborated visual effects are needed, but just really good mapping of sound effects to produce a hauntingly surreal experience that will stay etched in your mind for days to come.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐

, , ,

Roma (R)

, , ,
Roma (R)

(55:30 - 1:01:03), (1:34:18 - 1:37:40), (1:58:13 - 2:03:53)

Deservedly a 2019 Oscar Nominee for Sound Editing and Mixing, Roma stands out as one of the best recently released movies for surround sound. Throughout the entire movie, it is obvious that the directors paid close attention to ensuring that the sound followed the motion. In our first recommended scene, pay attention to the sounds of the gunshots from the left and right of you, following which, the scene becomes a social gathering with lots of chatter from your rear speakers, making the scene sound very realistic as though you are there. In the second recommended scene, pay attention to the echos inside the tunnel crowded with cars, as well as the many car honks from all around you. The third scene that we have recommended is the most impressive one. Set at a beach, you will hear ambient sounds of the waves and breeze from all surround speakers. As the character ventures further into the sea to find the child, the scene gradually intensifies with the sea becoming increasingly tumultuous. From behind, you will distinctly hear the angry waves constantly moving between the left and the right. Before you realize, you'd be at the edge of your seat.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

, , , , ,

Saving Private Ryan (R)

, , , , ,
Saving Private Ryan (R)

CHAPTER 2 (05:49 - 13:04)

This scene is perfect for any surround system. Not only is it one of the most iconic war movie scenes of all time, but it is also widely accredited to be one of the best works of surround sound engineering. As the scene begins, the large sea waves result in deep rumbles of low frequencies. As it switches to the soldiers inside the boat, you will hear the spacious ambient effects of the sea all around you. During the battle, the sounds of bullets whizzing past you, flying debris, stunning explosions, soldiers shouting frantically and heavy machine gunfire from various firing points nearby and faraway will keep you at the edge of your seat.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

, , , ,

The Shining (R)

, , , ,
The Shining (R)

Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is a timeless (and aesthetically pleasing) horror classic that showcases the director’s signature use of timing in sounds to ramp up fear and escalate emotions. No matter the scene, a sense of space can be detected, and with the carefully planned sound timings as well as the little ambient details present before the growing dominant sound travels from the surround speakers to the frontal array. You will find yourself biting into your nails, as you come face to face with the Grady Twins, stand before the blood elevator, or even the frightening Room 237. Its dramatic shift from ambient to frontal not only accelerates menacing situations but keeps you glued no matter how much you try to look away.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐

, , , ,

Sicaro (R)

, , , ,
Sicaro (R)

While gun fires and explosions are expected in this white knuckle thriller, this classic war-on-drugs movie springs an element of surprise in absolute surround immersion. Numerous action driven scenes note not only thumping soundtracks that increase your heart rate, but also, subtle kicks of atmospheric directional sounds that challenges your surround speakers to pick up and create the claustrophobic environment you see on screen. High-contrast moments in sound dynamics will bombard your environment with maximum blows through the available speakers. It truly tests how well they can handle sharp sudden blows in frequencies while preserving the sounds’ pristine clarity in the respective channels.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

, , , , , , ,

Squid Games (NC16)

, , , , , , ,
Squid Games (NC16)

Netflix takes Korean dramas to new levels with this original. Hundreds of people are forced into playing a twisted series of games for survival. The winner walks away with a huge cash prize - but everyone else dies with each round. Murderous gunshots are fired within the first round of games, and the sound of bloodspills and blood-curdling shrieks will echo through every speaker channel, evoking chills down your spine.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

, , , ,

Take Point (R)

, , , ,
Take Point (R)

The foreign mercenaries hired by the CIA quickly find themselves vastly outnumbered against a country-backed military group, with much more firepower than imagined. The soundscape comes with a complex array of effects, utilizing every speaker channel to reproduce the sound of heavy arms and explosions that constantly bombard your room at almost every turn of the movie. Quieter scenes recreate the sound of panicked movements, dialogue and breaths of these mercenaries, as they struggle to complete the mission and fight on for their survival.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

, , , ,

Taxi Driver (1976) (R)

, , , ,
Taxi Driver (1976) (R)

00:25 - 10:57

Recognized as one of the movie’s most memorable scenes, the surround sound in this opening is just as iconic. The percussion dominates before the sultry saxophone sneaks from your left and right to steal the limelight of the front surround channels. The dialog is accompanied by ambient chatters and atmospheric sounds that articulates the sonic environment of the space the character is in. The flawless transition between an echoey and busy taxi garage to the open street is one of our go-tos if you want to test for surround spaciousness. What really impresses is how artfully the background music sneaks up ever so slightly from the surround speakers to maintain the mood, and even when it isn’t playing, your ears remember them throughout.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

, , , ,

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (R)

, , , ,
Terminator 2: Judgement Day (R)

Not many sequels will live up to its predecessor, much less to say, surpass it. This is one that surpasses it. Close-shaved motorcycle chase scenes that have you on the edge on your seat, and various morphing sound effects, are just the tip of the iceberg. With Arnold Schwarzenegger fronting this, expect larger-than-life explosions that will showcase its weight as it punches straight to your chest. Endless rounds from an array of firearms will not only make sure you have your fill of bullets whizzing by you (and might have you say, Hasta la vista, baby!) but also, marvel at your surround speakers’ dynamic capabilities.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

, , , ,

Upgrade (R)

, , , ,
Upgrade (R)

Directional sound cues take centerstage in this wildly imaginative sci-fi film. Tightly coordinated ambient effects such as the delicate whirring of highly sophisticated chipsets and drones overhead latch onto your ears to propel your listening experience. To further grip your attention, the movie introduces potent bass effects from gun blasts and explosions that will have you surrender to its warm reverberation and adds weight to the gory visual cues. Fatal squelches are delivered disturbing clear. Motion in fight scenes are swift enough to take your breath away from the edge of your couch.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

, , , ,

Warrior Nun (TV-MA)

, , , ,
Warrior Nun (TV-MA)

SEASON 1 EPISODE 10 (19:33 - 24:19)

Loosely based on a 90s comic book, this Netflix Original does not disappoint with its surround sounds. In the final episode of S1, you will be transported to the middle of an ongoing Medieval fight where weapons clanking and horse neighs will greet you upon arrival. Grunts, wails, and slashes will leave its mark on your surround speakers. Scenes with purposefully slowed down motion of heavy weaponry such as waving of ax mid-air and grunts will allow you to listen to every detail of the sound trail before a shriek sneaks up on your center channels and a high-pitched ringing sound takes over from your side channels' initial track.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐

CONTACT OUR NAKAMICHI NINJAS 10AM to 6:45PM PST Weekdays. 10am - 4:45pm PST Saturday, Holidays