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Annihilation (R)

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Annihilation (R)

With its well-orchestrated sound effects, this sci-fi horror film could literally take your breath away. By placing a huge emphasis on ambient sound effects, you will arrive at The Shimmer in no time. Intricate layers of very discrete surround sound provide not only directionality and depth but also builds a mood that creates a lasting impression, taking you further into the character’s position. During action-driven scenes, bullets will puncture through your surround sound bubble, drawing a very distinct contrast that will shock you.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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A Quiet Place (PG-13)

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A Quiet Place (PG-13)

(42:00 - 55:00), (1:19:00 - 1:24:00)

Who would have expected a movie based on being quiet to have so much sound. Get ready for some jump scares as noise-sensitive creatures are hungry for humans. The first recommended scene is super intense, where you will hear spine-tingling screeches of the creature from all directions very abruptly, as it tries to hunt a lady in her home. Soon afterward, you will hear whistles and explosions from behind you, as the family tries to distract the creature with noise to make it go away. In the second recommended scene, one of the characters attempts to agitate the creature's sensitive hearing by playing a high-pitched feedback noise, which is reproduced by all surround speakers, truly putting the high-frequency reproduction capabilities of your surround speakers to the test.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Avengers: End Game (PG-13)

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Avengers: End Game (PG-13)

This tribute piece to Marvel's 10th year in the cinematic universe – (and also, the fastest and highest gross blockbuster to date!) is nothing short of good surround sounds. You will be fully transported to the center of every action. Very delicate yet noticeable ambient sounds, even in non-action driven sequence immerses you further into the movie. While your subwoofer(s) will surely perform at its peak and possibly, rattle your walls and couch with every earth-shattering explosion, we encourage you to also listen out for the sound of falling debris that emanates through your surround speakers. The enchanting and electrifying superpower sound effects reproduced across all directions will swaddle you into the heat of the battle. Sound effects are so realistic that you could possibly have a taste of how it is like to be Iron Man in his suit whenever he communicates with Friday. Unique to this installment is also how the emotional aspect is communicated with sounds – with soft grunts, heaves, sighs and even dragging footsteps that reinforces the humanity of even the worst monster.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Avatar (PG-13)

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Avatar (PG-13)

This movie’s audio is just every bit of impressive against all their numerous awards in production and visual effects. As Jack makes his first foray into the Pandora as an Avatar, the ethereal portrayal of the variety of sounds and soft background music from your surround speakers leaves a vivid impression in your living room about a perfect life existing outside of this world. Breaking that illusion is the concluding war between humans and Pandora’s natives. Overhead helicopters, rapid firing of Ammos, and missiles promise a full immersion with each effect displayed crisply. Every explosion packs a meaning punch straight to your chest and solidifies why this is unforgettable.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Band of Brothers (TV-MA)

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Band of Brothers (TV-MA)

“He is beauty, he is grace, he is the definition of maintaining precision in sound in chaotic scenes.” The movie builds up sound familiarity through their combat sequences, which allows easing into the epic war scene. Your soundstage will remain actively engaged through the mayhem of realistic shots will seemingly fly past you from all directions. Echoes add on sound depth to sink you deeper into the bed of sound immersion. Rumbles from aircraft propellers are heard and felt. Chaotic firearm exchanges and destructive blasts from explosives highlight order in chaos, with each frequency gracefully pumping out life to shake the walls of your space. This is a movie that would put both your surround system as well as the relationship with your neighbors to the test.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Battleship (PG-13)

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Battleship (PG-13)

(40:50 - 49:10), (53:15-56:08),

(01:31:40 - 01:36:10), (01:40 - 01:56:20)

Remember the thrill and nerve-wracking feelings you had when playing the board game, Battleship? Multiply that by 10 folds when you load this up. The sequences in this movie confront your soundstage straight-on with its low-frequency dynamics. Especially for dual or more subwoofers, it leaves no room to escape from its perfectly pressurized impact. Scenes that feature larger-than-life battleships that emerge from down under are the absolute definition of breath-taking. Ambient sounds sync perfectly with scenes to create a tight correlation with the video presentation to take you straight on board with the Captain at sea.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Beetlejuice (PG)

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Beetlejuice (PG)

Make way for Beetlejuice’s whimsical, humorous, and theatrical Halloween entrance into your living room. An active mix of dynamic sound objects wakes the movies up to life through its now, wider soundstage. Layered in ambient effects when the couple discovers the oddity in their house exhibits perfect sound spatial-ness. Overhead sounds are accurately placed to elevate the whole experience for the perfect sound encapsulation.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐

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Better Call Saul (TV-MA)

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Better Call Saul (TV-MA)

SEASON 5 EPISODE 10 (48:10 - 53:25)

We all know that action-packed scenes typically involve lots of loud surround effects to keep you at the edge of your seat. Well, this definitely doesn’t disappoint. At the climax of season 5’s finale of one of our favorite TV shows, this scene is set late at night in a dark, compact kitchen. It starts with intense music that makes you feel claustrophobic like you are there witnessing everything first-hand, followed by chaotic gunfire of which you can decipher where the gunshots are coming from and aimed at with surround sound. Pay attention to how the surround sound moves across the screen when the kitchen items are shattering one by one. At the same time, feel the chest-thumping bass from all the gunfire.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Bohemian Rhapsody (PG-13)

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Bohemian Rhapsody (PG-13)

Watch this if you do not believe that sound moves you. The First Aid concert before Freddie Mercury bids the entertainment world goodbye, shows extraordinary immersion that guarantees hair-standing on your arms. The way the crowd sings along in the background to every word in the lyrics showcases the depth of both the ambient layers as well as their love for Queen. Camera pans provide stunning directionality with the music traveling effortlessly through the drivers of your speakers. Passionately reproduced bass during hit tracks, “We Will Rock You”, “Radio Ga Ga”, and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" will have you feel that you time-traveled to the live gig. The perfect homage to the legendary flamboyant rockstar that redefined everything you have come to love in music while showcasing surround immersion at one of its finest.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Bird Box (R)

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Bird Box (R)

(48:28 - 43:03), (55:35 - 1:03:08), (1:42:32 - 1:52:39)

This movie will give your surround speakers a real treat. It has many layers of surround effects, both ambient as well as directional, that will surely impress. Listen to the aggressive movement of water from all directions and hear the rapid bubbles when you are trapped underwater. Hear the gushes of wind causing the rattling of leaves beside you in a forest, and birds chirping behind you at a distance. As the last scene intensifies, you will hear jingling bells and panicky whispers coming from all directions, so clear and crisp that you will think they are actually real!

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Blade Runner 2049 (R)

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Blade Runner 2049 (R)

One of those rare sequels that live up to its predecessor, Blade Runner 2049 pairs its visually impactful cyber-punk style with audio that is just as breathtaking. The movie entails endless subtle and overhead sounds (Think: Rain, overcrowded streets shuffling through, mechanical and electrical whirring sounds, plus more!) that will give your surround channels a full workout. At the same time, Its use of unobtrusive yet impactful bass notes gives some added "oomph" for a new full neo-noir experience that is guaranteed to immerse you into its realm.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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The Book of Eli (R)

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The Book of Eli (R)

49:50 - 54:18

Set 30 years after the war turned the World into a wasteland, this is the perfect surround detail ground. This scene features a no-nonsense bullet whizzing by experience, with every shot fired by enemies taking its turn to perform through the drivers of your speakers, with only light breeze as accompaniment in the background. The sandy landscape makes it perfect to not only feel every step Eli takes as he dodges the bullet, but it also leaves a lingering trail to continuously fill the encapsulation before the next action takes over its spot in the drivers.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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The Christmas Chronicles 2 (PG)

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The Christmas Chronicles 2 (PG)

The Christmas Chronicles are known to be full of excitement, and this one is no exception. Quieter scenes are filled with ambient sounds of Christmas bells ringing and elves working in factories that churn out presents everyone loves. Later, As an enemy seeks to stop Christmas from ever happening again, follow the people that saved Christmas as they battle it out on flying reindeers that utilize your surround channels to seemingly rush by your seat, complete with the sound and impact of massive spells being broken.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Clash of the Titans (PG-13)

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Clash of the Titans (PG-13)

This highly driven action film on Greek Gods and Demigods VS Hades is definitely a surround sound treat. Precision in every detail’s articulation of each win-or-die battle invites itself to transform your room to sync with the on-screen activity. Every deadly blow instantly rushes to your sweetspot from your subwoofer(s), allowing you to feel the mythical creatures’ fury. Sounds of despairs channel through your surround channels are realistically reproduced and the overall mood is further enhanced by the overhead lightning and raging waters that bombard your surround bubble.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Cloverfield (R)

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Cloverfield (R)

Through the clever use of viewing the whole film through the character’s handheld camcorder, J.J Abram’s most experimental piece to date will delight anyone, seeking for an adventure from their couch. Bass heads will LOVE the smooth and warm reproduction of various tremors from earth-shaking bomb explosions and buildings collapsing - with these scenes happening frequently to tease your senses. A diverse ambient mix creates sound dimension to submerge you into the destruction and panic that will stimulate the mind into believing that everything is happening around you, especially with the varying dialogue volumes based on how far the subjects are in focus on the camcorder. It heightens your surround experience by placing directional overhead sounds from the choppers and bombs that drop onto the cityscape. It a reference masterpiece of how sound and sight can result in a truly frightening experience when done right.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs (PG)

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Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs (PG)

Bigger (and most probably better!) than the largest available size at McDonald’s, this movie serves up clever use of amazing colors to accentuate the ginormous descending food with a side of exquisite and precisely timed cinematic surround sounds. The sound presentation focuses on creating an ethereal atmosphere by building a wide soundstage. You will notice a delicious flow of surround sound energy that not outshine one another and pick up on a lot of delicate ambient effects such as light whirring of gadgets, squishies from jellos, rumbling, and of course, “oohs” and “ahhs” that keep this dinner party going. Bass in this, takes on the supporting role to actively bring out the life and give an added sound dimension to complete your audio dining experience at Swallow Town.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Collateral (R)

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Collateral (R)

Directional sound takes the spotlight in this. Every overdriven, screeching car, gun exchange, and heroic act is reproduced effortlessly clear. Surround channels are actively engaged throughout to sync with the video presentation and inject heart-racing excitement in Max’s attempt to escape from the hitmen. Punches from the subwoofer(s) add depth in the sound field while the accompanying background music scores layers within the action. Panic-stricken screams from bystanders emanate through your surround speakers to create a realistic on-screen portrayal that highlights the crescendo of this action-driven movie.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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Coming 2 America

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Coming 2 America

When an African Monarch King learns that he must build a relationship with his long-lost son, expect mayhem as African tradition meets modern American standards. As the African monarchy tries to get along with westernized ways and family and political standoffs ensue, expect a night full of laughter as the comical dialogue goes off from your center channels, as every hit from the African percussion makes their impact felt through your subwoofer(s)

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐

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The Core (PG-13)

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The Core (PG-13)

Be engulfed in the sound of wild lightning super storms, crumbing infrastructure, molten lava, and bleeding-edge drilling machine in this thrilling sci-fi movie. Centering most of its moneymaker in larger-than-life explosive actions, you can expect nothing but the best bass experience that takes over your room by sheer undistorted force.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐

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The Covenant (PG-13)

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The Covenant (PG-13)

When a group with supernatural powers find themselves forced into locking horns on a mysterious entity that is even more powerful than them, expect nothing but an epic listening experience. The force and impact from every spell cast (and at some points, the level of creepiness) can be clearly felt through your subwoofers, with the sound of falling debris, explosions and licking flames clearly heard through every speaker channel. The movie is also topped off with the sound of rain and stormy weather to add depth to the scene and showcase your speaker's ability to reproduce height effects, with moments of clear dialogue and old school rock-and-roll recreating the club atmosphere within your home.

IMMERSIVENESS RATING: ⭐ ⭐

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