Blu-ray: What are your favorite hi-def moments?
Dec 11, 2008, 07:00 AM | by Gary Eng Walk
Categories: Film, I'm Just a Geek, Tech, Television
Even in this economy, lots of people will buy flat-panel TVs this holiday season, and after hooking them up, will face the same question any giddy HDTV upgrader loves to ask: âWhat movies should I cue up to show off the new set?â At any given time, I have a stack of go-to Blu-ray discs that I call upon any time I want to impress visitors with my TVâs high-def prowess. Hereâs a current list of my favorite demo material, along with the exact chapters and times of the sequences I usually play.
The Dark Knight
Chapter 21 (1:18:05-1:23:00)
Destined to become the demo disc for videophiles for years to come, TDK is chock full of demo-worthy moments. My favorite is the one in which the caped crusader mounts his Bat-bike and plays chicken with the Joker.
Wall-E (pictured)
Chapter 29 (1:20:15-1:24:15)
The red of the fattiesâ leotards really stand out in this sequence in which the Captain uses maximum effort to seize control of the Axiom.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Chapter 5 (33:30-36:58)
Itâs best to pick a scene that steers clear of the shockingly-sub-par CG effects in this film, so Indyâs motorcycle chase through the stately grounds of Marshall College is your best bet.
Iron Man
Chapter 10 (1:15:00-1:19:27)
Perhaps
the best geek moment of â08 â watching Tony Stark don the familiar red
and gold armor for the first time â is in this scene (and when he
later gets medieval on some terrorists).
Tropic Thunder
Chapter 10 (50:51-55:32)
This hilarious scene has it all: one-liners, eye-popping colors, and even a shout-out for the Blu-ray format.
Lost: The Complete Fourth Season
Disc 2, âThe Shape of Things to Come,â Chapter 2 (6:15-11:52)
Lost
in HD is great for showing off every little wrinkle and piece of
stubble on peopleâs faces. This scene not only gives you detailed
close-ups of some of the regulars, but also features a shootout and
explosion to light up your HDTV screen.
Die Another Day
Chapter 1 (08:30-13:12)
Crappy
Bond film; excellent video demo material. Cue up this part of the
opening sequence â 007 escapes the North Korean army in a hovercraft â for
a home theater spectacle. Just be ready to hit the stop button on the
remote before the Madonna theme song starts polluting your home.
Earth: The Biography
Disc 2, Chapter 5 (40:01-45:26)
Host
Iain Stewart swims with millions of golden jellyfish in the waters of
the South Pacific.
Kung-Fu Panda
Chapter 13 (42:35-45:44)
Master Oogway bids farewell in this picturesque scene punctuated with a steady cascade of flower blossoms.
After running through this sequence of Blu-ray goodness, I feel like hugging my HDTV. What about you Popwatchers? What discs do you spin in your Blu-ray or DVD player when you want to show off your fancy flat-panel TV? I limited my choices to 2008 releases, but feel free to dig back through your catalog.
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