Best Blu rays to showcase your system

visionary

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Apologies if there is already a thread about this (couldn't find one) but how about a poll, or simply nominations, for your favourite blu ray for picture quality.

I'm currently using Lovefilm as a source until the prices come down but I don't mind buying something if the picture is really awesome. Ratatouille BD was fantastic but so was upscaled Cars DVD on my BDP-S350.

I suspect animations will always look good though. Real film is more demanding. I was very disappointed with the BD picture quality of Close Encounters (all grainy) but the image quality of Bridge to Terabithia was so good it felt as though you could walk into the picture.

Wide range of tastes in the family - come on guys and gals, nominations please.
 
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Anonymous

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I have got about 25 Blu ray films and the best for picture qualtiy is a film i bought for my wife Hairspray . Regarding older older Films 2001 and Blade runner are fanatastic considering there age.

Also Indy 4, Iron man and Hulk 2 are very good
 
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Anonymous

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Iron Man

Dark Knight (IMAX in HD!)

Blade Runner

The Matrix

Apocalypto (often overlooked but fantastic picture and hard hitting audio)

ÿJohn Mayer (live in los angeles) ÿ

Cloverfield (The TrueHD soundtrack is amazing)

Dark City (Another overlooked fantastic film and even better in HD)

Walt Disney Pixar Short Films (Family entertainment at its best)ÿ
 

Sorreltiger

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Batman Begins and Casino Royal are often recommended and I can't disagree - the darkness of the former is wonderfully enveloping and provides an amazing background for bursts of light and colour.

I absolutely loved the Blu-Ray version of Hairspray, not just for the picture, but also the DTS-Master 7.1 soundtrack. ÿThe music is all around you on some numbers and you get full value from the huge band they put together for the film (the 'extras' about the production are very interesting IMHO). ÿIf you like musicals, I also enjoyed watching Chicago again - great film and great transfer. ÿDreamgirls isÿalso very good (picture especially).

A slightly quirky choice, which never gets mentioned, would be Stranger than Fiction.ÿI really enjoyed this film and someone had gone to enormous trouble with the soundtrack - loads of little details rather than the big blockbuster effects.

I would endorse the idea of using LoveFilm to try things out when the discs are still so expensive. ÿIt's great that the price is the same as DVDs.ÿ
 
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Anonymous

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WALL-E has the best picture and sound I have encountered yet on bluray. It is also one of the best films released this year (or any). The Incredible Hulk is also awesome for sound.
 

laserman16

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professorhat:Very surprised No Country for Old Men or 3:10 to Yuma haven't come up. Both have fantastic pictures on their respective Blu-Ray editions.

Both on my Christmas wish list. Just know they will be good if you have recommended them.
 

Gerrardasnails

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laserman16:professorhat:Very surprised No Country for Old Men or 3:10 to Yuma haven't come up. Both have fantastic pictures on their respective Blu-Ray editions.

Both on my Christmas wish list. Just know they will be good if you have recommended them.

For sound, Spiderman 3, Band of Brothers (box set), Iron Man, Ice Age 2 and Pans Labyrinth. For picture, Spiderman 3, Ratatouille, Ice Age 2, Hairspray and Big Fish.
 

moomin

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I watched kung foo panda blu-ray last night,and the picture and sound was awesome,one of Disney Pixars Finest i would say, with either core dolby digital or dolby true Hd sound track,also i would Recommend Die Hard 4 DTS master audio / Dts soundtrack,also Awesome Picture and sound through my Yamaha Dsp Z9 - with Panasonic px70 42" Plasma -Ps3,i can only get core dts or dolby digital via the ps3 through my z9,but even so,through the Yamaha dsp z9 with 7.1 speakers plus the two front effects sounds awesome.
 
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Anonymous

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Dark Knight by a mile, the sound & picture are awesome. Iron Man is pretty cool too, my wife has banned it, as she is sick of the house shaking.
 

Sorreltiger

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Just watched Mama Mia (yes, I knowÿ EVERYONE else saw it ages ago!) and it looks and sounds amazing (DTS-Master soundtrack). ÿMy other half even commented on how incredible it looked (must have been good!)
 
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Anonymous

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FrankHarveyHiFi:
As previously mentioned, the Dark Knight is a reference for audio and video. Awesome.

I've heard this a lot, but I can't agree with it. The video transfer has edge halos and there are specs on the print, both of which preclude it from being a 'reference' disc. The audio track is also unbalanced, with the bass overshadowing the dialogue and effects on occasion.

WALL-E is a reference disc. Perfect image and incredible soundtrack (although a lot of that is down to the fact that Ben Burtt crafted an amazing soundtrack to begin with). Thing with reference discs is that they only last as long as it takes for the next big thing to arrive.
 

Clare Newsome

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Sorreltiger:Just watched Mama Mia (yes, I know EVERYONE else saw it ages ago!) and it looks and sounds amazing (DTS-Master soundtrack). My other half even commented on how incredible it looked (must have been good!)

Yep, I only saw it for the first time yesterday. One of the sharpest video transfers and clearest soundtracks on Blu-ray - though the latter does mean you get to hear Pierce "Foghorn" Brosnan's singing rather more clearly than you'd like....

PS - We're working on an online feature on the subject of best Blu-ray test sequences: hope to have it up in time for Christmas, so you can all showcase your lovingly assembled systems to friends and family!
 

d4v3pum4

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Dark Knight (Excellent film, if a little over long but the visuals and audio are simply stunning. Reference disc)

Wall-E (Gorgeous picture, in fact you can pretty much add any of the Pixar stuff)

Band of Brothers (beautifully made, acted and the visuals and audio are fantastic. My favourite Bluray boxset)

Planet Earth (BBC triumphs again and shows the world how to make a wildlife documentary)

Die Hard 4.0/Iron Man (Sound tracks are excellent but the films aren't)

Casino Royale (One of the best transfers ever but can look a tad unrealistic in parts and the best Bond by a mile)

Pan's Labyrinth (Beautiful picture)

Fifth Element (re-release) (Up there with the best in terms of picture quality)

I am Legend (Great sound and picture)

Cloverfield (Thought I was going to need new double glazing)

Matrix Trilogy (Haven't watched it but would imagine the video/audio will be on a par with the HDDVD release, so therefore recommended)
 

Clare Newsome

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d4v3pum4:
Casino Royale (One of the best transfers ever but can look a tad unrealistic in parts

You men keep telling yourself that about Daniel Craig
emotion-5.gif
 

Big Chris

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My Mrs reckons he looks like Mr Potato-Head.

She can see the appeal though, and reckon he's the only Bond who looks like he can handle himself......In a fight I mean.........
 

visionary

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Mentasm:
WALL-E is a reference disc. Perfect image and incredible soundtrack

Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing Wall-E but in my OP I offered the view that (modern) animation will always look brilliant even on DVD. I'm especially after a choice of the best of the "real picture" films. Between you all there's certainly a good range of genres (and opinions
emotion-1.gif
). Thanks for all the input so far, keep them coming.

Will look forward to the article Clare mentioned also.
 

PJPro

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Paulthefilmfan:The Dark Knight and Hellboy 2, Awesome.
Just got these today from play.com. I think I'll go for Hellboy first.
 

PJPro

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Big Chris:My Mrs reckons he looks like Mr Potato-Head.

She can see the appeal though, and reckon he's the only Bond who looks like he can handle himself......In a fight I mean.........
I'd heard that Sean was a bit of a fighting man.
 

d4v3pum4

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visionary:Mentasm:
WALL-E is a reference disc. Perfect image and incredible soundtrack

Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing Wall-E but in my OP I offered the view that (modern) animation will always look brilliant even on DVD. I'm especially after a choice of the best of the "real picture" films. Between you all there's certainly a good range of genres (and opinions
emotion-1.gif
). Thanks for all the input so far, keep them coming.

Will look forward to the article Clare mentioned also.

True to an extent but if you compare the DVD then Bluray versions, there is no contest. My nephew has Cars on DVD, which I used for the THX calibration (okay I watched it too!) but I have compared it to the Bluray and the difference is significant, particularly on a pj screen. The Simpsons on the other hand (probably different animation techniques) is pretty dire, I didn't even enjoy the film to be honest and the picture quality was nothing special.
 

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