# Recommend some movies to make the best use of my new TV! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [September 21, 2023, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489 "2023-09-21T14:27:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Celtic\_Kitsune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celtic_kitsune/32/12086_2.png) [@Celtic\_Kitsune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celtic_Kitsune)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/1 "2023-09-21T14:27:38Z")
Please, danke, thank you very much šŸ˜‰ I bought my last TV fourteen years ago and havenā€™t had one at all for the past three, however I decided to shell out and purchased a swish Samsung with sound-bar and bass speaker. Itā€™s very neat, my question is could you please recommend some recent movies to make best use of it, for the spectacle I mean but if itā€™s a good movie so much the better. I do like sci-fi in particular but havenā€™t been following recent trends, last ones I saw were The Martian, Arrival and Interstellarā€¦actually it might be worth picking up a 4K version of the latter. Top Gun Maverick is already on the list šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/2 "2023-09-21T14:41:35Z")
Give us a little more criteria to work with. Do you like superhero movies? How about Godzilla and King Kong? A recent thread discussed Conan the Barbarian, not that good altogether IMHO, but certainly filled with striking visuals. Or do you prefer real(ish) life movies, and how about contemporary action flicks? Baby Driver is a enjoyable viewing experience that has the action time and edited to synchronized with an exciting sound score that even my less than optimal musical ear can appreciate. All of the Mission Impossible movies fit in that category I think, though I havenā€™t watched any recently. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/3 "2023-09-21T14:46:40Z")
In no particular order: - Blade Runner 2049 - Mad Max: Fury Road - 2001: A Space Odyssey - John Wick (trilogy) - The Matrix - Star Wars (any of them I would think) ---
**Author:** ![Celtic\_Kitsune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celtic_kitsune/32/12086_2.png) [@Celtic\_Kitsune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celtic_Kitsune)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/4 "2023-09-21T15:01:05Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Give us a little more criteria to work with. Do you like superhero movies? How about Godzilla and King Kong? A recent thread discussed Conan the Barbarian, not that good altogether IMHO, but certainly filled with striking visuals. > > Or do you prefer real(ish) life movies, and how about contemporary action flicks? Baby Driver is a enjoyable viewing experience that has the action time and edited to synchronized with an exciting sound score that even my less than optimal musical ear can appreciate. All of the Mission Impossible movies fit in that category I think, though I havenā€™t watched any recently. Well Iā€™ll watch pretty much anything in any genre if its good but really this was just so I could appreciate the spectacle. I donā€™t dislike superhero movies but donā€™t find them very memorable. Thanks for the recommendations! ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/5 "2023-09-21T15:06:01Z")
One thing to keep in mind before you upgrade other equipment to 4K (if you havenā€™t already) is viewing distance. You have to be really close to a 4K tv to notice the difference between 4K and HD. [![](https://i.rtings.com/images/optimal-viewing-distance-television-graph-size.png) ](https://i.rtings.com/images/optimal-viewing-distance-television-graph-size.png) [From here.](https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/by-size/size-to-distance-relationship) If your set is 65", you should be sitting between 4 and 8 feet away to perceive the improved quality of 4K. If youā€™re more than that, thereā€™s no point in getting 4K media or hardware (e.g., Blu-ray player, streaming device, etc.). When I bought my first (so far only) 4K set, a 50" that was the largest the would fit in the space, I thought Iā€™d get a 4K Roku. But since weā€™re sitting about ten feet away, the enhanced resolution isnā€™t visible. Iā€™m hoping to get a 65- or 75-inch set sometime, and rearrange the seating so weā€™re close enough to get the benefit. As for movies, any of the short nature documentaries shot on IMAX film will have the absolute highest quality. Or the handful of Hollywood films shot on IMAX film (mostly by Christopher Nolan) or standard 70mm (e.g. Tarantinoā€™s _Hateful Eight_). Hereā€™s a site with more than you ever want to know about 70mm: [In70mm.com](https://in70mm.com/) But make sure youā€™re up close to the screen! ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/6 "2023-09-21T15:07:32Z")
Iā€™d go with Master and Commander, which won best the cinematography Oscar when competing with final chapter of Lord of the Rings. Although Lord of Rings would also be a very good choice. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/7 "2023-09-21T15:19:37Z")
I meant to mention every single Bond movie. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/8 "2023-09-22T06:56:16Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > One thing to keep in mind before you upgrade other equipment to 4K (if you havenā€™t already) is viewing distance. You have to be really close to a 4K tv to notice the difference between 4K and HD. When we bought our first 4K TV (because Mr. Legend needed it _for work_), we got one that was way too big for our teensy living room. Itā€™s good to know that weā€™ve been properly appreciating our video quality! ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/9 "2023-09-22T07:21:27Z")
The thing that I most enjoyed watching recently, in terms of visual pleasure, was _Better Call Saul._ I could just about re-watch a lot of it with no sound. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/10 "2023-09-22T07:38:25Z")
As someone who used to work at Blockbuster, I can tell you that every time a new format came out, we would always play _The Fifth Element_, _Independence Day,_ and one of the _Indiana Jones_ movies to really show off the technology. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/11 "2023-09-22T08:18:55Z")
_Interstellar_ was already mentioned. Thinking about the HD movies in my collection that really show up well on a large-screen HD TV, _Titanic_ and _Jurassic Park_ in 1080p are fantastic (I donā€™t have 4K). ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/12 "2023-09-22T10:16:19Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Iā€™d go with Master and Commander, which won best the cinematography Oscar when competing with final chapter of Lord of the Rings. Although Lord of Rings would also be a very good choice. Good call. Should be an excellent test of the soundbar too. I have got an old fashioned multi speaker surround sound system and **M&C** is a film that really shows it off, with all the creaking and howling and explosions. **Gladiator** is another great film for being imersed in sound. And now I feel very old because my dvd copy of M&C must be at least 19 years old now! ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/13 "2023-09-22T10:17:59Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I meant to mention every single Bond movie. High definition really does dear old Roger Moore very few favours šŸ˜† (I say this as someone becoming increasingly wrinkly). ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/14 "2023-09-22T10:25:56Z")
_Pacific Rim_ and _Avatar_ are visual spectacles. Also _Prometheus_. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/15 "2023-09-22T11:57:59Z")
You might look at this list of movies released in IMAX: > **[List of films released in IMAX](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_released_in_IMAX)** > > This is a list of films released in IMAX which use IMAX, a motion-picture film format and projection standard. IMAX cameras and film stock are rarely used for mainstream films; the cameras are heavy and the film stock is expensive. However, since 2002, some feature films shot with IMAX digital cameras or on original 35mm film stock have undergone IMAX Digital Media Remastering (DMR) processing for showing both in 70mm IMAX theaters and in IMAX Digital theaters. > Several animated titles (Fantas... ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/16 "2023-09-22T13:09:15Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > High definition really does dear old Roger Moore very few favours šŸ˜† (I say this as someone becoming increasingly wrinkly). I believe Moore could have been the best Bond, that is if he had started years earlier. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/17 "2023-09-22T13:40:24Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > - Mad Max: Fury Road Turn all the lights in the house off and the Base way up. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/18 "2023-09-22T14:11:44Z")
As that link says, and as I mentioned above, ā€œIMAX cameras and film stock are rarely used for mainstream films; the cameras are heavy and the film stock is expensive.ā€ It goes on to say that ā€œsince 2002, some feature films shot with IMAX digital cameras or on original 35mm film stock have undergone IMAX Digital Media Remastering (DMR) processing for showing both in 70mm IMAX theaters and in IMAX Digital theaters.ā€ However, this does not mean that a Hollywood film available on DVD or streaming will be available in the IMAX DMR edition, or even if it is, that the difference between it and a standard version will be visible in home video. The latest IMAX digital projection systems are 4K (and older ones are only 2K), so DMR films are mastered at 4K, which was superior when most conventional digital theatrical projection was 2K and all home video was HD (a little less than 2K). But now that pretty much everything is 4K, the differences are subtle at best, and not worth paying any premium for in the home video space. However, as I said above, the short science and nature documentaries shot on IMAX film (and the few features shot partly on IMAX film) were mastered at 6K or 8K (sometimes even higher) and that difference does show up even when released to 4K home video. Here is Wikiā€™s list of those films, although only a fraction of them have been released to home video. > **[List of IMAX films](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_IMAX_films)** > > This is a list of films shot partially or in full with IMAX cameras, either on 15/70 film, with the Phantom 65 IMAX 3D, with the ARRI Alexa IMAX, with other IMAX-certified digital cameras or IMAX Live Events shot with IMAX-certified cameras. > Films that may have been projected onto IMAX screens using a standard 35mm print, such as Star Wars: Episode III ā€“ Revenge of the Sith, are not listed. The US premiere dates are displayed where available. Due of the ease of downconverting, most IMAX 3D fi... ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/19 "2023-09-22T15:02:54Z")
Came to post 5th Element. For color (over) saturation, the Mike Myers Bond sendups are great. Saving Private Ryan also recommended for sound. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2023, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489/20 "2023-09-22T15:39:11Z")
Thereā€™s David Lean classics like _Lawrence of Arabia_ and _The Bridge on the River Kwai_. The MCU movies range from good to great. And donā€™t forget animated movies; _Finding Nemo, The Lion King, Mulan, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Spirited Away, Toy Story_, etc [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-movies-to-make-the-best-use-of-my-new-tv/990489.md?page=2)