Need help impressing the crowd

[Living Near Shamu]

I am getting ready to open up my PS3 on Xmas. What should be the first thing I should do? Something that you thought - Dang, I wish I knew this BEFORE I went through all this stuff...

1) Upgrade the firmware as soon as it boots up?
2) Try and play a movie asap and WOW the crowd (family)?
3) Any automatic settings that need to be setup (audio/video)?
4) Which movie to play after its all up and ready?
5) Calibrate TV? How?
6) Anything else I'm missing?

I want the movie experience to be the best, because my wife is one of those that if something happens, if even the tiniest little thing is not perfect, she will say - I told you not to buy it yet.

I have about 20 movies already, most of the ones you'd recommend for first time viewing. I have a decent Sony surround sound (5.1) that has worked great all this time (will update in the future) so anything that will help me even convert a few relatives would be a success.

[crackinhedz]

1) Upgrade the firmware as soon as it boots up? You pretty much have to.
2) Try and play a movie asap and WOW the crowd (family)? (firmware)
3) Any automatic settings that need to be setup (audio/video)? what kind of TV/Receiver you have?
4) Which movie to play after its all up and ready? Apocalypto or Spiderman 3
5) Calibrate TV? How? Ratatouille Bluray has calibration wizard.
6) Anything else I'm missing? nope. enjoy.

[mystiksuicide]

Id help you but we are in the same boat you are since he is getting his PS3 player on Christmas too.

[Cyorg]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

Ratatouille Bluray has calibration wizard.

Really? How do you access it? Is it in the special features?

[savage1984]

If you don't have one, buy an hdmi cable because it doesn't come with one.

[savage1984]

Originally Posted by Cyorg

Really? How do you access it? Is it in the special features?

Yeah it's under video or something, i used it. It worked well.

[Living Near Shamu]

Originally Posted by savage1984

If you don't have one, buy an hdmi cable because it doesn't come with one.

This I do already have

[bda4life]

As far as a WOW disc, I would humbly suggest House of Flying Daggers. I know the video quality is not as good as it could have been, but the video is still impressive. However, the audio is staggering IMO. I just purchased the Yamaha RX-V3800 and selected the uncompressed Chinese 5.1 audio selection. If you go to the scene where the beans are thrown against the drums (?), your ears will be rewarded.

There are many other choices for reference quality movies / scenes, but I think this is one of the best "tests" for surround sound.

Big ups to Sony for providing an uncompressed audio track even though it is in Chinese.

I am sure Apacalypto has an awesome soundtrack, but I saw the movie with my old receiver and did not get to experience its full glory. I do remember the video being top notch.

[181]

Originally Posted by savage1984

Yeah it's under video or something, i used it. It worked well.

thanks for the heads up on that. i'm using it when i get home

[Icemage]

(1) Definitely upgrade firmware ASAP.

(2) Pop in Ratatouille to wow them. It's by far the best looking HD disc (but you NEED the firmware update to run this disc properly).

(3) For heaven's sake, do NOT put in House of Flying Daggers even if you own it. This is NOT a good way to show off HD on a new TV, especially if this is a first-impressions make or break deal with your wife. Ratatouille, TMNT, Spiderman 3, any of the Pirates films, Harry Potter, all are good choices, and kid-safe as well.

[crackinhedz]

...one setting on the PS3 you may need to adjust if you do not have an HDTV capable of 24Hz.

PS3 Settings:

Settings - BD/DVD Settings - BD 1080p 24 Hz Output (HDMI) - OFF


....for some reason Sony turns this feature "on" after the new firmware updates (1.82 and up) and if you do not have a TV that is compatible you will get flicker or no picture at all. So you will need to turn it off.

[notthatRich]

I would buy the 20-25 dollar bluetooth remote, because if you are not used to the game controller you might have some trouble rotating around and selecting chapters on the discs. BTW - Spider-Man 3 does get my "Wow" vote.

[Clark Kent]

House of Flying Daggers has an absolutely stunning PCM soundtrack but one of the worst video quality yet released to Blu-ray. It will not impress any crowd.

[Living Near Shamu]

Thanks to all for your assistance with this. I will need to check if my tv is capable of handling 24hz. Blu-ray remote is a definite must as well and will make sure this is ready for the big day. Thanks!

[SuprSlow]

I think Ratatouille is the cream of the crop BD right now. It has a phenominal picture, and from all the professional as well as user reviews, the soundtrack ain't too shabby either.

It would be an excellent family-friendly demo disc

[MOONPHASE]

for the middle aged people wow them with 2001: A Space Odyessy

[TheTenth]

for incredible PQ - picture quality and AQ - audio quality, try :
- X-men the last stand
- Casino Royale
- Eragon
- Into the blue (aah Jessica Alba)
- Apocalypto

[Living Near Shamu]

I saw Apocalypto on HD last night through cable, and if it looked good on that feed, I could only image how much better it must be on blu.

[tron3]

Definately get the firmware update, but I wouldn't call this a "wow factor" for most of the family.

For best impression "Cars", or "Planet Earth". Cars will most likely go over better. "Best Christmas ever" is sure to be flowing from their lips.