If you had one chance to convert someone

[Darth Marcus]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I would show this person the 70th Anniversary Blu-ray of Casablanca.



This restored transfer of Casablanca is a good example of how old movies no longer look like "old movies" when they are viewed in high definition, and it is a great example of how the world of Blu-ray elevates familiar well-loved movies to a new level so that we feel as through we are watching these movies for the first time all over again. I would then steer this person to the Blu-ray transfers of The Adventures of Robin Hood, King Kong (1933), North By Northwest, Bela Lugosi's Dracula, the Sean Connery James Bond films, Seven Samurai, and many others.

The best thing about Blu-ray is experiencing old movies that have been lovingly restored.

I have a friend who LOVES Casablanca. If they weren't already converted I would definitely show them the 70th Anniversary disc.

[MifuneFan]

I think the best answer to the op's question would have to be a selection that is a personal favorite of that person.Showing Tron Legacy to someone who hates those kinds of movies wouldn't do much for them. Showing them a Blu-ray for a movie they've watched a dozen or so times in SD will likely do more to sell them on the perks of going blu.

[Jr7936]

either thin red line, helicopter shooting over the Vietnam village in apocalypse now, or any of the racing scenes in fast and the furious movies for the audio alone to blow their mind

[Yungheat]

I would have to say alien would be a good choice also

[JavaJulien]

If I'm just doing a "Visual Demo", then something like the aforementioned Tron: Legacy, Avatar, and even I, Robot would be perfect.

My personal "go-to" movie has got to be Ben-Hur though. The transfer is absolutely gorgeous.

[ORDER66]

If they want to see what a "classic" movie looks/sounds like:



If they want to see what a "cgi/sci-fi" movies looks/sounds like:



If they want to see what a "modern action” flick looks/sounds like:



If they want to see what a "western" looks/sounds like:

[Batmon77]

I showed my buddy Tron, but he already expected the quality to be high like the film, so it was no big deal except for the AQ.

So an "old" 60s/70s film that got upgraded would be the more "oh wow" way I would go.

Something on the order of 2001, Taxi-Driver, or Blade Runner.

[Rich1983]

I would select a few different discs. I would first show them The Avengers and the remake of Total Recall to display the amazing picture and sound quality of the technology. Then I would show them Jaws and Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein to show how wonderful the technology updates the quality of classic films.

[Brewc]

The hands down my favorite is The Searchers for anything pre Star Wars. It was one if first HD-DVDs I got when I bought the Xbox drive and second I got when I got a ps3. It's so visually stunning and showed what the format for all films should be, my next choices would be LOA or Bridge on River Kwai or Blade Runner. Since digital filming most likely Avatar as that blowed my GF away when we saw the blu and she didn't think HDTV was a big deal.

[Spinlok]

TRON: Legacy, no doubt! When I worked in A/V at Fry's, I used to get it playing on as many TVs as possible because it looked so darn nice and sounded so good on the attached audio systems. It's a hard one to beat!

[the sordid sentinel]

Audio: No Country For Old Men. Don't know if this gets a lot of love from audiophiles, but it is my favorite modern soundtrack. Moody and ultra discrete.

Video: Disney WOW Calibration disc. If that purple flower doesn't do the trick they are hopeless.

[ahmedreda]

I would say Avatar for Picture / 3d , Definitely Tron for audio. I watched it at -5 db and it was awesome!

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by mdonovan

.... to blu ray based on video/audio alone ... What disc would you select and why ?

Too many mega threads to comb through.

Back then, and even today, I'd use that Paramount logo, where we see a dingy SD Mountain suddenly Clairitin-wiped into HD.
I remember when that summed everything up, for those who actually did need converting for the first time--You were expecting maybe DVD?

[Canada]

Originally Posted by Darth Marcus

Depends on who I'm trying to convert. If I'm trying to convert some of friends who really only care about effects, I'd probably show them Avatar or something similar. If I'm trying to convert a film fanatic, I'd probably show them Taxi Driver or Lawrence of Arabia.

Definite + 1 as the old adage goes you have to know your audience. If I was showing a friend a Blu ray I would probably show them the Dark Knight Rises (IMAX scenes) or Avatar, if I was showing my aunt I would show her The 70th Anniversary Edition of Casablanca or Lawrence of Arabia.

[jhan8185]

IMO:
Apocalypse Now Full Disclosure is the champ of this topic. It's still one of the best movie/blu ray viewing experiences I've ever had and I had already seen it several times before in SD. You need to have a half-way decent surround sound system for full effect, of course.

Coming in at a close 2nd is The Thin Red Line. Just the menu screen alone is impressive.

Avatar would be the best example to use when converting a more casual viewer.

There are some movies I have not seen on Blu Ray yet but I don't see anything beating Apocalypse when you factor in Film/Picture/Sound quality with some decent extra features to boot.

[timcat4843]

The 3D picture quality is great and the 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, is absolutely stunning.

In chapter 10, when the Super Lycan approaches, the beast footsteps contain some of the
deepest and most powerful bass that's ever been put on Blu-ray.
It's the kind of bass you "feel" deep within your sternum.
The entire movie contains great bass scenes like that one.

Also, at the beginning of the disc, before the feature presentation, your treated to four
3D movie trailers, all of which feature reference picture and lossless audio quality.

The four trailers are Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 3D, The Amazing Spider-Man 3D,
Men in Black 3 3D and Resident Evil: Retribution 3D.

So in theory, all you need to do, is pop Underworld: Awakening 3D into your 3D Blu-ray
player and use it as a reference demo disc, to convert folks to Blu-ray.

[CaptainYoda]

What I used to convince my wife was Cars. When it first came out on Blu it looked amazing! Still does!

[seabterry]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

TRON: Legacy. No question about it.

[Show spoiler]Epic Fight Scenes: #5 - TRON: Legacy (Sam vs. Rinzler) - YouTube
TRON: Legacy - Made it. - YouTube

This is a very good start! One of the best discs with reference AQ and PQ the whole way through, and it has a good 3D option for those who like that.

[mdonovan]

How about Band of Brothers ? ... It has a very unique pop up extra system with little pip's and has really nice video and sound.

Right now I am going with Casablanca, Apocolypse Now FD and JAWS ,,, maybe Lady and the Tramp.

But if I have tick one I am thinking BOB.

[seabterry]

Originally Posted by timcat4843

The 3D picture quality is great and the 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, is absolutely stunning.

In chapter 10, when the Super Lycan approaches, the beast footsteps contain some of the
deepest and most powerful bass that's ever been put on Blu-ray.
It's the kind of bass you "feel" deep within your sternum.
The entire movie contains great bass scenes like that one.

Also, at the beginning of the disc, before the feature presentation, your treated to four
3D movie trailers, all of which feature reference picture and lossless audio quality.

The four trailers are Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 3D, The Amazing Spider-Man 3D,
Men in Black 3 3D and Resident Evil: Retribution 3D.

So in theory, all you need to do, is pop Underworld: Awakening 3D into your 3D Blu-ray
player and use it as a reference demo disc, to convert folks to Blu-ray.

I saw this before I got my home theater. Seems like I will need to revisit this and give the 3D disc a spin.