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Profile of Jeff Montgomery

Jeff Montgomery

Site Reviewer

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Vital Statistics

Age Group My 10th birthday party was held at a screening of Star Wars during its first week in theatres. You do the math.
Video Likes Well-transferred, sharp, anamorphic widescreen transfers.
Video Dislikes Edge enhancement, soft focus - Yuk!
Audio Likes Gimme surround sound effects! The more bells and whistles the better. If someone in a movie is talking from off screen and behind me spatially, I want to hear them from the rear speakers, even if it means their voice cuts to the front speakers as soon as the film cuts to a shot of them. Check out Antz for an excellent example of what I'm talking about.
Audio Dislikes Muddy dialogue, excessive volume on music overpowering the dialogue - Yuk!
Favourite DVDs Antz, Cider House Rules, Halloween, Tron, and X-Men.
Least Favourite DVDs Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Region 4, try watching any of the dance numbers in Pan & Scan - horrendous!), Dune (Original release Region 4, are you kidding? I returned it after viewing the opening credits.)
Most Eagerly Awaited DVDs

Opinions About Specific Movies and their DVDs

Titanic I was totally moved by Titanic in the theatre. I had an average reaction to a repeat viewing via DVD. I can't decide if it was the movie, or the format that caused this.
The Matrix Great Movie. If you own a DVD player, you should have this disc. I actually prefer the DVD moire artefact visible on the tracking shot towards the TVs. It adds to the creepiness of the moment, and heightens the surreal feeling of the scene.
Terminator 2 Impressive sequel. Average DVD. The person who made the decision to apply the extreme level of edge enhancement should be shot! What a wasted opportunity!
Star Wars What can I say? I saw it over 100 times during its first run in the theatres. It was the first movie I saw on video. I know every line by heart. I can answer the most detailed trivia questions regarding the movies AND the expanded universe. DVD? Believe it or not, I can honestly say I can wait. Given the recent re-releases, and the current prequel releases, I'd like to come back to this saga after 4 or 5 years away. However, when it is finally released, I would prefer a choice between the original and the updated versions. I can dream can't I? We got Close Encounters fixed for the DVD didn't we? 
Godzilla This was one of the first DVDs I ever saw. I never saw it in the theatres because of the bad word of mouth. I loved it! It's just a great big old monster movie, and one of the better "giant monster terrorizes the city" movies I've ever seen. Come on, they showed you every possible scenario of turning Godzilla loose on New York. What else were you expecting? Hamlet?
Independence Day Fantastic movie the first time I saw it on opening night. This movie got more annoying with repeat viewings. The DVD was interesting. Me like seamless branching!

Equipment

DVD Player Sony DVP-C670P , using Component output
Display Sony VPL-VW10HT LCD Projector, displayed on a flat white wall . Calibrated with AVIA Guide To Home Theatre. This display device is 16x9 capable.
Audio Decoder Built in to amplifier/receiver . Calibrated with AVIA Guide To Home Theatre.
Amplification Sony STR DE-845
Speakers Front - Teac LS-S1000F, Centre - Teac LS-C1000, Rears -Teac LS S1000R, Subwoofer - Teac LS-W1000 (passive)

Top 10 DVDs


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