Oscars 2022 | The Most Demo-Worthy Scenes
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Kaleidescape customers’ favorite scenes from this year’s Oscar nominees turn out to be—not surprisingly—great home theater demos as well
by John Sciacca
March 22, 2022
The Cineluxe reviews team has been diligently watching and reviewing as many of this year’s nominated films as possible, with 27 reviews posted. With the Oscars being handed out on March 27, there isn’t a lot of time left to check out any of the movies you may have missed. No worries! With the help of Kaleidescape, we’ve compiled a list of the top-viewed scenes from many of the nominees, giving you a chance to take a quick sample and get a taste of the film or just refresh your memory before the big event.
Besides delivering films in the highest audio and video quality available anywhere, Kaleidescape bookmarks the pivotal scenes and songs within a film. These are often the defining moments, like “The Cantina” from Star Wars: A New Hope, “Running from the Boulder” from Raiders of the Lost Ark, or “Wounded in the Buttocks” from Forrest Gump.
Not too surprisingly, the three films that dominated the Top 25 scenes viewed by Kaleidescape owners were all big, action-filled blockbusters bursting with replayable, demo-worthy moments. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings had five of the highest-ranking scenes, including Nos. 1, 2, and 3, while Dune and No Time to Die grabbed seven of the Top 25.
Below are some selections from the 65 most-watched scenes, with each scene’s viewing popularity rank out of the 65 and running time.
Cruella
“Cruella Has Arrived” (No. 31 | 3:55)
The film’s Oscar-nominated costume design is on fine display here as Cruella makes her grand entrance into the Baronness’s black-and-white ball. The home is filled with partygoers wearing a variety of formal outfits observing the dress code (“No color”) when Cruella makes a huge splash by first destroying a champagne tower and then burning off her white outer coat to reveal a show-stealing blood-red dress. You can practically hear each piece of glass shatter and skitter across the wood floor before music fills the room as Cruella refuses to go quietly.
“Rebelliousness Turns to Guilt” (No. 35 | 3:56)
At just 7 minutes into the film, we meet young Estella sneaking her way into a party at a mansion filled with people dressed in French Revolution-era garb (again showing off why Cruella was nominated for costume and makeup). Notice the sheer volume, variety, and attention to detail on all the outfits as the camera pans around the room, the 4K HDR transfer giving texture to all the different fabrics.
Dune (2021)
“The Harkonnens Arrive” (No. 6 | 2:20)
Coming about halfway in, this is the most traditionally sci-fi blockbuster-esque action sequence in the film, so it’s no real surprise that it’s the most popular scene from Dune. You get a really good sense of the film’s excellent visual effects and sound design. But viewed outside the context of the story, it’s mostly just “loud things go boom,” which certainly makes it appealing as home-cinema demo material.
“Saving the Miners” (No. 7 | 5:40)
A little over an hour in, this stunning rescue sequence is probably the best in the entire film for demonstrating Dune‘s seamless effects work and its innovative and intense sound design. It’s also the best subwoofer demo of the year, thanks largely to the underground undulations of the mostly unseen—but heard and felt—sandworm.
“A Test of Control” (No. 9 | 4:45)
This is the scene director Denis Villeneuve had to get right for his Dune adaptation to be effective. It’s a master class in costume design, sound mixing, cinematography, and economy of storytelling, and the performances are simply spot-on. HDR grading is also brilliantly used to add depth and nuance to an incredibly dark scene.
Encanto
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (No. 16 | 3:36)
Never doubt the musical prowess of Lin-Manuel Miranda, who co-wrote this catchy tune you’ve probably heard even if you haven’t watched Encanto, as it recently hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making “Bruno” the second Disney song ever top reach No. 1! (“A Whole New World” from Aladdin was the first to do so in 1993.) My daughter Audrey loves this song and plays it on Spotify all the time! The Atmos mix helps you appreciate the layering of voices during this ensemble number, which completely fill the room and come from all sides.
“The Family Madrigal” (No. 20 | 4:16)
This song plays right after the opening title comes up and is my personal favorite from the film, introducing us to all the members of the family Madrigal and their special gifts. Note the bright vibrant colors—especially the flowers that bloom around Isabella—and the glowing gold on the family’s doors. The music is the sonic star of the Atmos soundtrack, giving voices space to spread across the front of the room and even up into the ceiling. It also helps you better understand Miranda’s signature rapid-fire lyrics.
Free Guy
“Getting His Own Sunglasses” (No. 19 | 3:12)
At 11 minutes in, Guy, beginning to realize he can be something special, decides to stop being an NPC and fight back against a bank robber. Once he puts on the glasses, he sees the world in a whole new light, filled with bright graphics and power-ups. The audio definitely immerses you in Free City, with a jet that flies overhead, along with sounds of helicopters and traffic off in the distance.
“Dude vs. Guy” (No. 26 | 4:46)
At 1 hour 28 in, this scene is the Boss Fight, with Guy having to fight a super-sized—yet unfinished—version of himself named Dude. Dude’s Death Blow punches produce room-energizing bass, but Guy has some power-ups of his own and there are a couple of great MCU and Star Wars tie-ins that are sure to bring a smile to your face.
Luca
“The Swim to Portorosso” (No. 8 | 1:11)
At 27 minutes in, this scene highlights the bright and beautiful colors throughout Luca, as Luca and Alberto swim to “Vespa town” (aka Portorosso), jumping in and out of the water as they change from sea monster to human and back. Pixar’s animation skills in rendering the ocean—both above and below—and the varied shades of blue are on full display.
“First Time Houseguests” (No. 12 | 3:05)
Luca and Alberto visit Giulia and her dad for dinner, trying to keep their secret from the great fisherman. Notice the attention to detail throughout the scene— from the fine detail in dad’s sweater, to the glassware, to the trenette al pesto he prepares, where you can see the noodles slick with olive oil and highlights on the basil leaves.
No Time to Die
“We’re Leaving” (No. 4 | 5:16)
At 18 minutes in, this takes place shortly after the scene below, but it is one of the film’s highlights, and if you ever wanted to see the glorious Aston Martin DB-5 from Goldfinger flex its muscles, this scene is for you! Bond races through the curvy, stone-paved Italian hills before being “trapped” in the city center. The audio is fantastic, with the screech of tires and the revving engine, the chime of church bells filling the room, and the hail of gunfire and thunk of bullets hitting into the bullet-resistant glass coming from all around, placing you in the car with Bond—right up until he decides to let the DB-5 unleash Hell!
“Cemetery Visit Cut Short” (No. 5 | 2:46)
Occurring 15 minutes in, the scene begins immediately after Bond is blown up after visiting an old friend’s grave. He gives chase on foot across an old bridge in Southern Italy but is ambushed by armed gunmen in a car and motorcycle. Bond ultimately steals the bike and makes a bold getaway, but pull your eyes away from the action long enough to appreciate the cinematography. It’s filled with wide vistas and an ancient city in the background, all beautifully illuminated in the naturallighting.
Raya and the Last Dragon
“A Betrayal of Trust” (No. 50 | 4:54)
At 15 minutes in, young Raya shows her tribe’s sacred dragon gem to Namaari, who decides to steal it for her tribe. During the struggle to take the gem, it shatters, releasing the Druun, whose touch turns people to stone. This is another showcase for HDR, with the dragon gem glowing a beautiful blue-white in the dark inner temple, and the Druun having a vibrant glowing-purple effect. The sound design is also great, with deep bassy rumbles and crackling stones as the gem shatters and the temple starts collapsing, causing people to flee in all directions.
“Tail’s Dragon Gem” (No. 55 | 4:13)
Here a grown Raya is partnered with last dragon Sisu as they retrieve another lost piece of the dragon gem. Fine details in the animation abound, from Sisu’s fur, to Raya’s leather arm band, to the individual leaves on the tree, to the vest worn by Namaari. Near the end, the exploding toot-and-boom bugs leave a vibrant cloud of HDR-glowing colors before Ray and Sisu jump on Tuk Tuk and roll to freedom, riding off a cliff into the water.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
“The Battle Begins” (No. 1 | 5:33)
Near the film’s end, this is the prelude to the big finale as two armies face-off in Ta Lo. Note the wide-open outdoor sounds of wind rustling leaves and water in the quiet opening moments. Once the fighting starts, the mystical weapons have vibrant blue and red-orange colors enhanced by HDR, and this battle involves dozens of fighters fighting and being tossed all around the room. The scene ends with a battle between Shang-Chi and his father Xu Wenwu, which is fast and full of action.
“The Ten Rings” (No. 2 | 2:26)
Taking place a few minutes after the above scene, Shang-Chi continues his battle with Xu and takes control of the mystical rings. The visual effects are on full display here, with the rings encircling and protecting Shang-Chi and Xu fighting with his own set of rings that he uses as a whip, with the rings glowing and crackling in bright colors. This scene also has some great low-frequency extension, with impacts that will flex your subwoofers and energize the room.
“A High-Rise Obstacle” (No. 3 | 4:52)
At 38 minutes in, this scene has all the ingredients for a great demo—a clear beginning and end, easy to understand, lots of action, and it doesn’t spoil the film! Shot at night outside a high-rise building in Macau, it has a much different look than the other scenes. Shang is trying to escape a group of assailants as he scrambles around on scaffolding, while also keeping friend Katy safe. Night city scenes always look beautiful in 4K HDR, and this has plenty of pop from the surrounding buildings and great depth of field as you look down through the scaffolding. There is also a lot of Atmos audio excitement with things smashing, crashing, and falling all around.
West Side Story
“Tony Meets Maria” (No. 62 | 2:47)
This takes place about 39 minutes in, after the terrific, long single-take shot following The Sharks into the gym and the Mambo dance. A meet-cute between Tony and Maria under the bleachers at the big dance, the scene is lit in dreamy pink and blue lighting, with bright lights streaming in through the bleachers illuminating the dance happening a world away behind the characters. The ill-fated couple meets on neutral ground, dance-flirt for a bit, and start falling in love.
“The Rumble” (No. 65 | 7:24)
Happening at the hour-forty mark, this is the climatic territorial showdown between the Jets and Sharks. Taking place in a dark warehouse with bright light streaming in through the windows, the camera circles the fighters and pulls back into long shots, with the audio showing off the space’s wide-open, echoing acoustics.
Probably the most experienced writer on custom installation in the industry, John Sciacca is co-owner of Custom Theater & Audio in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, & is known for his writing for such publications as Residential Systems and Sound & Vision. Follow him on Twitter at @SciaccaTweets and at johnsciacca.com.
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