It's the early 1940s in London, and love is budding between Vera (Keira Knightley) and a handsome soldier, William (Cillian Murphy). Unfortunately, the film is a total bore, but it does offer some exceptional video and mind-blowing audio. The dialog is crystal clear, and the soundstage features realistic ambience, but it's the massive explosions that really set this track apart from many. The scenes listed below will transport you to another time and give the illusion that the Germans are coming after you.

Entertainment in the tube station.

• Chapter 3, 0:13:45
• Detail, color saturation, surround imaging
• Look at the detail in Knightley's face—the crevices of her ruby red lips, the fine fuzz on her cheeks, and her crystal earrings.
• Listen to the strum of the bass, the echo of Knightley's voice, and the sound of the accordion filling the tube station.

Hanging out in the bar.

• Chapter 3, 0:16:26
• Audio dynamics, surround imaging
• Listen to the background music in the surround speakers, the clear dialog, and then the massive explosion as a bomb impacts a nearby building. After the thunderous bass dies down, pause the movie and check your neighbor's wellbeing—there may be a crater where his house once was.

Another explosive scene.

• Chapter 6, 0:33:10
• Audio dynamics, surround imaging
• Listen to the general ambient sound of the crowd, the horn section of the orchestra, and the strum of the bass. Then two seconds later, all hell breaks loose with the sound of aircraft flying overhead and dropping their destructive payloads directly onto the roof of the nightclub. You'll swear the Germans are attacking your own home because of the freakish realism—just to be sure, better check the neighbor's house again.

Release Date: July 14, 2009
Studio: Image

Movie: 5/10
Picture: 9/10
Sound: 9/10