Chris Chiarella

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Soundbar Reviews
Atlantic Technology FS-7.1 Soundbar Speaker System
Chris Chiarella  |  May 10, 2013
FS-7.1 Soundbar
Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
SB-900-BLK Subwoofer
Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
Price: $1,300 At a Glance: Multichannel speaker reproduces all seven channels • No onboard amplification or processing • Optional subwoofer

Writing about consumer electronics for the past two decades has taught me a few things: Always take good notes, don’t believe everything you read in press releases, and at least try to keep an open mind. Case in point, the soundbar. The very idea of a single box containing the amplification, processing, and all of the loudspeakers necessary to adequately present home theater audio was met with early disdain. But hearing was believing, and now it’s a viable (and thriving) product category.

Then a crate recently arrived containing the Atlantic Technology FS-7.1, a redesigned, upgraded version of the company’s well-regarded FS-7.0 seven-channel home theater soundbar.

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Audiovox Declares The End Of Wires
Chris Chiarella  |  Jan 08, 2008
Okay, by "the end of wires" I'm not referring to the terminations, silly, rather the conclusion of the wired era. Audiovox is showing off an assortment of wireless loudspeakers, a wireless suboofer (with a nifty, decor-friendly faux chest to conceal it!), and even a kit that will turn ANY pair of speakers wireless. Noise levels in the Main Hall were such that I cannot comment on sound quality, but listen up, cables: You've been given notice!
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3D Blu-ray Movie ReviewsBlu-ray Movie Reviews
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Chris Chiarella  |  Dec 18, 2015
Picture
3D-ness
Sound
Extras
Sequels can be a tough nut. Age of Ultron is of course the follow-up to 2012’s The Avengers, but along the way, there were four other Marvel Universe movies that apparently need to be acknowledged here, coupled with the laborious task of tying in TV series and setting up movies yet to come. Throw in too many characters and some extraneous subplots, and the result is a sequel more exhausting than entertaining.
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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Avengers: Endgame
Chris Chiarella  |  Aug 16, 2019
Picture
Sound
Extras
There is simply no precedent for a cinematic event of this magnitude. Avengers: Endgame is not merely the latest installment in the Marvel canon, but one that builds upon all that has come before to complete story arcs begun as far back as 2008's crucial Iron Man. It also concludes the most recent dramatic "phase" in the 22-film series, and of course drops the other shoe from the 2018 Avengers set-up, Infinity War. And it does all of this with a deft touch, despite its plethora of fantasy characters and an absurdly brisk three-hour running time.
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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Avengers: Infinity War
Chris Chiarella  |  Oct 19, 2018
Picture
Sound
Extras
The first decade of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has all been leading to this, an adventure so utterly spectacular that...well, it’s going to need a whole other movie to wrap the story up. Jam-packed with a who’s-who of familiar faces (and masks), Infinity War is a remarkably complex tale of conflict and loss highlighted by thrilling, high-stakes action. No time is wasted in thrusting us into the battle against the malevolent Thanos (Josh Brolin from Deadpool 2).
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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Baby Driver
Chris Chiarella  |  Dec 22, 2017
Picture
Sound
Extras
Can the dangerous business of getaway driving be elevated to an art form? Propelled by the constant soundtrack of his life, Baby (Ansel Elgort) combines speed, daring, and creativity in a thrilling and highly profitable display of skill. He doesn’t want to be a part of this prolonged crime spree, but he needs to repay a debt to a local kingpin (Kevin Spacey). In fact, he believes he has an exit strategy all figured out, once they’re square, and that he and his new lady friend (Lily James) can drive off into the sunset.
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Out Of The Blu
Back to School, Back to Work: The Office Season Eight, Glee Season Three, and Hung Season Three
Chris Chiarella  |  Sep 08, 2012
The Dunder Mifflin crew takes the recent shakeup in stride, while singing and dancing makes senior year fly by at McKinley High, and Ray Drecker proves once again that he's more than just a gigolo.
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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Bad Boys: Ride or Die 4K Blu-ray Review – Explosive Atmos, Razor-Sharp Visuals
Chris Chiarella  |  Oct 05, 2024
Picture
Sound
Extras
The Bad Boys action-comedy franchise will be turning 30 next year, and there’s no denying that—with this fourth film, Ride or Die—it’s feeling a little long in the tooth.

As if to illustrate that point, too-cool detective Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) is finally tying the knot, while his partner Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) suffers a near-fatal heart attack that compels him to reevaluate his life.

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Out Of The Blu
Banshee, Would You Rather and A Place at the Table
Chris Chiarella  |  Jul 13, 2013
Another edgy series from Cinemax, a trendy new thriller and a must-see documentary about hunger in America will heat up an already balmy July.
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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Batman and Harley Quinn
Chris Chiarella  |  Feb 16, 2018
Picture
Sound
Extras
Sometimes even Batman can’t go it alone. When Poison Ivy teams with an evil alien plant-man for a scheme that could doom every human being on the planet, he first turns to Nightwing (sidekick Robin, now all grown up), but even that’s not enough. Their best hope of stopping these baddies in time is to team with Ivy’s lone confidante, Harley Quinn.
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