Elite Home Theater Seating Blog

Back To School: Legendary School Movies

August 31st, 2012

The last long weekend of the summer is here which also means it’s back-to-school time as well. Some of the best Hollywood movies ever made have been based in school. There are so many “coming of age” teenage/school movies such as Grease, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Superbad, American Pie, American Graffitti, Dazed and Confused, National Lampoon’s Animal House, 16 Candles, Detroit Rock City, Old School, and probably the biggest teenage/school movie ever, The Breakfast Club. We’ve picked the best of this genre from the last five decades, from the 1970′s to present day. If you plan on staying in and enjoying the last long weekend of the summer of 2012, here are some movie choices for you.

National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978): Directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi, Mark Metcalf, & Kevin Bacon. Based in the 1960′s, this movie focuses on a group of misfit college fraternity kids that challenge the dean of their college. When two freshman try to join the Omega frat, they are instead pledged into Delta House, a frat known for their unorthodox rejects who are on the fringes of the “respectable” side of college. Toga parties, road trips, excessive drinking, and other misadventures run rampant throughout this classic. National Lampoon’s Animal House is a tribute to people who are picked on, ridiculed, and not accepted into regular society. (instant video via Amazon or purchase via Amazon here)

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986): Directed by John Hughes and starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, and Mia Sara. Ferris, played by Matthew Broderick sets out to have a day off while skipping school. He convinces his girlfriend, Sloane (played by Mia Sara) and his best friend Cameron, (played by Alan Ruck), to also skip classes and head into downtown Chicago. This movie was ground-breaking because it showed Ferris speaking directly to the camera as he explained his thoughts and techniques on how to manipulate his situation. From baseball games, to singing “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles in a parade, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a fun movie showing you the perspective of a teenage kid who enjoys having some fun. (instant video via Amazon or purchase via Amazon here)

Dazed and Confused (1993): Directed by Richard Linklater and a cast full of soon to be (at that time), stars with Jason London, Milla Jovovich, Ben AffleckAdam Goldberg, & Matthew McConaughey in one of his greatest roles as David Wooderson. Dazed and Confused is set in the last day of school in June of 1976. Dazed and Confused was not a box office smash yet has become a cult classic with so many distinctive quotes. The clothing, the cars, and the soundtrack are all authentic 1970′s so if you didn’t know it was made in 1993, you would think it was from the 70′s. If you were a teenager in the 1970′s this movie will bring back memories and if you weren’t a teenager back in the 1970 ‘s, Dazed and Confused will make you wish you were.  (instant video via Amazon or purchase via Amazon here)

Superbad (2007): Directed by Greg Mottola and starring Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Seth Rogen, & Emma Stone.  Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) are two high school seniors set out to win over the girls they like at a party thrown by Jules (Emma Stone). The saviour of the movie is Fogell, aka McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), the geeky kid that gets a fake ID to buy alcohol for the big party. If you’re offended by vulgar language and adolescent behaviour than Superbad is not the movie for you however this is one of the movies that has so many great scenes and great lines that you will find yourself laughing uncontrollably. (instant video via Amazon or purchase via Amazon here)

The Breakfast Club (1985): Directed by John Hughes and starring Judd NelsonMolly RingwaldEmilio EstevezAnthony Michael HallAlly Sheedy, & Paul Gleason. No other teen movie has captured the attention of a genre like The Breakfast Club. One of the most popular hits from a soundtrack, “Don’t You Forget About Me’ by Simple Minds is from this movie. Five kids are in detention on a Saturday, all five from total different backgrounds, and all forced to spend the day in the library together. This movie is hilarious and an absolute time piece from the 1980′s. With it’s humor, there are some serious  issues dealt with.  Domestic issues, stereo-types, teenage struggles, teenage crushes, and teens looking for a sense of belonging make The Breakfast Club a multi-generational movie. This movie is considered to be the best of its genre and after twenty-seven years, The Breakfast Club is still as popular as it was back in 1985. A classic to say the least. (instant video via Amazon or purchase via Amazon here) The video clip below features the hit song “Don’t You Forget About Me’ by Simple Minds.

 

We always appreciate your comments and feedback, please contact us at the following:

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel.  604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com



Customizing Your Chair With Elite HTS

August 29th, 2012

Here at Elite Home Theater Seating we emphasize why our chairs are of the finest quality and the best on the market. Previously, we’ve discussed the foam density, the fabric choices we have, the fine craftsmanship, and the ten year warranty. All of these reasons as well as others can be found on our website. We also have an interactive seat customizer on our site for you to use.  Today we want to focus on how many options you have to customize our chairs to your specifications.

Arm Style: We have ten different arm styles to choose from. Style D has a classic design while style A & J have modern sloping styles. Each arm style comes with a cupholders, all made from top quality metals that are scratch and chip resistant. Arm Style F has hidden cupholders for those of you that like to have an alternative to the visible cupholder.

Back Rest: There are eight designs to choose from. An adjustable head rest is one option and if this isn’t your style, there are others dependent on your preference and body type.

Fabric and Colour: We have three fabrics to choose from, Valentino Leather, Silk Leather, and Cine-Suede. If you would like to use your own fabric, that is also an option. Each fabric style has numerous colours to choose from. From traditional colours like black, white, and blue or more unique like seagull blue, rust, grape, sienna, etc. the amount of colour choices will suit your style and preference.

Foam Density: With three foam density choices, soft, medium, and firm, you can customize to your preference. Each density is of the highest quality low memory foam which will supply comfort and support for many years.

Accessories: We have great options to choose from with swivel trays, custom storage compartments, and the Crowson TES 100, a blog we did recently can be seen here. Each chair comes with a motorized reclining mechanism for premium comfort.

With so many options, any chair purchased from us will be unique in your home theater. Watch the video below for a dmonstration on how our seat customizer works.

For more information or if you would like a brochure please contact us at the following:

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel.  604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com



Are Home Theaters Driving People Away From Stadiums?

August 27th, 2012

A recent article in the Longview, Texas News Journal, entitled “Home Theaters Rivaling Stadiums”, stated technology has given the consumer greater opportunity to own big screen TV’s since the price has dropped so much over the past few years. With LCD, LED, and Plasma TV’s as well as state of the art sound systems, the need to go to a busy stadium isn’t necessary.  With TV stations all in HD, the quality is just as good at home than it is in the stadium itself.

The article mentions the seating in an arena or stadium, comfort is usually not thought of. In a home theater environment, seat selection can be customized to your liking which makes the home environment ideal for sports viewing. Dependent on the size of your home theater room, you can have the layout that best suits your needs. Having friends and family over to watch a big game can be shared with the exact number of people you want around. If you all cheer for the same team, the intimate setting can make for exciting times. Instead of 20,000 to 70,000 people screaming and chanting, you have close friends and family all cheering for the  same team.

Thearticle, “Home Theaters Rivaling Stadiums” made mention of how important draft beer is for many beer drinkers.  At one time you could only purchase draft beer in bars or events such as concerts, sporting events, or in restaurants. Nowadays, the home owner can purchase a home keg refrigerator so you can pour your own draft beer in the comfort of your own home. If this isn’t of importance to you than a home keg is not needed at all. If you’re not a big drinker you probably don’t like being around all those in the stadiums that do. You can be free of the drinking environment in your own home.

An important cost not mentioned was the price of tickets. Going to an NFL or NHL game can cost you  a lot of money. According to Ticketmaster, a Seattle Seahawks game ranges from $65.00 to $425.00 . Let’s not forget to mention travel expenses and the travel time. Fuel prices are at a high everywhere.

To view the Longview, Texas News Journal article, please click the here. With the new NFL season starting in the next few weeks, we may be able to see if this article is accurate. Will attendance be down at these games or will people still attend like they have in previous years? It really depends on your situation. If you like the crowd and the environment or if you prefer the commentators on TV and the intimacy you can only have in your home. Watching sporting events in the home is a positive environment that brings people together as well.

Your feedback is always appreciated so let us know what you think is the ideal sporting environment. We would love to hear it.

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel.  604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com



The Hunger Games Now On Blu-ray & DVD

August 24th, 2012

The Hunger Games was released on Blu-ray and DVD on August 18th and became the biggest selling DVD of the week with sales of 4 million copies. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, & Donald Sutherland, this movie went on to gross $680 million dollars worldwide. The movie is based on a novel with the same name, written by Suzanne CollinsThe Hunger Games takes place in a future nation called Panem where twelve boys and girls have to participate in something called the Hunger Games.  These games are televised annual events where contestants must fight to the death until one is the winner.

The Hunger Games Blu-ray DVD is a two-disc set, disc 1 is the feature film and disc 2 has all the bonus features. The bonus contents are the Game Maker: Suzanne Collins and the Hunger Games Phenomenon, The World is Watching: Making the Hunger Games, Letters from the Rose Garden, Controlling the Games, A Conversation with Gary Ross and Elvis Mitchell, Preparing for The Games: A Director’s Process (Blu-ray only), Propaganda Film, & a Marketing Gallery. This also comes with the ultra-violet copy.

Reviews have been positive for the Blu-ray & DVD release. Entertainment Weekly rated the movie an A- & the extras a B- while Life & Style gave this 3.5 out of 4 stars.  If you are contemplating whether you should or should not purchase it, read some of the Amazon customer reviews here. On average the customer reviews gave it 3.8 out of 5 stars. To purchase either the Blu-ray or DVD please click here. A sequel, Catching Fire, is to be released next year. The book, The Hunger Games, is a trilogy which means we have more sequels to look forward to.

We would like to hear what you thought of The Hunger Games. Please leave a comment here or on Facebook or Twitter. We love hearing your feedback.

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel.  604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com



The iPad Chair

August 22nd, 2012

The iPad chair was first released to the public in 2010 to positive reviews. We know how often we sit down with an iPad and struggle to use it without getting uncomfortable especially after a long period of time. We are aware of how awkward it can be so we came up with a great solution, to build a chair specifically made to house your iPad and avoid struggling to use it while you sit down.

Starting at $2495.00, The iPad chair is equipped with the Luxa2 H4 iPad holder which holds our iPad securely in place. A hands free iPad is the best way to use it. The iPad holder fits right into the existing cup holder of our chairs. Click here for a review of our D1 Model from Electronic House where they discuss the Luxa2 H4 The iPad chair holder.

Our president and CEO, Bobby Bala, gives us a look into the wonders of The iPad chair in the YouTube clip below:

With The iPad chair your iPad can become your home theater control center. Companies such as Creston and Home Logic offer apps for your iPad to make your home theater interactive and very easy to use. Don’t think this is just one of our models with a customized iPad holder because it is far from that. The chair is designed for comfort while you use your iPad. The head and arm rests and the back of the chair are ergonomically designed for optimizing the use of your iPad.

To read why Mr. Bala designed The iPad chair, please click here. Find out where the idea came from as well as information on all the options and all the different styles and models you can choose to make your own customized iPad chair.

For more information please contact us at the following:

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel.  604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com



Gamers & Hockey Fans: NHL 13 Demo is Out Today

August 21st, 2012

As the popularity of gaming increases, more people are dedicating their home theater rooms to full gaming rooms or a hybrid of gaming and theater into one entertainment room. Our blog on June 18th, “Is Your Home Theater Room A Dedicated Gaming Room” discussed that very subject. In light of the popularity of gaming, we thought it would be great to mention that EA Sports has released a demo of NHL 13 for both Xbox and PS3 today.

New features to NHL 13 include True Performance Skating, EA Sports Hockey I.Q., Free Skate, create your ultimate fantasy team with Hockey Ultimate Team, and Hockey Moments Live, (where you can watch scenes from past games). This version allows the goalies to sprawl, dive, and move at a quicker pace then previous years. The clip below demonstrates the new feature, True Performance Skating. NHL 13 uses real-world physics to replicate the momentum a player uses when he starts to skate.

The demo features the Stanley Cup champions, the LA Kings and the team they beat, the New  Jersey Devils. Download the demo here and let us know what you think. With so many dedicated home theater game rooms being built, we can imagine the fun you and your friends will have playing NHL 13. The comments left by fellow gamers on the NHL 13 Facebook Page is relatively positive, fans like the new graphics and changes.

NHL 13 and a special Stanley Cup Collector’s Edition are set to be released on September 11, 2012 and can be pre-ordered here.

Give us your feedback on this or any other home theater related experience. We would love to hear it.

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel.  604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com



Shark Week

August 17th, 2012

For 25 years,  Shark Week on the Discovery Channel has been one of the most anticipated weeks in television. From the tiny ages of four to the most mature of ninety-nine, people of all ages love Shark Week.

The Discovery Channel is celebrating the 25 years of Shark Week from August 13 till August 19. The programs are amazing & this year, Shark Week has become interactive.  Click here to download the Shark Week Plus App & Shark Week Bingo App from the App Store. You can enter the “Chompdown” Competition and play Shark Games which includes Shark Munch, Great White Shark Puzzle, & Shark Week Picture Pieces.

“Air Jaws Apocolypse”, “Sharkzilla” (a look at the Megalodon), “How Jaws Changed The World”, “Great White Highway”, & “Shark Week’s 25 Best Bites” are just some of the fascinating programs this year. What makes Shark Week special is their ability to educate the viewer on the behaviour of sharks. Sharks often stereotyped as vicious creatures out to kill humans at any possible chance. These programs show that this is not the case at all. Sharks are intelligent creatures and the fact they have been around before the dinosaurs roamed the earth does state the survival instincts they have. With the recent media coverage of “shark finning” (the removal and retention of shark fins and the discard at sea of the carcass, most often still alive when it is tossed back into the water. Unable to swim, the shark slowly sinks toward the bottom where it is eaten alive by other fish), the public needs to be aware of the importance of sharks. The Discovery Channel helps bring awareness to the beauty of these creatures.

Coincidentally, this week also brought the release of a must have Blu-Ray DVD’s. The 1975 blockbuster that scared a nation, Jaws, has been released as part of Universal Studios 100th Anniversary Edition. Jaws terrified a nation, scaring people away from the ocean. As a child, I saw this movie and was too scared to go into the shower! The two disc set comes with bonus content, “The Shark Is Still Working:The Impact & Legacy of Jaws”, “The Making of Jaws”, “Jaws:The Restoration”, deleted scenes, a digital, and an ultraviolet copy. You can purchase a copy from Amazon.

For those of you with 3D home theaters, the IMAX: Sharks 3D Blu-ray DVD will keep you entertained. Presented by Jean-Michel Couteau, IMAX: Sharks 3D gives you an up close look at Great White, Hammerhead, Whale, and various other species of sharks. This documentary shows you that sharks are not malicious man-eating machines. You can also purchase this from Amazon.

A few shark facts:

1) Where did the term “Jumping The Shark” come from?:

We’ve all heard the term, “jumping the shark” but few actually know where this originated from.  In 1977, Happy Days was a popular TV show and in its fifth season premier, main character, Fonzie can be seen jumping a shark. The scene is so terrible that it depicted the decline in ideas the writers had for the show. Soon after, numerous cast changes, odd story lines, and a decline in the shows popularity created the term, “jumping the shark”, originally penned by Jon Hein. Jumping the shark can be defined as an act that is so bad, it is the decline of ones popularity.

courtesy of sharkfacts.org:
2) There are more than 350 different kinds of sharks
3) You are 1,000 times more likely to drown in the sea than you are to be bitten by a shark
4) Most sharks as we know them today developed about 64 million years ago during the age of the dinosaurs
5) A shark can hear a fish in the water from more than a mile away
6) About 100 people in the world are bitten by sharks each year. Of these, five to ten die
7) The chance of being killed by a shark is one in 300 million. The chance of being killed by airplane parts falling from the sky is one in 10 million

Sharks are fascinating creatures and Shark Week on the Discovery Channel is entertaining and educational. For a full schedule of all shark documentaries this weekend, please click here.

Give us your feedback on this or any other home theater related experience. We would love to hear it.

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel.  604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com



The Theater versus The Home Theater

August 15th, 2012

In Canada, Cineplex Inc. is the largest movie theater operator. According to an article published on August 10, 2012 by The Canadian Press, Cineplex Inc. has reported record second-quarter profits directly from movies like The Avengers and the addition of higher ticket prices from their premium theaters.

According to this article (via CTV News which can be viewed here), sales have not been very good this year with standard ticket sales. The premium priced theaters, (3D, UltraAVX, IMAX, and VIP Cinemas), which also have premium ticket prices helped increase revenue. Add in the ultra-high concession prices and there is no wonder why Cineplex Inc. have record profits. Standard movie theaters are not the big earners they once were because people are deciding to stay home and watch movies instead.

If you eliminate the premium prices and the blockbuster, The Avengers, you will notice movie theaters are not as popular as before. Consumers have decided to stay home and watch movies from the comfort of their own home. Having a home theater has it’s benefits especially if you have children or lead busy lives and just can’t make it out to the theater. The cost of the ticket, transportation to and from the theater, concessions, and implicit costs associated, the long term benefit of a home theater is appealing. Long gone are the days of $2.50 Tuesdays at your local theater.

A home theater can be tailored to your personal preferences. You can have a themed room or a basic room, you can watch a movie, concert, home movies, etc. without getting distracted by people in the theater that don’t follow movie theater etiquette. Most important to us is the comfort of the theater experience compared to the comfort of the home theater experience. Home theater seating has comfort and luxury associated with it while movie theater seats are uncomfortable and not built to your specifications. With more and more home owners deciding to stay in the comfort of their own home, movie theaters are feeling the effects. Not everyone is willing to pay for premium tickets to a movie.

 Give us your feedback on this or any other home theater related experience. We would love to hear it.

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel.  604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com

 



Yamaha YHT-697 Home Theater in a Box

August 13th, 2012

Yamaha has introduced their new high end YHT-697 home theater in a box. The YHT-697 comes with an Ethernet port for internet radio, networked music, or for accessing your AirPlay catalog. 

The “home theater in a box” features a 5.1 channel receiver with a front panel USB port for direct connectivity for the iPhone, iPad, iPod, and USB drives. There are compatible apps for iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire and also comes equipped with HDMI 4K and 3D video pass through. The speaker package consists of styled glossy black tower speakers, compact surround, & center speakers with a 100W multi-range subwoofer. With AirPlay you can wirelessly stream from iTunes as well.

This system offers an advanced multi language on screen display in both HD and 3D video signals. Even data from song titles through iPhone, iPad, iPod, and USB drives can be shown on the receiver’s on screen display. The YHT-697BL offers a full complement of HD Audio format decoding, including Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio. CINEMA DSP 3D with 17 DSP programs enables users to adjust the experience to your personal preferences.

The Yamaha YHT-697 is available for MSRP $649.95. To view the official press release, please click here. Give us your feedback on this or any other home theater related experience. We would love to hear it.

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel.  604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com

 



The Alien Anthology

August 10th, 2012

2010 brought us the Alien Anthology box set on Blu-ray much to the delight of home theater and movie enthusiasts. The six disc set includes Alien (disc 1), Aliens (disc 2), Alien 3 (disc 3), Alien Resurrection, (disc 4), Making the Anthology (disc 5), and  The Anthology Archives (disc 6). You can order the box set from Amazon for $43.99

Overview of the movies:

The debut film, Alien, directed by Ridley Scott , starring Tom Skerritt and Sigourney Weaver, (as Ellen Ripley),  was released in 1979 and became an instant classic upon its release.  The crew are on board their spaceship, The Nostromo where an alien egg is found. After hatching and attacking a member of the crew, this creature ends up grows to a monsterous eight foot creature and starts its rampage on the crew. Seven years later, in 1986, James Cameron was brought in to direct the sequal, Aliens.  Ellen Ripley is the only surviving member of the crew from the debut film. After waking up on a different spaceship, from a 57 year hypersleep, she accompanies the Marines to take on the creature that killed her fellow crew members.

1992 saw the release of Alien 3, directed by David Fincher, and the return of Ellen Ripley. An escape pod she’s in crash lands on a prison planet, once again she is the only survivor. Another egg was on board the pod she was in and hatches in a prison where it then starts its killing spree. Ellen finds out she has an alien queen growing inside her.  In 1997, Alien Resurrection was released. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and set 200 years into the future. Ellen Ripley returns as a clone and the alien queen from the previous movie is removed from her body. In this film, the military wants to breed aliens for study purposes. However the aliens escape their confinement and Ellen Ripley tries to destroy the alien ship as it approaches Earth.

The Anthology:

“Brace yourself for a whole new breed of Blu-ray: Four powerful films…eight thrilling versions…in dazzling, terrifying, high-def clarity with the purest digital sound on the planet. Two bonus dics and over 65 hours of archival and never-before-seen content, including the totally immersive MU-TH-UR mode feature, makes this definitive Alien collection”Amazon

The first four discs contain two versions of each film, (the theatrical and extended version). Disc 5 is made up of four documentaries on the making of each film and disc 6 has the pre-production, production, and post-production & aftermath of all four films. Disc 6 contains lots of rarities such as images, deleted scenes, trailers and TV spots, storyboards, and numerous other extras. With Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, and the aspect ratio of 2.35:1, the Alien Anthology has improved the quality of all four movies, especially the first two. The packaging is also fabulous as you will find inside the slipcase, a hardcover book which includes pictures from each film and movie notes.

We highly recommend owning the Alien Anthology to enjoy in the comforts of your home theater. Give us your feedback on this or any other home theater related experience. We would love to hear it.

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel.  604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com