THANK YOU for PUSHING PLAY

Go Push Play: Our Holiday Watchlist from Pandora to Peppermint-Fueled Punch-Ups

This week: we wish everyone a Merry Christmas (in lots of languages!!) and talk about some REFERENCE 4K HT experiences!!
Enjoy!

Lets get into ALL our Home Theater Experiences!
So much fun!
“If you can’t laugh while talking Home Theater, you’re doing something wrong.”
Right?
Push Play and hear for yourself.

In this festive, freewheeling episode, Steve and DJ kick off with holiday banter, retail war stories, and global greetings before diving into the meat: home theater greatness and year‑end plans. DJ's revisit Avatar (Collector’s Extended Cut) and Avatar: The Way of Water on 4K UHD—calling the first film’s disc a jaw‑dropping reference for picture and sound, with its HDR depth and DTS-HD MA upmixed to Neural:X rivaling theatrical thrills, while Way of Water impresses but feels less consistently three‑dimensional and a bit baggy in pacing.  They discuss the new Avatar: Fire and Ash and why a 3.5+ hour runtime makes a theatrical trip tough during the holidays. From there, DJ spins Iron Man 3 (Dolby Vision/Atmos) as his Christmas comfort watch, praising its crisp dynamics, punchy bass, and razor‑sharp detail, and returns to Violent Night for gleefully over‑the‑top, graphically violent Christmas action—great bass, crunchy effects, and a wink to Home Alone. Steve covers The Conjuring: Last Rites with its surprise variable aspect ratio and solid Atmos jolts (fun for series fans, not essential). They also riff on Netflix signing Barstool’s podcasts and what it could mean for pod/video platforms and creator loyalty, brainstorm names for our own annual awards, and share a few listener‑powered ideas. The guys wrap up with holiday well‑wishes, a nod to mental health, and gratitude to our global community. Go push play and enjoy the season!

Note: They ignore sponsor talk and stick to the movies, tech, formats, and audience Q&A highlights.

CHAPTERS
1. (00:00:00) Holiday banter, shirts, turkeys, and retail war stories
2. (00:18:52) Show intro and Christmas vibes: Bright Side Home Theater
3. (00:20:49) Awards brainstorming: Naming the Bright Side movie awards
4. (00:36:04) Industry news: Netflix signs Barstool podcasts and platform loyalty
5. (00:47:50) Avatar revisit part 1: Collectors Extended Cut impressions
6. (01:02:06) Streaming vs disc upgrades: why physical still stuns
7. (01:05:32) Avatar Way of Water: strengths, bloat, and AV comparison
8. (01:18:10) Avatar 3 theater hesitation and franchise fatigue
9. (01:19:39) Iron Man 3 is a Christmas classic: Dolby Vision & Atmos delight
10. (01:29:05) MCU tangents: Downey Jr., Civil War, and Doomsday speculation
11. (01:33:24) Horror corner: The Conjuring Last Rites and surprise IMAX-style ratios
12. (01:36:26) Counter-programming: Violent Night holiday carnage review
13. (01:50:39) Dream theaters: IMAX at home, intimacy vs scale
14. (01:57:20) Wrap-up: gratitude, mental health, and holiday sign-off

Follow & Say Hi to the Guys on Twitter

DJ - Bright Side Home Theater (@BrightSideHT) / Twitter
John - John Circone ⚽️ (@JohnCircone) / Twitter
Steve - Steve George (@LegalBeagleOK) / Twitter

And if you’d like to contribute to the show…

Here are Two Ways YOU CAN BE ON THE SHOW

1. Email the guys and put “HT Experience” in the subject line they will talk about your comment on the Podcast.  
2. Email or DM Them on Twitter to schedule to record a Take Over Tuesday episode.

• A movie you liked or a Movie you hated? 
• A favorite scene?  
• Good or Bad Experience with Home Theater gear? 
• Comments about past Bright Side Home Theater podcasts?

Anything about your Home Theater Experience, just let them know and you’ll be on the show!

Links
Patreon: patreon.com/brightsidehometheater
Twitter: @BrightSideHT
email: [email protected]
web: Brightsidehometheater.com
Merch: www.teepublic.com/user/bright-side-home-theater

Thanks to:
Theme Music by Jeff Bernheart/Throne Vault Productions.
https://thronevaultproductions.bandcamp.com/