THX: Difference between revisions

<gallery mode=packed heights=200>

{{YouTube|id=lFzYoZnApCk|id2=F8VdDvCZmLQ|id3=bzTHf4lf6Mk|id4=RPRqx5D4chA|id5=FLMLPuO_H8w|id6=xh-NuuIi_ts|id7=4aVMG4OBQog|id8=kJfoT01rzWQ}}

'''Nicknames:''' "Broadway", "Blue Rectangle", "The Note From Hell"

'''Trailer:''' On a black background, we see a {{color|blue}} outline of a rectangle. The {{color|gray}} text "'''The Audience is Listening'''" (in the Archive Modern II Open font) fades inside the outline, then fades out. A few seconds later, the THX logo in {{color|silver}} appears, The blue rectangle outline fades out, and

'''Variants:''' Throughout the years, this trailer had many different variants:

* For the Dell PC's THX Picture and Sound Optimizer disc, "The Audience is Listening" tagline is replaced with "Your Dell PC is THX Certified". "Dell" is in its usual font. "SOUND SYSTEM" is replaced with "BEST PICTURE. BEST SOUND." Afterward, the URL www.thx.com is seen with the trademark and a disclaimer at the bottom.

* 2010 A: "The Audience is Listening" text is replaced with "Digitally mastered for superior sound and picture quality," in the same Arial font (à la 1995 B). Debuted on home entertainment releases starting with ''Star Wars: The Original Trilogy'' Blu-ray.

* On the 1994 LaserDisc of ''Night of the Living Dead'', the Elite Entertainment logo fades to the THX LaserDisc logo (perhaps fitting since the former logo was also surrounded by a blue box).

'''FX/SFX:''' The fades and the THX logo shining.

* The theatrical version uses a louder version of the Deep Note which excludes the looped portion of the beginning.

* The DVD/VHS/LaserDisc version has a shorter and quicker version of the Deep Note that starts at the rapid pitch change. The VHS versions have a +2/higher-pitched (E note) Deep Note, which was stolen for [[Laser Video (Russia)|Laser Video]]'s 3rd logo. The DVD version has a -1.5/lower-pitched (C♯ note) version that is often re-used in some of the future logos listed below.

* LaserDisc releases sometimes contain multiple pitches on discs, depending on the audio channel and equipment used:

* PAL THX-certified releases normally have the +2 pitch Deep Note; however, a couple of PAL releases (mentioned below) have it at a higher pitch (+3, at an F note).

* The HD version, or "Broadway Classic (Restored)," has the remastered Deep Note used in the "Science of Sensation" trailer.

* On international prints of the 2000 DVD of ''Alien'', there are some unique sound variants:

'''Availability:''' Very common during its usage.

* The original theatrical variant is ultra rare and hasn't been used in theaters in a long time. It is unclear what exact film it debuted on, but it also appeared on the 1990 ''THX Wow!'' LaserDisc, which was a sound test disc that predated the THX certification process and one that is very difficult to find; as well as its 2002 reissue on ''The THX Ultimate Demo Disc'' DVD.

* The 1995 variant is arguably the most common THX trailer made. It appears on THX-certified DVDs and VHS tapes from various distributors from 1995 to 2006, most notably Disney, Fox, Universal, Sony, Paramount, mini-majors such as MGM, and even on some releases from Anchor Bay, Republic Pictures and Pioneer/Geneon, as well as the Lucasfilm THX Theatrical Trailers: The Audience is Listening DVD, and on the DVD that came with the first edition of the book ''DVD Demystified'' by Jim Taylor.

* On Disney releases:  

** Most Pixar DVDs use Tex trailers, but this appears on the 2000/2001 DVD of Toy Story 2.

* The LaserDisc variant is uncommon.

** The LaserDiscs they were recorded on are uncommon nowadays. It can be found on select LaserDisc releases from 1993-2000, starting with ''The Abyss'', released on April 7th, 1993.   

** Two Paramount releases, ''Apocalypse Now'' and ''Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country'', were released on December 29, 1991 and July 1, 1992 respectively, and were actually the first THX-certified LaserDisc titles (and home media titles if demo releases are excluded), despite not being shown on the case. However, since these were part of the test program, no trailers were used.  

** Starting in late 1996 with ''Highlander'', the 3rd logo would be used in tandem with this one (though every Buena Vista release and the majority of Sony titles used this trailer).  

** The last LaserDiscs with this logo would be ''Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace'' and a re-release of the original ''Star Wars Trilogy's Special Edition'', both released in 2000 in Japan only. In the United States, the last release with this trailer (and the last THX-certified release there) was ''Amistad'', released in 1999.  

** It also makes a surprise appearance on a Taiwanese LaserDisc of ''True Lies'', and the 1995 Hong Kong LaserDisc of ''Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.''  

* Some tapes and DVDs don't have this logo on the cover or tape but feature it on the movie itself, and vice versa.

* The "restored" variant debuted on Blu-ray with ''Star Wars: The Original Trilogy'' and on DVD with the 2012 re-release of ''Titanic'', before being moved to the beginning with the ''Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures'' Blu-ray on September 17, 2012. Also available online and on the ''THX Calibrator'' disc.

* The "DELL PC" version is exclusive to the THX Picture and Sound Optimizer disc.

* The DVD variant was also seen on the Pioneer DVD releases of ''Akira'' and ''Tenchi Muyo In Love'' (The LaserDisc variant also appears on the LaserDisc release of the latter), among other anime titles. It debuted with the first release of the format in the U.S., ''Twister'', on March 24, 1997. Early DVDs from 1997-2000 that were THX-certified play this trailer either as soon as the disc is read or right after the relevant home video logos, but before any menus. While the last US release of this variant was on May 23, 2006 with the uncut DVD release of ''The Boondock Saints'', this variant continued to appear on international releases past this release, namely the Japanese DVD of ''The Uchoten Hotel (THE 有頂天ホテル)'' (released on August 11, 2006) as well as the French DVD of ''Underworld: Evolution'' (released on October 11, 2006). It also appears on the Monster Music SuperDisc DVD of ''George Benson & Al Jarreau: Givin' it Up'' (when you select the THX Optimizer option) as well as at the beginning of the CEDIA exclusive promotional version of said disc.

* The high-pitched PAL variant is extremely rare; it can be found on the UK and Australian VHS releases of ''Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace'' and the 2000 releases of the ''Indiana Jones'' trilogy, as well as the 2004 Indonesian VCD of ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: Special Edition''. It may have appeared on other PAL tapes and/or VCDs as well, but these are unconfirmed.

* The remastered version can be seen before every showing of Aerosmith's ''Deuces are Wild'' concert residency.

* It appears at the end of the Pioneer LaserDisc release of ''Platoon'' due to time constraints.

* The DVD variant (both 16:9 and 4:3 versions) makes a surprise appearance on the DVD release of Kiss the Girls, hidden in titles 5 and 6 respectively.

'''Editor's Note:''' This trailer's rendition of the Deep Note, cited as "the most awesome, powerful, and terrifying audio trademark in the film industry" by No Film School, is frequently referenced and parodied for its capability to be perceived as loud and menacing. This is an aural illusion; the spectrum of frequencies used in the sound, which Gary Rydstrom says makes it "just feel loud", are of sufficient volume for theaters.