Usually, with a combination of "Brightness" and "Picture", I can get my TV to pretty good levels when I watch DVDs. The setting I use works well for most films. Sometimes however, I can tell that a scene is too dark and I'm losing information because my brightness and such is too low. But when I turn it up until I can see things, I start getting distortion. I've tried things like THX OptiMode, but it doesn't help very well. Do you think it is only for specific DVDs? Are those calibration tools you purchase (can't think of the names) worth it?

Avia, in particular, is very much worth it. I rarely have to change my brightness/picture settings at the same ambient light level.

FWIW, some movies are intentionally darker, and you're not really losing anything. Sure, things can appear if you adjust the bright and contrast levels, but that doesn't mean you're really meant to see them, if you know what I mean. Set designers put items in shadows, even if it's going to be too dark to see them.

If you're properly adjusted, and some movies are very dark, I believe it's safe to assume the movie itself is meant to be dark.

Why the sig? I'm curious because I used to live across the street from him.

Well c'mon over!

You live off Mummy Mountain north of Lincoln?