Just got done watching Watchmen. It probably would have been enjoyable if not for the god-awful spikes in volume. I understand sound engineers put a lot of effort into the movie, but please don’t ram it down our ears. It’s like being in a tiny bar where some awful band is trying to force you to like their music via loudness.

I tried to adjust volume so that dialogue is audible, and action scenes aren’t be too loud. Impossible. I had to keep one hand on the volume button at all times. I found myself adjusting the volume by 30%+, every 5-10 minutes. Barely audible dialogue was continually interrupted by thunderous door kickings in, bones being snapped, gunfire, or dogs snarling. I do have an infant sleeping upstairs, which has made me acutely aware of this insanity. But this crap has been ticking me off for years.

But seriously, sound people: Do you really need to lower volume on vocal tracks, forcing people to pump up volume? Then hit them with your killer sound effects/montage/music? I can almost understand network TV bumping volume on commercials in a desperate attempt to save their businesses. That’s bad enough, but I can see the logic. It’s a sales technique to get advertisers. Why do DVDs need such neurotic volume levels?