7.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.4 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
An ex-Marine finds himself thrust into hostilities on an alien planet filled with exotic life forms. As an Avatar, a human mind in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people.
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle RodriguezAdventure | 100% |
Action | 94% |
Sci-Fi | 66% |
Fantasy | 56% |
Epic | 48% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
20th Century Fox's late 2012 Blu-ray 3D release of "Avatar" is identical to the version previously bundled with Panasonic 3D gear and, until now, exclusive to costly hardware purchases. And "identical" really means "identical." The discs share exactly the same menu screens, exactly the same menu options, exactly the same chapter stops, and exactly the same content, which means the same audio options, the same quality 3D transfer, and the same quality 2D transfer. The good news is twofold: those who have already purchased the older release don't need to buy again and those who do not have it can now own the movie in 3D at an affordable price and enjoy the same mesmerizing picture and sound qualities. The bad news is that this is most definitely not the "definitive" Blu-ray 3D release of "Avatar." Viewers wanting an all-inclusive package with 2D and 3D transfers as well as all of the supplements (and maybe more) from the excellent Extended Collector's Edition housed in one box will need to wait for that inevitable mega-set. This release does include disc and packaging artwork unique to the release as well as lenticular slipcover. A DVD copy of the film is also included. Below is a reproduction -- along with a few edits to reflect the current state of the film on Blu-ray -- of the previous "Avatar" 3D review along with a few new screenshots.
"One life ends. Another begins."
Avatar's Blu-ray 3D transfer delivers a mesmerizing 1080p experience that's about as close to perfection as any high def 3D release is likely to
come for quite some time. It would be fitting (not to mention easy) to simply label this one as "perfect," and indeed, there are so few problems here,
and all of them so microscopic in size, that it would border on the sinful to give this transfer anything less than a "perfect" rating. Only ever-so-slight
"ghosting"
is
visible when the disc is played back on Panasonic's first-generation Blu-ray 3D hardware (edited to add with Sony's BDP-S790 as well); eagle-eyed
viewers may note a few instances in the yellow
Na'vi-to-English subtitles and a trace amount in one or two shots, but that's pretty much the extent of it. The 3D image is
simply stunning
in
how seamless it truly is; every moment practically transports viewers to Pandora, whether the lush tropical outdoor areas or the more sterile and
technologically-advanced interiors where humans work when they're not on the surface or inside various military vehicles. The image is wonderfully
deep
and detailed, with the 3D attributes adding a great deal to most every scene, whether extending the background far off into the distance or allowing
viewers
to better appreciate the size and shape of various circular computer displays and workstations that are seen in several places. Avatar's depth
is
nothing short of remarkable, and it tends to look so real that viewers might occasionally forget that this is 3D; with many other releases, there have
been
instances where the effect is in some way lessened or, on the other end of the spectrum, greatly over-exaggerated, but not here. Look at the
instances where Jake speaks into the video log camera; the way the
graphics are offset from the rest of the image is fantastic, giving a new meaning to "virtual reality." The image is so crisp and visually astounding
that it never allows viewers to slip back
into the real world, and even the weight of the 3D glasses and whatever eye strain might accompany other titles at least seems drastically lessened
here. While
there aren't many "wow" moments -- nothing really jumps out at the audience -- Avatar impresses through its stability and constant depth
of
field. It's hard to describe just how wonderful this transfer is; it's easily one of the definitive 3D releases amongst all titles, animation and live action,
and that's not even to mention how fine it is in
several other areas of note.
As if the amazing 3D visuals weren't enough, Avatar yields an exceptional color palette and plenty of fine detailing that both elevate the disc
to the
top of the heap and make it one of the premiere Blu-ray 3D discs in production. The transfer handles CGI and physical material alike with a precision
that's
rarely achieved on Blu-ray; the two mesh perfectly, with the transfer picking up not only the most subtle of nuances on real objects such as human
faces, but also on all of the digital environments and creatures that give Pandora and its inhabitants a tangible sense of reality that is the key factor in
making the movie as successful as it is from a visual perspective. Additionally, Avatar's striking color palette is handled as well in 3D as it is in
2D; there's no
perceptible drop-off in color, whether the steely blue and sterile hues that dominate the opening of the film or the lively and bright purples, oranges,
blues, and greens that define many of the exterior Pandora shots. Blacks, too, are faultless with only one or two very minor instances where they
appear a bit more murky than they probably should. Flesh tones, too, are solid, and there's no perceptible amounts of banding, blocking, or other
eyesores to be found. The last review of Avatar 3D championed the notion that a wide release at that point in time would push 3D sales
beyond expectations. It
remains to be seen if waiting this long to get the 3D version out there will help format adoption considering that 3D televisions are no longer really
"new" to
the marketplace and also considering that perhaps Avatar fever has died down a bit, now nearly two-and-a-half years after the film's initial
release to Blu-ray and nearly two years since the 2D collector's edition and Panasonic 3D exclusive discs streeted. Even through that time, this
remains perhaps the definitive live action 3D title and certainly one of the top two or three out there, period.
Avatar features a reference-quality DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack that's perfect in every regard. Much like the 3D video presentation, it manages to deliver a seamless and mesmerizing experience that never feels overpowered, overdone, or in any way unnatural. The track thrives on delivering everything in harmonious balance, whether the slightest background nuances or the most powerful of explosions and action-oriented effects. While the latter are certainly loud and sonically exhilarating, such events never break the boundaries of what one might expect of such an occurrence; the track finds a wonderful stability in all that it does, and while it might not be quite as raw and powerful as some tracks, it holds its own -- and then some -- by basing its every element within a real context. Bass, then, is exceptionally potent without ever becoming monstrously agressive; vehicles rumble around the soundstage, various object explode, and the ear-piercing thuds of machine gun fire send plenty of power into the soundstage, but never enough to deafen the listener or overstay its welcome. Imaging is fantastic as many of these same elements seamlessly move about the soundstage; whether at slow, average, or fast speeds, directional effects open the soundstage wide and never allow it to close back in until the end credits have rolled. James Horner's magnificent score is wonderfully crisp and effortlessly delivered about the listening area. The track handles the various environmental effects of Pandora -- whether subtle atmospherics or the greatest cries of various beasts -- with unmatched precision, while other atmospherics that are heard in the metallic and artificial environments that house human characters also enjoy their own sets of ambience that altogether create a perfect 360-degree field of sound within every inch of the movie, no matter the place or the time. Rounded out by faultless dialogue reproduction, Avatar's DTS lossless soundtrack is one for the record books.
All that's included is the DVD disc.
When dissecting Avatar and granting it that overly-important numerical "score" that's ultimately going to carry more weight than a
commentators' words, one must determine just how much of an impact on that number the special effects and the overall scope and grandeur of the
film will have up
against the decent but recycled and clichéd storyline that leaves audiences emotionally frigid and wanting something better to fill the void and make
this
into an all-time great movie. Certainly, one can see that Avatar is an important and destined-to-be prominent film through the rest of the
history of the medium not only as a clear-cut fan-favorite but also
as a hallmark visual
effects movie that will be remembered alongside the likes of Star Wars, The Last Starfighter, Jurassic Park, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Toy Story. Where those pictures succeed, however, is where
Avatar lags behind. Each of those films are carried not by their effects but by their stories and all of the emotion and power they bring to the
table. Their special effects are undeniably impressive and serve as milestones in cinema history, but for all the dazzle they're but supportive elements
to a greater whole. Avatar overwhelms audiences with spectacle but underwhelms through its lack of novelty, absence of thematic import,
and
shortage of raw emotion, even considering that Cameron's film tries to incorporate the latter two but to lackluster results. The film runs cold
despite a strongly-beating heart and plenty of blood and energy flowing through its blue veins, and the result is a dazzling achievement of special
effects
that should have been so much more.
It remains to be seen whether a title of even this astronomically high profile can push 3D hardware sales so
long after its general release and after the initial hype behind 3D TV has died down a bit. While Avatar remains a favorite, Blu-ray fans have
perhaps moved on to fresher releases like The Avengers and the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises and may see this Avatar release as
another money grab on the way to the "Ultimate, ultimate, we really mean it this time! No, really, this is the one to buy! (fingers crossed behind our
backs)" edition. It really boils down to this: Avatar fans now have a 3D version to watch that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to
acquire, and folks who already have the Panasonic branded release don't need to buy again, unless new artwork, the slipcover, the DVD, and/or an
obsessive-compulsive need to catch 'em all (James Cameron thanks you, with a special shout out to the Pokémon universe) makes this worthy of a
double dip. Who knows what future editions will hold, other than that there will be future editions and that there probably will be
new material in them. As it is, this is currently the best way to watch Avatar in 3D in the home and the price doesn't really hurt.
Recommended to fans who either need a fix or don't care about having everything bundled together in one tidy box.
2009
2009
Collector's Edition
2009
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2009
Remastered
2009
Panasonic Exclusive 3D Starter Bundle with 2 pair of 3D Glasses
2009
Rental Copy
2009
2009
2009
Extended Collector's Edition | Alita: Battle Angel Movie Cash
2009
2009
Extended Collector's Edition
2009
1999
1983
2018
2017
2002
2005
1977
2015
2017
2013
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2019
1980
2008
2012
2017
Collector's Edition
2023-2024
Extended and Theatrical versions
2011
2013
2016
2007