8.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
After a lapse of 100 years, the Avatar-spiritual master of the elements-has returned. And just in the nick of time. The Four Nations (Water, Earth, Fire, and Air) have become unbalanced. The Fire Nation wants to rule the world, and its first conquest will be the Northern Water Tribe. It's up to a 12-year-old boy Airbender named Aang to find a way to stop it.
Fantasy | 100% |
Adventure | 95% |
Animation | 74% |
Family | 71% |
Action | 49% |
Martial arts | 21% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p (upconverted)
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Nine-disc set (9 BDs)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Paramount has released a handsome nine-disc SteelBook collection for the hit Nickelodeon animated TV series 'Avatar: The Last Airbender.' The on-disc content is identical to the set the studio released in 2018. See the 'Special Features and Extras' portion of this review for coverage of the new packaging option.
For a full series video review, please click here.
For a full series audio review, please click here.
Avatar's three-SteelBook set ships in a rugged cardboard slip box, black with ornate debossing accents and titles in silver coloring. The box
measures approximately 6.75" high, 5.75" wide, and 2.30" deep. It's a fairly standard box in terms of size. The front features the text
"Avatar The Last Airbender" at the top, with size emphasis on "Avatar." It's accompanied by "Nickelodeon" text above. At the bottom appears the text
"The Complete Series" above a Blu-ray logo, the only silver front side component that is not debossed. In the middle is a cutout, maybe slightly bigger
than the size of a
typical trading card, allowing viewers to see the center art on the front, or the rear, of any of the three included SteelBooks. The slip box's rear side
features a
similar layout but is absent the debossing work. Ornate decorations populate the permitter, and inside a box, below the show's title as it appears on the
front, is a plot synopsis and a special features listing. In fine print below that are some Blu-ray technical specifications. The spine again features the
show's title, with "Nickelodeon" text, at the top. The show's title in Chinese writing appears center. "The Complete Series" text may be seen below, with
side-by-side Paramount and Blu-ray logos holding down the bottom area.
The three SteelBooks do not sit loosely inside. Instead, each is separated into its own compartment by silvery, reflective, crudely mirror-like dividers.
The SteelBooks share some essential design cues but are each distinctively unique. Book 1: Water's blue-gray color scheme is the lightest
toned of the three. Without jumping into too much detail on this, or any, of the SteelBooks, the essentials boil down to a depiction of Aang performing a
waterbend. He's nearly encircled by water with lightly visible scenery and clouds appearing above and behind him. The rear panel depicts Katara,
center,
bending water. Streaks of swirling water envelop the panel's perimeter. Chinese text runs down the top left and bottom right areas. The spine is a
simple
silver color with the show's title top, Book 1: Water center, and Blu-ray and Paramount logos bottom. Book 2: Earth's background is
bit more beige in color. Aang stands center in a fighting position, facing forward, with green emerald-like crystals and a tall mountain peak behind him.
The sun appears behind the mountaintop and a few clouds float through the sky. The rear panel depicts Toph Beifong, center, with a large rock
beneath the depiction and a circular stone behind. Squared and straight lines and centralized Chinese text wrap around the perimeter while a triangle
structure appears top and a
creature at the bottom. The spine is identical to Book 1's with changes only to color and central text. On the front of Book 3: Fire, Aang
appears midair, kicking, with fire extending from his foot. Flames and smoke envelop much of the outer permitter. An active volcano, a mountain range,
and a manmade structure appear in the distant background. The rear panel again depicts Aang, eyes and arrow-like symbol white, bending fire which
swirls
around him. Fire breathing dragons and smoke outline the edges and Chinese text runs down top right and bottom left areas. The SteelBook's color is a
little darker than the others, a hint of red within the metallic, reflective surface. The spine is similar to the others, again with only the central title
change. It's worth noting that while smooth, these SteelBook do not readily display fingerprints with any visible density.
Each SteelBook interior offers a similar layout. A single Blu-ray disc appears on its own hub on the left while the right-hand side holds discs two and
three in the familiar staggered-stacked formation. Each interior two-panel image is subdued and muted, hard to see unless in very good light. Each
references their book titles, with water, earth, and fire scenes. While tonally minimalist, the artwork is complex and attractive, each depicting a different
element bending character on the right with general elemental details seen across the remainder of the paneling. Lastly, an excerpt from the book
The Rise of Kyoshi written by F.C. Yee has been included. Color front and rear panels and glossy text pages comprise the sample section,
which has been stapled
together.
For full coverage of the on-disc supplemental content, please click here.
This is an incredibly handsome set. It looks fantastic and much work has gone into making the presentation as perfect as possible. There's nothing new here in terms of on-disc content, though, so fans might want to think twice before re-buying or choosing this set over that which comes in standard packaging, which at time of writing costs about 2.5x less. But it's undeniably beautiful and sure to be a centerpiece of any serious Avatar: The Last Airbender fan's collection.
2005
2006
2007-2008
2012-2014
Limited Edition Collector's Set
1982
2001-2017
2018
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2016
2010
2009
2019
Collector's Edition
2020
2010
2014
Power Up Edition
2023
Collector's Edition
2022
2010
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2019
2017
2021
2003
20th Anniversary Edition
2001
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2014