Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.0 |
| Video |  | 5.0 |
| Audio | | 5.0 |
| Extras | | 5.0 |
| Overall | | 4.0 |
Avatar: The Way of Water 4K Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman June 24, 2023
Disney / Buena Vista and 20th Century Studios are probably unsurprisingly offering fans of Avatar: The Way of Water a number of different
home video releases of the film, including specialty SteelBook packaging which as of the writing of this review is a Best Buy exclusive.
For my thoughts on the film, please see my
Avatar: The Way of Water 4K Blu-ray review of the standard packaging edition.
Avatar: The Way of Water 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
Video quality is assessed in the above linked review.
Avatar: The Way of Water 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
Audio quality is assessed in the above linked review.
Avatar: The Way of Water 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
On disc supplements are detailed in the above linked review. The SteelBook offers some nicely rendered artwork featuring Jake (one assumes) flying a
so-called inkran, with a number of other similarly "equipped" Na'vi in the background. The color scheme emphasizes blues and golds, with a few subtle
hints of oranges thrown into the mix. The interior
illustration might be jokingly referred to as the Avatar version of
Moby Dick.
Avatar: The Way of Water 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
I mentioned in my recent John Wick: Chapter 4 Blu-ray
review how that film may have outstayed its running time welcome, though I personally found it a rather brisk viewing experience. Kind of
strangely, Avatar: The Way of Water struck me as just a bit more of a slog, perhaps ironically because once the visual element is turned up to
11 (so to speak) and just stays there, a certain amount of sensory overload kicks in and all that's left is the running time. That one niggling
and joking qualm aside, I haven't had that many viewing experiences in my now long reviewing life where I've literally been left breathless by some of
the on screen visions, but that happened recurrently throughout the film. The story itself is, to quote a certain lyric from the aforementioned Disney
extravaganza in the review linked to above, "a tale as old as time", and it arguably could have been edited pretty significantly without any major issues.
But, as for the video and
audio side of things: wow. Technical merits are reference quality and the supplements very appealing. This SteelBook edition of Avatar:
The Way of Water should please fans of this packaging format. Highly recommended.
