FILM REVIEW: 'AVATAR' ON BLU-RAY
The Blockbuster Arrives on Blu-Ray to Seduce the Senses Once More
Avatar was definitely a film technology game-changer, but otherwise it honestly was just a cool-to-look-at and watch popcorn flick, that’s all. But in terms of craft, it surely was a wonder-work from director (and writer) James Cameron. Now it’s arrived on Blu-ray.
The 3D version of the film in theaters (and if you saw it in IMAX, wow!) was beyond a doubt eye-popping and then some…but the story? Good, but the sources weren’t hard to figure out, from Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars series (set to be a film too) and the tale of Pocahontas, Disney or otherwise.
*Spoiler Zone if you actually haven’t seen the movie*
In the film, Jake (Sam Worthington), a paraplegic Marine, volunteers to join science-minded researchers headed up by Sigourney Weaver, studying the natives of an alien world, Pandora, by transferring their minds to “Avatar” constructs that resemble the Na’vi, who are the 9-foot, blue-skinned, big-eyed people who exist in tribal cultures and are one with their planet.
At first, Jake is a tool of a military tool, general (Stephen Lang), working for corporate interests that want to strip the planet of its resources. No surprise that Jake, in his avatar state, changes sides and becomes involved with tough yet cooing Neytiri (Zoë Saldana, whose performance, unlike Worthington and Weaver, is entirely motion capture CGI).
Eventually, it’s the tribes and the eco-system versus the military in a showdown. Along the way, you’re drawn into this world — its people, animals and landscapes. The story is okay, but yeah, predictable. While it attempted some depth, some social commentary regarding the environment, imperialism and the military-industrial steamroller, it was all a bit too obvious, even for us liberal and lefty-er folk. This is not to say it wasn’t a ton o’ fun and most certainly engaging and even gorgeous to look at it (call your travel agent, booking trips to Pandora now).
*End spoiler zone*
Still, what a ride this movie is, and now, in home video HD, it truly seems made for Blu-Ray players. However, if you did see it in theaters in some version of 3D, you may feel a touch let down here, and the 3D release isn’t due until next year. Also excepted later is a special edition said to include 20-40 minutes of additional footage and loads of special features.
As Amazon notes: “This edition of the film is not in 3D. Also, we recommend customers with older Blu-ray players update their player firmware to ensure successful playback of this product. More information about Blu-ray player firmware updates can be found here.”
James Cameron, producer Jon Landau and Fox Home Entertainment took a lot of flack for shunning bonus features in favor of creating the first unofficial “Super Bit” Blu-ray release.
From a tech standpoint, according to producer Landau, the Avatar Blu-ray fully maximizes use of the film’s audio and video bit-rate. It is stunning, to be sure, but the film was so incredible-looking in 3D…
As far as bonus material, there’s none, period. But the Blu-ray does include a code to access the Avatar Program via your computer, offering “exclusive first looks and sneak peeks, content & updates, money-saving offers.” Okay then. But where are the featurettes, behind-the-scenes bits, documentary materials, deleted scenes and even maybe games? Nada on this release.
The package includes both Blu-ray and a DVD — good to have when you have two different players in two different rooms, but the DVD lacks the sharper, bigger-than-life resolution, of course. So, if you’re intent on sooner than later gratification, pick this up now. But don’t be disheartened by the four-disc “Ultimate” set due this fall or 3D next year. Why didn’t the studio, Fox, just release it available for regular and 3D viewing? It comes off as a big case of carrot-dangling, and that’s too bad because most of us don’t want to and won’t buy the film again and again.
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