AVENGERS: Grade, Reviews, Discuss, DVD & Sequel **SPOILERS**

[JarodRussell]

Turtletrekker wrote:

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RE: the edited version of the film--
Disney UK reports that they removed the spear tip as it was deemed "inappropriate".,

That's what you get when Disney buys Marvel.

[wamdue]

well that is lame, Marvel just went down in my estimations for agreeing to that.

[Dream]

'Avengers' mix up enrages British fanboys

LONDON -- Disney has enraged British fanboys by releasing an edited version of "Marvel's The Avengers" on DVD and Blu-ray in the U.K. without director Joss Whedon's commentary and other significant extras.

Amazon's U.K. site has been deluged by one-star reviews and infuriated comments since the DVD/Blu-ray package, titled "Marvel Avengers Assemble," came out on Monday, eight days ahead of the U.S. release.

It's too early to tell whether the row will impact sales of what is expected to be the biggest selling DVD of the year in Blighty, following the film's £51.9 million ($84.1 million) box office success. But many people commenting on Amazon say they have returned or cancelled their pre-orders. The release has so far received 111 one-star reviews out of a total of 243 customer reviews on the website.

Lydia Rodrigues from Disney U.K. Home Entertainment told film mag Home Cinema Choice that Whedon's commentary included on the U.S. DVD was finished too late for the U.K. manufacturing deadline.

It said in a release, "The DVD/Blu-ray version of 'Marvel Avengers Assemble' is classified 12. It differs from the theatrical version submitted to the BBFC, which is classified 12A. The scene in the film where the tip of a spear is seen protruding from a man's chest was absent from the DVD/Blu-ray 'Marvel Avengers Assemble'."

Disney responded on website Bleedingcool: "Each country has its own compliance issues relative to depictions of violence. Unfortunately, another region's elements were inadvertently used to create the U.K. home release, which minimally altered this scene in the film. We thank our fans for their vigilance in recognizing this and apologize for the mix up."

Rodrigues said the company has had a fierce internal debate over whether to release a new U.K. version of "Marvel Avengers Assemble" with all the extras, but is unlikely to do so, for fear of being accused of cynically exploiting fans by asking them to buy the same film twice.

Instead Disney suggested that hardcore fans should try to import the American version of the Blu-ray disc, which contains Whedon's commentary and the full spear effect.

Isn't asking the fans to import the Bluray also greedy as hell?

[Brikar99]

If it was a mistake, why not offer a disc replacement?

[Pindar]

Brikar99 wrote:

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If it was a mistake, why not offer a disc replacement?

I don't think it was a mistake.

I think they did it so they could use one master to cover all of Europe.

I wrote one of those one star reviews and have my return forms printed out so my copy can go straight back as soon as it hits my doorstep.

[Alidar Jarok]

I think telling people to import the US version can also leave them vulnerable to accusations of cynically telling people to buy it twice.

[Robert Maxwell]

Alidar Jarok wrote:

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I think telling people to import the US version can also leave them vulnerable to accusations of cynically telling people to buy it twice.

Yup.

If it was a genuine "mixup," they should send fixed versions to everyone who preordered it, and only sell the corrected version going forward.

Really, is there some reason they can't use the US master to make a new UK master and mass produce that?

[Alidar Jarok]

I suspect if they do a re-release they'll change it. I don't think that'll be for awhile, though.

[Brikar99]

Pindar wrote:

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I don't think it was a mistake.

I think they did it so they could use one master to cover all of Europe.

I wrote one of those one star reviews and have my return forms printed out so my copy can go straight back as soon as it hits my doorstep.

Well the quoted story says it was "inadvertent" and "a mix-up."

[Pindar]

Brikar99 wrote:

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Well the quoted story says it was "inadvertent" and "a mix-up."

It does but I don't believe it.

[Mike Farley]

Yeah, they probably figured/hoped the majority of people wouldn't even notice--which they probably won't.

[LaxScrutiny]

"the full spear effect" should become an internet meme.

[Turtletrekker]

I got an e-mail today saying that my copy had shipped! Cool! I wasn't expecting such for another couple of days.

[Trekker4747]

Got my Blu-Ray today, still an amazing movie. I've not gone through the features yet, the One Shot, or other items on the disc yet, just the movie. This disc contains on it a rare feature I see on discs, a "Descriptive Audio" track for the vision-impaired. Pretty much an "audio movie." Even though I've got good vision it was sort of fun to listen to as the descriptiveness used by the narrator is well done and, hell, almost more interesting that what's on screen! It also helps that the narrator almost sounds like Leonard Nimoy. (But isn't.)

I'll probably watch the movie with Joss' commentary later tonight.

[RoJoHen]

Planned to buy it today, but then I neglected to actually leave my house in time. Now I have to go to work, so it looks like I'll probably be getting it tomorrow.