AVATAR Special Extended DVD and Blu-Ray

[Gryffindorian]

At long last, the special non-barebones edition has arrived on video. I'm not usually one to buy multiple editions of the same film, but I had little restraint earlier this year and got the barebones BD, and now this.

Has anyone else picked this up? The three-disc Blu-Ray is on sale this week at most stores for $24.99. I started watching one of the special features, "Capturing Avatar," a truly immersive documentary on the conceptual design and production of the movie. I'm going to watch the deleted scenes next.

I'd like to hear your thoughts.

 

[Skywalker]

I just saw the original cut on HBO HD earlier tonight and I wasn't terribly impressed, so I don't think I'll be getting this. Nice special effects, though.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

I picked mine up at Bestbuy on Tuesday but haven't had a chance to watch either the extended movie or the behind the scenes documentaries. However I plan on carving out a large section of this weekend to do that. I'm still very sad that I never got to see it in IMAX, even with the re-release. Maybe they will re-release it again in IMAX before Avatar 2 comes out, only can hope.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I'm certainly very interested in this version - I saw the extended version when it was released a few months ago, and while I didn't think the additional material there really added more than a few curiosities to the movie I was certainly glad to see the film again. If nothing else the special features on this one will make it worthwhile.

 

[Kemaiku]

Picked up a copy this week for £10 (£20) or so and plan on watching it this weekend.

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

My copy is on the way from Amazon. Apparently I'm one of the few people that actually liked this film, if the internet is to be believed.

 

[RoJoHen]

Apparently I'm one of the few people that actually liked this film, if the internet is to be believed.

Plenty of people liked it, but I don't think many of them loved it the way the hype would make you believe.

It was worth seeing, but not necessarily worth buying. And almost certainly not worth buying twice in the same year.

My parents bought me the first release of the Blu-Ray back in April for my b-day. I would not have bought it for myself, and I definitely won't be buying this new version. The original cut is long enough as it is.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

My copy is on the way from Amazon. Apparently I'm one of the few people that actually liked this film, if the internet is to be believed.

Exactly.

Millions of people all over the world loved this movie, which is why it's the most successful film of all time. Those folks just don't predominate on sf geek boards.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

Well count me in as the few that absolutely loved this movie.

 

[marillion]

I was wowed by the movie in the theatres. The 3-D was amazingly rich and textured.. However, watching this on HBO the other night, I wasn't quite as impressed.

My son has been bugging and bugging for us to get this, so perhaps with Christmas around the corner..

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Well count me in as the few that absolutely loved this movie.

Right now it's one of my favorite skiffy movies ever - there hasn't really been anything comparably great for ages.

 

[Gryffindorian]

Apparently I'm one of the few people that actually liked this film, if the internet is to be believed.

Plenty of people liked it, but I don't think many of them loved it the way the hype would make you believe.

It was worth seeing, but not necessarily worth buying. And almost certainly not worth buying twice in the same year.

My parents bought me the first release of the Blu-Ray back in April for my b-day. I would not have bought it for myself, and I definitely won't be buying this new version. The original cut is long enough as it is.

To each his own. One could say the same thing about Lord of the Rings (basic or extended special edition) and other films. What you call "hype" may be a breakthrough in filmmaking for others; it's all a matter of perspective. As for me, I only buy what I feel is worth watching again from time to time, e.g., Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc. and would never waste my money on, say, romantic comedies. *Shrugs*

 

[Reverend]

I'm certainly tempted to get the DVD version (don't own a BluRay player) but I'm a little unclear as to the content in terms of the special features and how many discs there are. Apparently from what I've read, it's different to the BluRay release but since Amazon just copy/pasted the descriptions it's a little hard to find out what I'd actually be buying.

So, anyone have a link to a reliable run-down of the DVD edition?

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

Bought it. Hadn't time to watch it yet. Probably this weekend, I hope.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

To each his own. One could say the same thing about Lord of the Rings (basic or extended special edition) and other films.

Nolan's Batman films are too long.

 

[Gryffindorian]

To each his own. One could say the same thing about Lord of the Rings (basic or extended special edition) and other films.

Nolan's Batman films are too long.

The Dark Knight was the best 7-hour TV series I'd ever seen. Heath Ledger was truly fantastic.

 

[RoJoHen]

Apparently I'm one of the few people that actually liked this film, if the internet is to be believed.

Plenty of people liked it, but I don't think many of them loved it the way the hype would make you believe.

It was worth seeing, but not necessarily worth buying. And almost certainly not worth buying twice in the same year.

My parents bought me the first release of the Blu-Ray back in April for my b-day. I would not have bought it for myself, and I definitely won't be buying this new version. The original cut is long enough as it is.

To each his own. One could say the same thing about Lord of the Rings (basic or extended special edition) and other films. What you call "hype" may be a breakthrough in filmmaking for others; it's all a matter of perspective. As for me, I only buy what I feel is worth watching again from time to time, e.g., Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc. and would never waste my money on, say, romantic comedies. *Shrugs*

I'm not judging people for liking Avatar by any means, and I have no problem with long movies. But when I'm not that impressed with the original, shorter (yet still pretty damn long) version, I have no incentive to watch/buy the extended version.

I loved the theatrical cuts of the LOTR movies, so I was definitely willing to watch the extended cuts. I enjoyed the theatrical version Avatar all right, but I just have no desire to watch it again. I tried to watch the Blu-Ray when my parents bought it for me back in April, but I turned it off halfway through because I was bored.

Some movies improve upon repeat viewings. Avatar, IMO, gets worse.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Heath Ledger was truly fantastic.

He was, indeed.

The film would have been lessened by far more than half had it not been for that casting.

 

[Reverend]

Some movies improve upon repeat viewings. Avatar, IMO, gets worse.

Funny you should say that because I happened to stick it on the other day for the hell of it and was surprised at how much better it seamed after not watching it since the DVD came out. Not that it's the best movie of all time by any stretch of the imagination but I think once you strip away all the hoopla to do with the effects, the 3D and all the geek-rage backlash, I'd say it's easily up there with Cameron's best work.

Cameron's work mind you, which in all honesty is a relatively small body of work and all tend to centre around common themes of family, technology and corporate greed. I wouldn't compare him to the likes of Fincher, Ridley Scott, GMT or others who have a more diverse body of work, but Cameron's films are still all of a respectable degree of quality.

Put it this way, in terms of characterization, narrative and direction it beats the crap out of most blockbusters of recent year. Especially the one's made by Michael Bay and even he's the best at what he does.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Some movies improve upon repeat viewings. Avatar, IMO, gets worse.

Funny you should say that because I happened to stick it on the other day for the hell of it and was surprised at how much better it seamed after not watching it since the DVD came out.

Indeed, every time I've seen it I've enjoyed it more. Even the simple visual appeal goes beyond the "gosh wow" factor of first viewing because there's so much depth and detail there.