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Avatar (Blu-ray + DVD Combo) [Blu-ray] Reviews
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Featured Review
April 23, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Reviewed by MattH.
Pros: stunning creation of a new world; fine lead performance
Cons: derivative nods to many war and western films of the past
Cons: derivative nods to many war and western films of the past
It’s a funny thing about the strange and undoubtedly fabulous new world director James Cameron has created for his sci-fi fantasy Avatar: though the planet we see is sensationally phantasmagorical, its underlying story of corporate greed and brutish militarism at its most jingoistic is depressingly familiar. Stunning to look at and alternately engrossing and even moving, it’s also at its core pretty basic stuff we’ve seen in war movies and westerns for decades. Only the approach with amazingly creative sci-fi elements that continually startle and astound lifts this tale of environmental assimilation and pride of country combined with love of traditions into stellar status.
Due to dwindling reserves amid the dying planet Earth, the U.S. government has sent an expeditionary force to the planet Pandora to try to establish a relationship with the civilizations there so they can excavate the mineral unabtanium vital to reestablishing life back on Earth. The Na’vi clan is deeply mistrustful of the strangers even though enormous efforts have been made to reach out to the inhabitants of Pandora using avatars, psychically-linked androids which allow humans to move among the indigenous people in forms that the Na’vi might more readily accept. One of the important scientists for the mission has been killed, but his twin brother Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a marine paraplegic, has been recruited to stand in for his brother. The U.S. military force led by hardnosed Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) is ready to storm the planet and take what they want by force, but he’s willing to wait to see if Jake, lead avatar expedition scientist Grace (Sigourney Weaver) and her associate Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore) can’t convince the Na’vi to cooperate without the use of brute force. With his avatar fully functional giving Jake the first use of his legs in a long while, he’s more than willing to tow the company line until he begins to understand and appreciate the new world in which he’s living. A conflict of interest seems imminent.
With the story of Jake’s assimilation into the Na’vi culture echoing such prior films as A Man Called Horse and Dances with Wolves and the military bombardment to take what is wanted by force resembling nothing short of war footage from Apocalypse, Now, Avatar reeks of influences and borrowings. Where writer-director James Cameron has triumphed, however, is in his invention of this mythical place with its many different tribes and astounding flora and fauna. It is a complete world, filled with thrills and chills, many of them captured in superbly directed and acted scenes from the evocative first night Jake spends on Pandora complete with its coyote-like monsters to flying sequences and, naturally, the film’s final half hour which, no matter how splendidly it’s designed and directed, can’t help but recall so many war films where early victories and an overconfident manner lead to the underdogs regrouping for a surprise assault on multiple fronts, the fact that the underdogs are rendered mostly with special effects impacting not at all the scenario’s over familiarity. Make no mistake, even with its 162-minute running time, Cameron keeps his sequences moving never allowing momentum to bog down, and there will be just enough romance and some tragic deaths to touch the heart and engage one’s appreciation for the massive creativity at work throughout this epic tale.
Sam Worthington certainly casts the longest shadow of appreciation for his work in both human and avatar forms. His steady transformation from impetuous newbie to a fully committed individual with his own precepts of justice and honor make him clearly the star of the picture. Zoe Saldana as the Na’vi princess who’s assigned as his mentor shows a steely and stately demeanor that’s captivating, a warrior princess in the best Cameron tradition. Stephen Lang as the gung-ho marine colonel and Giovanni Ribisi as the corporate honcho calling the shots are commanding but a trifle one-dimensional in their single-eyed commitment to take what they want by any means necessary. Better is Sigourney Weaver as the head scientist who wants to use empathy and reason in dealing with the aliens. Michelle Rodriguez gets some assertive kick ass moments as the marine pilot determined to do the right thing.
Video Quality
Everything you’ve heard about this high definition transfer is true: the video has been framed at 1.78:1 and is presented in 1080p using the AVC codec. Sharpness is everything one could hope for in conveying depth and detail in this fantastic new world. Color is most impressive. The trueness of color without oversaturation is truly superb, even in the fluorescent forest at night where deep black levels and the sensational special effects making the ground glow with each footstep come across without bombast but in pure, true hues that will warrant many revisits. Though only a 2-D transfer, you’ll notice a depth of field that’s as close to 3-D as it’s possible for 2-D to achieve. Prepare to be dazzled. The film has been divided into 35 chapters. When necessary, subtitles are printed in eye-catching and easy to read yellow.
Audio Quality
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound mix makes absolutely constant use of the surround channels at almost every moment. It’s rare when you won’t notice something going on in the surrounds bringing this new world to forceful and believable life. Dialogue is well recorded (even the strange language spoken by the Na’vi invented for the film) and is never ambushed by the dynamic sound from the other channels. The subwoofer will stay remarkably busy during the entire listening experience. It's a true reference quality soundtrack.
Special Features
The combo set contains a DVD copy of the movie, but there are no bonus features, not even trailers from other current or upcoming Blu-ray releases. Fox has been straightforward in announcing that a special edition of the film will come out later this year.
In Conclusion
A bit derivative, yes, but Avatar still represents sci-fi/fantasy at its near-best. The Blu-ray release features reference picture and sound in 2-D. Those who want a 3-D release or a panoply of bonus material will have to wait for future editions of this ground-breaking, award-winning saga.
Matt Hough
Charlotte, NC
Post Comment
April 23, 2010 at 8:59 am
Reviewed by mattCR
Pros: Incredible picture and audio quality.
Cons: Some lower end players struggle badly with the bitrate
Cons: Some lower end players struggle badly with the bitrate
The Movie 4.5/5
Who here hasn't seen the movie? Based on it's blockbuster totals, you'd think that number would be small. The film has been interpreted many different ways, but at it's heart, it's a SciFi Epic about a corporation that tries to plunder a planet and the resistance to it. This isn't a new story, it's not an entirely original one. The story is something that has been repeated often, in many formats, from "The Outer Limits" to Disney. But the play by play of the story is interesting enough, and despite those who view it as boring, I found it better and far more watchable then many SciFi epics, with a story and characters I enjoy. Jake Sully, a former marine, now imobilized with a broken back, wheelchair bound, finds himself thrust into an adventure because his identical twin, a scientist, has died, giving him the ability to take over his "Avatar" on another planet, and take the adventure of his life, and in the end, finds himself. Paint by the numbers fun.
The Video Quality 5/5
The video here is presented at easily the highest bitrate of any film I have ever seen. When I discussed this in another thread, I pointed out that many films have a bitrate around 22.. or less, and we consider them great. Avatar's film fills the disc, occupying 46GB, leaving barely room for a menu. The bitrate shoots high - over the 40mb at points, and it looks it. The colors are bright and vivid. There is no appearance of edge enhancement, ringing, or other flaws which can mar a release.
The disc, however, can appear "soft" at points. This may in part be attributed to the fact it is presented in the 1.78 aspect ratio of the IMAX presentation rather then the 2.35 presentation of 2D in the theaters. There will be some debate over which is correct, but apparently, after all the viewing, this is what was decided.
There are no discs anywhere in my collection that have the vivid color detail, fluidity, and full look of Avatar. This may be technically the most impressive BD release for Picture Quality in a long time.
But it comes at a price: peaking 40Mb is within the BD spec, but at the outer limits. I've discovered that while my PS3, and Oppo83 look at it perfectly, lower end BD players can "stutter" or struggle through segments. This was definitely true in our bedroom, where a $70 Sylvania BD struggled like mad and had issues with dropouts in segments.
This is going to be a real hitch with underpowered (read cheap) players that cut a few corners and we're prepared for the consistent high bitrate.
Audio Quality 5/5
Audio is presented in DTS-MA 5.1. Again, this sound mix is at the absolute limits of DTS-MA standards, with incredibly high bitrates and a fully transparent sound. There are reference moments here; as choppers fly in, James runs into the hyena beasts, and when the Calvary comes storming in at the end. All of those moments will be signatures that every HD Home Theater will want to have ready to que up to say "You have got to hear this". Dialog is exceptionally crisp, movement of dialog across channels maintains a cohesive feel and gives a real feeling for the staging of every scene. There are no complaints here, at all.
Extras
There are none. Zero. Except for one that is worth mentioning: resume function works perfectly here, which is useful in a film of length.
Final Analysis
Let's be honest, even without a review, most of the people here will buy the disc. But if you were on the edge because of a future edition, here's what I can tell you: within the BD spec, this is the highest quality transfer you will likely ever see of this film. You will probably get the exact same thing in the fall, along with discs of extras or other cuts. I recently reviewed "GWTW: Scarlett Edition" and this disc reminds me of that... GWTW had several versions, including the Ultimate. But in the end, the video transfer on all discs was exactly the same. I expect that to hold true here. So if you're a fan with $20, you can be pretty assured you're getting the same quality as you'll see in the fall. Then, in the fall, you get to debate on whether or not the extras are worth the added cost. But for now, this is THE reference disc by which many will be judged... and fall short.
4.75/5
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