AVATAR: Jim Cameron says the release date is April 22, with 3D later this year

I hope "bare bones" means no 3D but still will have special features such as deleted scenes, featurettes, etc.
If it is truly bare bones meaning movie only, I will certainly just wait until November to pick up the 3D blu-ray.
We should be seeing an announcement from Fox in the next few weeks which will answer these questions.

When he says 3D, what kind of 3D are we talking about?  The new 3D coming out that will require new players and TVs?  If so, will the 3D version include a flat version?  In other words, if the 3D version has all the extra goodies, will those of us without the new 3D stuff be able to watch it?

Yes this could all get tricky. I have absolutely Zero interest in 3d. With or without Glasses. So if this divides up the format more, by now needing a 3D and Non 3d Version, adding to people's already huge confusion with things HD, then this is a very bad development for Blu Ray

3D Blu-rays should play fine in 2D on existing Blu-ray players and HDTVs.

I'm torn with this release, I freakin' loved it however after experiencing it and being all but immersed in it seeing it in 3D I can't bring myself to become excited at the prospect of watching it in 2D.

I also am nowhere near ready to upgrade my monitor to a new 3D one so I'm kinda screwed either way.

I am going to buy it on 2D BD but, man, it's just not going to be the same.

Yes, unfortunately the movie will definitely be missing a lot without the Real 3D shown in the theaters... That's the main reason I've gone to see Avatar in IMAX 3D six times already (and still counting), lol!  I will definitely buy Avatar on Blu when it is released, but the 2D will just have to suffice for now - if they do release a 3D version now, I'm sure it will be the crappy anamorphic 3D version with the colored glasses - still a few years off for any kind of good stereoscopic 3D seen in the theaters with the polarized glasses, that is actually affordable.   I believe there is one 1080p home theater projector out there that will do the polarized 3D, but it is in the $10,000 range right now - and we're still lacking any compatable 3D players and media to show through it...

Quote:
No, this would be the new-fangled BluRay 3-D that was all the rage at CES.  The specs require the BluRay 3-D discs to include a flat version so, if you haven't upgraded your home theater by November, you'll still be able to play the 2-D version.

Now what, if any, 3-D the DVD will include is a whole other story.

WTH?!?


This is an excerpt from this WSJ article: http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/02/17/james-cameron-says-avatar-will-have-a-3-d-blu-ray-release-this-year/

How can Fox's position be that 3D is in conceptual stage when TV's are coming out and 3D releases have been announced by some of the other studios?

It sounds to me like they're referring to the special features that will be included on the release and not anything that has to do with the film or the 3D itself.

How are you arriving at that conclusion? The statement flat out says no 3D in November as it is in the conceptual stage.

Because I read it to mean that the 3D (release) is in the conceptual stage.

Who knows.

But even if they are referring to the 3D itself why does that surprise you? This is James Cameron, he'll no doubt want the home 3D version of this film perfected before he's happy with releasing it.

I for one would rather him take his time and get it right than rush something out, especially when we're talking about a new way of watching 3D at home.

Careful what you wish for... Cameron's penchant for "taking his time" and holding things to his highest of standards has meant NO anamorphic or HD "approved" transfers for The Abyss and True Lies to date. 

I'm sure it won't be that bad...

Well, that's sadly out of our hands, he'll withhold it until he's happy with the end product.

Who knows what that crazy bastard's gonna do? 

I really wonder if his "highest of standards" have anything to do with it. We've had nothing but letterboxed DVDs of True Lies and The Abyss for almost 11 *years* now. The fact that Cameron hasn't taken the time during the last decade to at least approve new, properly done releases of these two films using up-to-date DVD authoring technology is amazingly ironic considering how far he's pushed the tech envelope with Avatar. The neglected state of these two entries in his canon on home video is just strange, especially for someone who's as much of a rumored perfectionist and egotist as James Cameron.

Who needs True Lies on DVD when you can always get the D-Theater tape

Funny how someone can make a billion-dollar grossing phenomenon and still not be considered "above the law" by the studio... Cameron shouldn't have jumped the gun and announce a 3-D version of Avatar and Fox shooting the statement down is, to me, strangely gratifying. I would prefer the "King of the World"  get to work on The Abyss and True Lies Blu-rays. As for Avatar, I'm gonna wait until November  and get the SE - I'm not in a position to spend $40 on a holdover release.

I don't know if there will be a release in November. According to The Digital Bits today, the 3-D version of Avatar has been delayed because (surprise) "3-D is in the conceptual stage and Avatar will not be out on 3-D Blu-ray in November." None of that precludes a non-3-D SE in November though.

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents

Travis - I'm completely OK with buying the regular 2-D version...I'm one of those people who got headaches from sitting in a dark theater for nearly 3 hours watching this in 3-D. I meant I'm going to wait it out and spring for the version with the extras, particularly the deleted scenes. The April release will reportedly be bare-bones but I'm willing to bet the Blu-ray will still be premium-priced.
Edited by elDomenechHTF - 2/22/10 at 9:52am

I think the movie was so successful that stores will be trying to lure people in with good prices on both releases. I'd be shocked if you can't get the movie-only disc for $20 on release day. However, spending $45 or $50 on both releases still isn't as good of a deal as waiting 8 months for the SE and only spending $25 or $30 on the same movie and getting the extras too.

I'll wait for the 3-D version.

I watched Avatar in the cinema in both 3D and 2D and actually preferred the PQ of the 2D version (better contrast, colour range, less motion blur in panning shots, no glasses between my eyeball and the screen)

I also have watched Avatar "at home" on my 1080P setup in 2D and it looks just fine...very fine ;)


I would really, really like to see a great raft of special features on the Blu-Ray home release, to explore the Avatar production in greater detail

I could not care less about "3D" - I have seen a number of theatrical releases in "3D" and its just a gimmick - flat planes of 'depth'

in the late 1990s I regularly used Virtuality's "VR" games arcade machines at London's Trocadero centre, which had a true 'stereoscopic' VR goggle, this BLEW AWAY any cinema "3D" or any high-def video games or movies I have seen since...

Couldn't agree more about 3D. Up was fun in 3D but even more enjoyable "flat"on BD on a good set up.