It’s a funny thing about the strange and undoubtedly fabulous world director James Cameron 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 especially in miraculously conceived 3D 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.
Avatar 3D (Blu-ray Combo Pack)
Directed by James Cameron
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Year: 2009
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 1080p AVC codec
Running Time: 162 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English; Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish, French, Portuguese
Subtitles: SDH, French, Spanish
Region: A
MSRP: $ 39.99
Release Date: October 16, 2012
Review Date: October 28, 2012
The Film
4/5
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 hybrid creations 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 Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) is ready to storm the planet and take what they want by force, but he’s willing to wait three more months to see if Jake, lead avatar expedition scientist Grace (Sigourney Weaver), and her associate Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore) can 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 fairly reeks of literally countless influences and borrowings. Where writer-director James Cameron has triumphed, however, is in his invention of this mythical place with its many different tribes with their strange, spiritual rituals and the 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 using mostly the weapons and creatures of their own world. The fact that the underdogs are rendered mostly with special effects doesn’t impact 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 are certainly just enough romance and some tragic deaths to touch the heart and engage emotionally one’s appreciation for the massive creativity at work throughout this epic tale.
Sam Worthington certainly casts the longest shadow of expertise for his work in both human and avatar forms. His steady, believable 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. Zoë 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 greedy 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, and Joel David Moore makes a credible assistant to Weaver’s empathetic boss lady.
Video Quality
5/5
3D implementation – 5/5
As with the previous 2D release of this film on Blu-ray, 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 registration is most impressive throughout. The trueness of the hues without oversaturation is truly astounding, 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 varying tones of purple, blue, and green that will warrant many revisits. In both the 2D and 3D transfers (both are included on the Blu-ray disc in the set), you’ll notice a depth of field that’s as impressive and immersive as any film is ever likely to achieve. Even more importantly, the brilliant color and the deep levels of black with still impressive shadow detail are not compromised at all when donning 3D glasses, an accomplishment that many 3D films can’t claim. Prepare to be dazzled by the overwhelming eye candy on display. The film has been divided into 35 chapters. When necessary, subtitles are printed in eye-catching and easy to read yellow.
It probably goes without saying that the 3D is not only reference quality but the reference to which all other 3D movies are typically compared. The depth of field achieved in the 3D photography is breathtaking, not surprising since the film was conceived to be filmed in 3D from the get-go. Cameron always constructs shots where multiple planes make the 3D pop, and while there aren’t a ton of pop-out effects, there certainly are some rifle barrels, wood chips, arrow ends, and ash that come toward the viewer. But it’s the vivid set pieces that use all parts of the 3D imagery to startling effect: Jake’s first night in the jungle and his first flight simply send shivers up the spine in their complex construction to wring the most out of the three dimensional experience. You won’t be disappointed, even if you have already seen the film in a theater in 3D.
Audio Quality
5/5
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. James Horner’s music score gets wonderfully immersive treatment through the entire soundfield. The subwoofer stays remarkably busy during the entire listening experience with the many explosive moments in the film’s second half being particularly memorable sonically. It's a true reference quality Blu-ray soundtrack.
Special Features
0/5
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. This is identical to the initial release of Avatar on Blu-ray except the set also includes the 3D version of the film as well as the 2D version.
In Conclusion
4/5 (not an average)
A bit derivative in its storytelling, yes, but Avatar still represents sci-fi/fantasy at its near-best. The Blu-ray release features reference picture and sound in both 2D and 3D. It’s regrettable Fox didn’t see fit to include some bonus features from the later Director’s Cut release or some 3D trailers from the plethora of 3D films both live action and animated that Fox now has on its roster. Still, for those who didn’t already have the 3D version of Avatar from its Panasonic exclusive release, it is finally now available to all at a reasonable price. Recommended!
Matt Hough
Charlotte, NC
