TIME Magazine Review of the new Avatar DVD

[JakeFanGirl]

I found this review pretty interesting, as it underscored some points I found true about this, and future DVD releases of the film.

This, after all, was a movie sold on the need to see it in its full stereoptic grandeur, and audiences bit: about 75% of theatergoers paid higher prices to see the picture in 3-D or IMAX venues. Some people waited for weeks to get seats in those theaters, because, as critics and fans agreed, who wants to see Avatar in poor old 20th-century 2-D? Yet here the movie is, available in a format that only a quarter of the moviegoing public saw it in. If, as DreamWorks Animation boss Jeffrey Katzenberg keeps saying, 3-D is the biggest transformation in movies since color, then this is Avatar in black-and-white. Remember Col. Quaritch's warning, at the beginning of the movie, that "You are not in Kansas anymore"? Welcome back to Kansas.

Seen in its flat format, the film looks ordinary, especially in its first half-hour or so, as Cameron none too adroitly sets up his premise. The middle section, in which Jake (Sam Worthington) befriends the Na'vi princess Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and becomes part of her world, is much more beguiling; 2-D can't rob Pandora of its majesty, and the colors, especially in Blu-ray, are as spectacular as ever. Those who fell in love with the love story, with Jake and Neytiri and their blooming emotional connection, will get a lot more out of this Avatar than moviegoers who were just wowed by the spectacle.

This is so true, and what I found when I saw Avatar in 2D. I got more of the emotions of the characters for some reason. And Pandora is beautiful - in 2D or 3D. The colors were also more vibrant in 2D.

There's no way to duplicate that intensity at home, with a much smaller image, and the ordinary interruptions of phone and email messages, of the ordinary importuning of kids and spouses. Yet in an important and diminishing way, you are in charge, not Cameron. You can fast-forward through the slow spots, click back to relive a scene, stop when it's dinnertime and maybe never come back. Even a movie as powerful as Avatar can't work its spell on a distracted viewer. To stay with it requires an act of will, not the blessed passivity of a moviegoer.

BTW - I got my regular DVD copy of Avatar, and have not had the desire to open it up and see the film. Maybe I'll wait until August to see it again in Theaters with the extra six mintues of footage. I am kind of sorry I got this initial DVD.

Avatar on DVD Review: Pandora's Skimpy Box - TIME

[tallbluewanderer]

Thanks for posting this!

The colors are definitely more vibrant in 2D. I'd like to see Avatar in IMAX 2D, just to see how it looks in full color on that size screen -- it must be quite something. I liked the 3D, but I don't feel like it made a significant difference in Avatar's impact on me.

I think Avatar appeals to two distinct groups of people for two different reasons: because of its shiny 3D special effects, or because of its message. I saw Avatar in 2D when I first watched it and was affected beyond belief even though the projection was mediocre -- the projector was misaligned and the audio track had pops and clicks. I also know people who think it's only worth watching for the 3D visuals. I'm going to guess that everyone here falls in the second category, in which case the lack of home 3D won't ruin Avatar for us.

There's no way to duplicate that intensity at home, with a much smaller image, and the ordinary interruptions of phone and email messages, of the ordinary importuning of kids and spouses. [...] Even a movie as powerful as Avatar can't work its spell on a distracted viewer. To stay with it requires an act of will, not the blessed passivity of a moviegoer.

(Re-)Quoted for truth. I was able to See Avatar despite my theatre's failures -- but there weren't interruptions there.

[Drewan]

I got the DVD to play at home--Got the BluRay/DVD combo to save for collecting...I had seen all my theatre showing in Real 3D--and this 2D in my computer where I can tune out EVERYONE & play it the way I want is almost as good...I just finished playing it again--I did a .iso copy of the disc so it can stay in the case whilst I have it stored on one of my drives...it plays great that way & when I really feel like it I'll buy another BluRay disc to .iso for the better quality.

The other thing I want to try is a pair of VR glasses---I think it would be very interesting to only be able to see the movie, without any outside distractions at all. (Might give me a overwhelming case of PAD--but I think it would be worth it)

Yes--the 3D effects were overpowering in the theatre, but the movie is SO much more than just special effects.

[Helicoradian]

There's no way to duplicate that intensity at home, with a much smaller image, and the ordinary interruptions of phone and email messages, of the ordinary importuning of kids and spouses. [...] Even a movie as powerful as Avatar can't work its spell on a distracted viewer. To stay with it requires an act of will, not the blessed passivity of a moviegoer.

Although the intensity of seeing Avatar at a large format cinema in 3d can't be replicated at home, it's a more personal experience IMO. Distractions can be a problem but they can also be avoided with a little preparation.

I was actually quite relieved after the first viewing. At the end when Jake opens his eyes as a true Na'vi, Avatar still had the same impact on me at home as it did in the theaters. Which is amazing considering I watched it on a 23" display in 2d. This means that it doesn't matter HOW you see it, just that you DO see it.

[Human No More]

I still prefer the 3D, but seeing it in 2D was... different. Not necessarily bad, but different. Maybe it lacked a bit of the realism, but it certainly drew me in as much as ever.

Originally Posted by Helicoradian

I was actually quite relieved after the first viewing. At the end when Jake opens his eyes as a true Na'vi, Avatar still had the same impact on me at home as it did in the theaters. Which is amazing considering I watched it on a 23" display in 2d. This means that it doesn't matter HOW you see it, just that you DO see it.

Exactly this.

[rapunzel77]

I enjoyed it in 2D probably because of the vibrant color. I always had paid attention to the story so it was the same as ever but I know that the next time I watch the movie, it should probably be when it is darker since the sun shines bright in my apartment so I get a glare.

[CrashingDoors]

The only thing I noticed while watching the BD--that I didn't notice in theaters--is that the Na'vi don't look as "real" during the night scenes. Not in all cases, but when we first meet Tsu-tey, when he rides in and takes Jake, his (and the other Na'vi) skin looks shiny and not real. Honestly it doesn't look that bad, but still I didn't notice that in theaters.

Otherwise I love having it at home. Of course the 3D is fantastic, but I love having it at home. It looks amazing on my TV AND I don't have to worry about annoying people whispering throughout the movie.