Read my original AVATAR review!
I could end this review with one simple statement — This release is the reason you own or should own a Blu-ray player. The detail of the image is rich and nuanced from real-life human faces to the blue-skinned CG Na'vi. The colors, often luminescent, just pop off the screen. From the lush greens, purples and blues of the forest to the cold military colors of the base, it's simply gorgeous to watch. The canvas is so rich that I didn't miss the stereoscopic 3-D from the theater one bit. This Blu-ray only reconfirms the technical leap forward this film made. The lightning is natural and integration of CG and real human actors in impeccable. This disc shows off all of this because no detail is lost in the conversion — no noise, no compression problems. Visually the Blu-ray is perfect.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track equals the film's picture in quality. The attack on Hometree is all the more devastating because of the massive soundscape. Bass booming explosions and the painful cracking of wood definitely create the sense of shock and awe that was intended. The digital forest is alive with alien creatures filling all the speakers. It truly makes the viewer feel like they are there in the action. Elements like helicopters and lizard banshees zoom across the soundscape flawlessly. James Horner's score complements the epic scope of the story as well. All the elements from the dialogue to the music to the sound effects are mixed perfectly in service of the narrative.
There is not a single special feature on this release, which was put out in time for Earth Day. A four-disc special edition, which will feature the extended cut that hits theaters in August, will arrive in November. Considering that this is the fastest selling title in a release's first three weeks ever, I guess fans couldn't wait. As a barebones edition, this Blu-ray couldn't be better.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
