Labor

It wasn't. It was selectively cropped from start to end.

RocShemp

Am the only one that notices the text on the back cover that says "FULL FRAME VERSION 16:9"? There's gonna be two initial barebones releases I'm guessing. On at 1.78:1 and the other at 2.39:1.

Possible but incorrect. Compare the IMAX footage as it appears cropped at 2.39:1 in the trailers and then observe the same footage as it appears in the movie at 1.78:1. The headroom is the same. You're cropping the intended headroom by matting those shots.

A separate 2.39:1 release is the way to go. Not matting the image at home.

Nick Martin

Well the problem with that is that they're trailers.

I used the DVD as a comparison when I tried it myself. The DVD version represents the standard theatrical AR, and that's what I used as a reference, not trailers.

iNCREDiPiNOY

Pre Order is up for $25 shipped. Delivered same day with Amazon Prime.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002VPE1B6/

RocShemp

I had to hunt for screenshots of the DVD but I see what you mean.

You know that scene in the Cop Out trailer when Tracey Morgan refuses to engage Sean William Scott in a knock-knock joke? That's my reaction to that ridiculous price.

Giles

for a bluray that has no extras you'd think all that free space would go into having the film remixed to either 6.1 or 7.1 sound.... harumph!

I'm pissed off that I'm paying 20.99 for Armageddon when that bluray only has two extras, 25 dollars for a bluray that has no extras...at all... that's highway robbery.

RocShemp

Apparently most 7.1 mixes are really matrixed 5.1 mixes with the end result encoded as a 7.1 mix. You'd get the same result from a good receiver.

I'm more upset that they didn't ditch the DVD and ind replace it with a second BD with some docs on the character/set design and the facial animation done for the Na'avi. And they could have even thrown in some trailers.

Labor

or you could just wait for the release later this year with all the extras.

No reason to be upset when they are being upfront about it.

Nick Martin

I saw a recent interview with composer James Horner and he mentioned having to take the 3D into account when designing the score's surround sound mix, going beyond the left-center-right and two surround channels and he said for the 2D's presentation it "gets squashed down", back into that standard 5.1. Could he have meant the fact that IMAX has a different surround configuration?

zyzzle

Who else is actually happy that the 2D Blu is 1.78:1? I think opening up the mattes will result in a better viewing experience for home theatre viewing in the 50" - 70" range.

As to bitrate and the 3D version, they may split it over to 2 discs, but I think the image information in the 2 1080p frames will be quite similar. so we may only "lose" an imperceptible amount of PQ by the cutting of the average bitrate from mid-30s to low-mid 20s. Codec may make a difference, but I think it is going to be a brave new world in optimizing codecs in 3D encodes vs 2D encodes.

Really, I'm not at all very excitied about the newest 3D fad any way. Let's count the number of times this has come and gone... 1950s, early '70s, early '80s, and now, well I think it will be only a niche market at best, just as quadraphonic was in the late '70s.

Hal

Avatar Blu-ray Detailed, Gets 1.78:1 Video

Source

Snowmaker

I see that as a good thing. We get the IMAX version rather than the cropped 2.35:1 version.

riotinmyskull

1.78:1 - obviously this is how cameron wanted it so that's fine by me.

Giles

it's possible, the IMAX soundmix for 'Transformers (I)' was a dfferent mix.

It's surprising that AVATAR wasn't mixed in 8-channel SDDS or Dolby Digital EX where the surrounds in the latter configurement has a wider soundfield.

another for the 1.78 framing on the bluray.

CertifiedTHX

As I said earlier in this thread, after having seen Avatar in 3-D at 1.78:1 and in 2-D at 2.35:1, I felt the framing was a little tight in spots at 2.35:1. I preferred 1.78:1. But Cameron said he preferred scope framing for 2-D, and I figured any 2-D home video presentation would reflect that.

All indications, however, point to 1.78:1 on Blu-ray. Clearly, it wouldn't have been had Cameron not approved, so I, of course, defer to what he wants. I'm certainly not opposed to it.

It's going to look breathtaking on our new 46-inch HDTV.

--THX

Iron_Giant

Whatever the director wants, I am very happy with.

Now, no extras, that is another story - I am not into double dipping.

CertifiedTHX

Oh-- and, given the fact that they have also announced a multi-disc special edition coming later this year, I am perfectly happy with, and actually rather excited about, an initial single-disc release with no flair whatsoever. Making this one all about the best possible presentation of the film, knowing that...

...sounds like perfection.

--THX

Nick Martin

If they release the special edition in 2.35, that would be further incentive to pick that up as a means of viewing the film in two ARs.

manicsounds

US Specs

1.78:1 1080p
DTS-HD-MA English 5.1
DTS Naavi dub 5.1
English, French, Spanish, Naavi subtitles.

lamphorn

robots in disguise

Nick Martin

Like meeeee!!!!!!!

It's spelled "Na'vi"! Come on man get it right cause it's soooooooo bad that you got it wrong!!!!!!!

islandclaws

So does that mean the next edition won't have PQ that's exceptional? No, of course not. It means they'll repackage the exact same Disc 1 with one or two extra discs full of features. I still think their statement is bullshit for that reason alone.

Labor

Unless the next edition contains only an extended cut, like the LOTR SEs did.

CertifiedTHX

I'm sure the picture quality of the special edition will be just as marvelous. I'm really just expressing my appreciation that they're putting so much effort into this thing.

But I doubt the first disc of the special edition will be just a repackaging of the April 22 release. I imagine there will be a number of special features added to the mix: one or more commentaries, hopefully that PiP track Labor mentioned (comparing the finished product to the original performance capture), etc.

--THX

Nick Martin

I've got plenty of material stored on my PS3 for behind-the-scenes stuff and the trailers, so I'm not concerned with the lack of extras now and will gladly double-dip when the time does come. It's no surprise it's coming since it was announced in advance so anyone could plan accordingly.

People who may not want to pick it up right away could easily get it discounted once extra copies hit the 'previously viewed' shelves of video stores and that way holding out for November won't seem like much of a stretch in time. It's not like this will be any different than the rental versions most movies are released as at those stores now. I've bought a few previously viewed versions prior to that rental version switch they pulled, and was glad for the bargains each time.