DVD Polizei

Probably knew everybody has a DVR and would be on the net in minutes. Kinda smart to keep it like this until eventual release on Blu.

DVD Polizei

As long as studios don't take the opportunity to "bundle" the 3D and 2D versions and sell them at a premium, giving the consumer no choice.

Cameron makes a very good point which has permeated the tech industry: lack of consistent quality and the consumer being confused.

Can't wait for higher-res movies to be made, only to confuse consumers more and wonder why they have Blu-ray in the first place, as well as an HDTV which ONLY displays 1080p. But that's another post I suppose, and a few years quick.

Drexl

Maybe, but many other movies have been broadcast in HD, including Star Wars.

slop101

So what's this about Cameron putting out these movies in 1.85 on home video rather than the scope ratio they were in at the theaters?

Here is his reasoning.

Drexl

That is a very old essay, as you can see by the references to 300 lines of image resolution, and I don't think it's that relevant to what he's doing now. There he's talking about using as much of the available resolution as possible, which is not as much of a concern today.

He did release Avatar and Titanic in 3D at 1.85:1, but his reasoning there was that he felt the extra height was beneficial for 3D. He said he still prefers 2.40:1 for 2D: http://www.slashfilm.com/3d-avatar-v...aspect-ratios/.

Unless he decides to convert True Lies, The Abyss, etc. to 3D (and I wouldn't put it past him), I have no reason to believe they will be 1.85:1 on Blu-ray. Even then, the 2D versions will be 2.40:1.

JimRochester

They never even put out decent anamorphic True Lies or Abyss. Just getting them on BR would be an accomplishment

Solid Snake

Damnit. I thought this was a thread about releasing True Lies or The Abyss coming out in BD.

JimRochester

It started that way 3 years ago and we're still waiting

Matthew Chmiel

Avatar, in the video realm, has only been released at 1.78:1.

Outside of its Blu-ray 3D release, the only venue to see Titanic in 1.78:1 was during its IMAX 3D run. Everywhere else, 2D and 3D, projected it in 2.40:1. In Cameron's defense, it looks better in 3D in the MAR.

RocShemp

Any word as to when the Collector's Edition of Avatar will be re-released in 3D? I keep holding off on the current 3D release since I actually prefer the extended cut and have no desire to double dip on the 3D release.

Which is weird since Cameron stated that for the 2D presentation of that film, he prefered the 2.40:1 aspect ratio. Yet the 2D BD was then released with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio.

fitprod

I was able to talk with one of the tech people at Lightstorm, while working on the Titanic BD, and the scary part is there were apparently 16 different deliverable versions of Avatar for the theatrical release...

The one's I can think for would be the following:

2D - 2.40 Film and Digital Delivery; 1.78 Film and Digital.
3D - 2.40 & 1.78 Digital Delivery (Possibly 2 versions f each? I saw the 3D in 2.40 at the Dome in LA and it was a dual projector version, so I assume there had to be 2 different files.)
IMAX - Film & Digital?

Some must have been alternate cuts for select territories. (China, UK, Etc...) - I don't think the SE was part of the count, but maybe it was.

fitprod

mike45

I'll pass on any Avatar new redux's. I was never that fond of the film.

The two films I want is Abyss and True Lies in any version on Blu-Ray.

Matthew Chmiel

The film was 2D only in the 2.40:1 aspect ratio.

35mm: 2D (2.40:1)
DLP: 2D (2.40:1), 3D (2.40:1), 3D (1.78:1)
IMAX 15/70: 2D (2.40:1), 3D (1.78:1)
IMAX DLP: 3D (1.78:1)

IIRC, Cameron allowed both 2.40:1 and 1.78:1 versions to be in 3D based upon the screen's size. I know in Vegas, theaters are different in how the screens operate. Some are natively 2.40:1 and shrink to 1.85:1 whereas others are vice versa. Hell, there's some in Vegas that do both.

I saw Avatar twice in 3D and both presentations were in 1.78:1. Once was in 15/70 IMAX, the other was DLP.

mcnabb

The Abyss Bluray is long overdue, especially since they never released an Anamorphic DVD version.

Artman

It's been so long they might as well wait for the 25th and 20th anniversaries next year....lol. Throw in a Terminator 30th (with complete extras) to top it off. (I know, different studio)

Josh Z

Cameron initially said that he preferred 2.40:1 for 2D and 16:9 for 3D, but then later changed his mind and claimed that he "fell in love" with the movie in 16:9 for both 2D and 3D.

He was right the first time, IMO. The Blu-ray has a lot of awkward excess headroom and footroom.

Deftones

I want a True Lies blu ray.

RocShemp

Interesting. I didn't realize he became so enamoured with the taller aspect ratio. I know that I much prefer the scope aspect ratio for that particular movie and therefor was disappointed that the 2D release didn't feature it.

Join the club.

Josh-da-man

I don't think we're ever going to see either of these film on blu-ray.

Josh-da-man

I think Cameron is, more or less, correct.

If he's talking about VHS.

DVD, though, has more resolution and more clarity than VHS. And an anamorphic DVD wastes less of the resolution.

With blu-ray, 1080p, and widescreen televisions now the norm, his essay is null.

Dan

I was hoping this thread was bumped because we finally got a release date for Abyss (I don't care about True Lies nearly as much...).

Damn you all.

Josh Z

He was talking about VHS when that essay was written.

Josh-da-man

I gathered as much when DVD wasn't mentioned once in it.

The only letterboxed movie I ever bought on VHS was the Star Wars trilogy in '95. And while it was nice to have the "whole picture" it was no fun watching the movie on a blurry 7" tall stripe on my old television.

Truffaut Fan

The anamorphic release from Japan is fantastic.

Why So Blu?

A few foreign territories will be getting The Abyss and True Lies on Blu-ray later this year. Rev up those region free players, yo!