- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,428
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
With the recent discussions of Around the World in 80 Days in these pages, the concept of the Event Film is an important discussion.
Usually, they're road shows, sometimes not.
And similar to 80 Days, Avatar and Way of Water are in their own way - Event Films.
Strangely, while I admire them both for their technical wizardry, I'm only a fan of the first. The second never drew me in to it's world.
Fox / Disney has released a new set, presumably meant as Christmas gifts for one's favorite cinephile, with all three versions of Avatar, branched on the same disc, and strangely Dolby Atmos only for the original theatrical cut (162 minutes). We also receive the SE Re-release version which runs 170 minutes, and for those who can't get enough the Collector's Extended, which runs around three hours, and has been re-edited in major ways, which I won't get into.
What has me wondering is that Disney released Avatar in 4k on June 20th of this year, along with Way of Water.
These were basic packages with attractive slipcovers, and three (as opposed to four) discs in each. Theatrical version in 4k, on Blu-ray and the third special features disc.
These were beautiful packages.
Now, precisely six months later, we have the Collector's Editions, each with four discs.
For Avatar, it's all three versions on disc 1 in 4k, in Blu-ray on disc 2, All new special features on disc 3, and 4th disc with the original special features.
Way of Water follows the same concept with only a single version.
One must presume that anyone desirous of owning these films in 4k, has already made their purchase in the past six months, and while Way of Water offers new special features, as does Avatar, possibly the concept of all three cuts for Avatar is the selling point.
I'm not certain, but I've got to presume that it's the hard core fans that will go for these, along with the gift concept.
They both look as they did way back in June, which is absolute reference quality, and a great reason for some to pull the 4k trigger.
Packaging is interesting, and I'm not a fan.
It's quite beautiful. Hard, heavy paper board covered in embossed and metallic artwork. It's quite heavy. Four discs in an inner folder held together magnetically is a quality affair, however....
I hate the packaging, as it goes in the direction of the Hitchcock boxed sets, in which the discs are contained within a heavy paper page, and (at least to me) are absolutely impossible to extract without separating the two layers, and trying to grab the disc on both sides. I left fingerprints on the discs, but don't believe I damaged them.
Basically, the packaging is a totally pain to deal with. Whomever designed it, can probably trace their family history back to the Spanish inquisition. Pain is in their blood.
Interestingly, once you do have a disc out, and go to replace it, it snaps back into place with satisfying sound that lets you know that it's fully inserted. I tried to look inside, and did notice some artwork, but couldn't detect the holding mechanism.
Possibly there's a secret to this, and one can find instructions on the web.
I'm reminded that I mentioned Event films.
These fit into that category, but unlike 80 Days, they're quality films that will probably nicely stand the test of time, where 80 Days also survives as a major technological achievement.
But aside from the cameos, and most people today couldn't identify the majority of the players, it does not stand the test of time. Actually, as much as I applaud the Todd-AO technology and want see it reconstructed and restored, it just isn't a good film.
I'm slightly befuddled by this release, especially coming six months after the first.
Another recent discussion surrounds Titanic and the new re-imaged 4k. I surmise that Avatar is what the techs behind Titanic were going for, and were at least moderately successful.
Image – 10 (Dolby Vision)
Audio – 10 (Dolby Atmos / DTS-HD MA 5.1) - Avatar - version dependent
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Makes use of and works well in 4k - 10
Worth your attention - 10 (Avatar) / 7.5 (Way of Water)
Slipcover rating - Beauty - 10 / Functionality - 0
Highly Recommended
RAH
Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.
Usually, they're road shows, sometimes not.
And similar to 80 Days, Avatar and Way of Water are in their own way - Event Films.
Strangely, while I admire them both for their technical wizardry, I'm only a fan of the first. The second never drew me in to it's world.
Fox / Disney has released a new set, presumably meant as Christmas gifts for one's favorite cinephile, with all three versions of Avatar, branched on the same disc, and strangely Dolby Atmos only for the original theatrical cut (162 minutes). We also receive the SE Re-release version which runs 170 minutes, and for those who can't get enough the Collector's Extended, which runs around three hours, and has been re-edited in major ways, which I won't get into.
What has me wondering is that Disney released Avatar in 4k on June 20th of this year, along with Way of Water.
These were basic packages with attractive slipcovers, and three (as opposed to four) discs in each. Theatrical version in 4k, on Blu-ray and the third special features disc.
These were beautiful packages.
Now, precisely six months later, we have the Collector's Editions, each with four discs.
For Avatar, it's all three versions on disc 1 in 4k, in Blu-ray on disc 2, All new special features on disc 3, and 4th disc with the original special features.
Way of Water follows the same concept with only a single version.
One must presume that anyone desirous of owning these films in 4k, has already made their purchase in the past six months, and while Way of Water offers new special features, as does Avatar, possibly the concept of all three cuts for Avatar is the selling point.
I'm not certain, but I've got to presume that it's the hard core fans that will go for these, along with the gift concept.
They both look as they did way back in June, which is absolute reference quality, and a great reason for some to pull the 4k trigger.
Packaging is interesting, and I'm not a fan.
It's quite beautiful. Hard, heavy paper board covered in embossed and metallic artwork. It's quite heavy. Four discs in an inner folder held together magnetically is a quality affair, however....
I hate the packaging, as it goes in the direction of the Hitchcock boxed sets, in which the discs are contained within a heavy paper page, and (at least to me) are absolutely impossible to extract without separating the two layers, and trying to grab the disc on both sides. I left fingerprints on the discs, but don't believe I damaged them.
Basically, the packaging is a totally pain to deal with. Whomever designed it, can probably trace their family history back to the Spanish inquisition. Pain is in their blood.
Interestingly, once you do have a disc out, and go to replace it, it snaps back into place with satisfying sound that lets you know that it's fully inserted. I tried to look inside, and did notice some artwork, but couldn't detect the holding mechanism.
Possibly there's a secret to this, and one can find instructions on the web.
I'm reminded that I mentioned Event films.
These fit into that category, but unlike 80 Days, they're quality films that will probably nicely stand the test of time, where 80 Days also survives as a major technological achievement.
But aside from the cameos, and most people today couldn't identify the majority of the players, it does not stand the test of time. Actually, as much as I applaud the Todd-AO technology and want see it reconstructed and restored, it just isn't a good film.
I'm slightly befuddled by this release, especially coming six months after the first.
Another recent discussion surrounds Titanic and the new re-imaged 4k. I surmise that Avatar is what the techs behind Titanic were going for, and were at least moderately successful.
Image – 10 (Dolby Vision)
Audio – 10 (Dolby Atmos / DTS-HD MA 5.1) - Avatar - version dependent
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Makes use of and works well in 4k - 10
Worth your attention - 10 (Avatar) / 7.5 (Way of Water)
Slipcover rating - Beauty - 10 / Functionality - 0
Highly Recommended
RAH
Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.
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