Avatar disc opens up online-only extras until ultimate edition arrives in November, 3D next year
By Richard Lawler 
posted March 24th 2010 8:05AM
posted March 24th 2010 8:05AM
Fox continues to pull back the layers of its release schedule for Avatar after yesterday's press event with director James Cameron, producer James Landau and Earth Day Network President Kathleen Rogers (above) as Reuters indicates the Blu-ray 3D version will arrive next year. What does 2010 hold for the most dedicated fans of Pandora? While the DVD and Blu-ray editions due April 22 will arrive stripped clean of any extras whatsoever, a registration code slipped in the case will give owners access to "The AVATAR Program" to view bonus content online, adopt a "virtual hometree" among the million being planted and other enticements to The Exhilarating World of Pandora Comes Home with AVATAR in High Definition Blu-ray
James Cameron and Jon Landau Unveil Blu-ray and DVD Launch and Initiative to Plant One Million Trees Globally Launch Begins Stateside April 22 on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day
LOS ANGELES --(Business Wire)-- Mar 23, 2010 Today, AVATAR director James Cameron and producer Jon Landau presented scenes from the film's upcoming Blu-ray release, outlined the ongoing fan engagement program, and announced the global partnership between Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Earth Day Network, the international non-profit organization that coordinates Earth Day programs annually.
The ultimate high definition experience for home viewing audiences, AVATAR will be available on Blu-ray and DVD everywhere in the United States and Canada on Earth Day, April 22. Internationally, the roll out begins April 21 ending May 6. An ultimate edition release with immersive bonus materials is slated for November. Connecting the two releases in April and November is "The Avatar Program," an interactive consumer experience that offers an online hub for exclusive content, discounts and more.
An action-adventure journey of self-discovery, AVATAR dramatically demonstrates how human invasion almost destroys the balance of life on the planet of Pandora. The audience passionately roots for Pandora's survival, everyone learns that all living beings are connected and that those who seek to exploit nature rather than respect it will only destroy themselves. Taking that message of conservation and ecological harmony, the studio and Earth Day Network, together with various organizations worldwide, will pledge to plant one million trees across the globe by the end of 2010.
April Means AVATAR
Determined to achieve the very best home entertainment presentation, the April AVATAR Blu-ray and DVD release features the film and corresponding menu, utilizing the disc's entire storage space in order to provide the highest quality optimal picture and sound.
"We wanted the best presentation of any film in the history of the Blu-ray and DVD formats," said AVATAR producer Jon Landau. "Our launch into the home in April will allow fans to return to Pandora again and again."
The AVATAR Program
Through a unique code found inside the AVATAR Blu-ray/DVD, consumers can register at www.avatarmovie.com into "The AVATAR Program" and gain exclusive access to first-look bonus materials, special content, money saving offers and much more. Additionally, only those fans will be able to adopt one of the one million trees being planted on behalf of Earth Day and receive a virtual hometree they can locate on a map to see where it's actually planted.
Other AVATAR digital initiatives include:
* "Pandorama" – Via a computer's webcam users can immerse themselves into the world of Pandora, inserting themselves into different locations from the movie and interacting with the elements in each; users can snap postcards and share amongst friends only at www.pandorama.avatarmovie.com
* "Pandorapedia" – The official guide to the world of Pandora and James Cameron's AVATAR, fans enter a world beyond imagination with hundreds of facts on Pandora that can be accessed online at www.pandorapedia.com
* "Immersive Trailer" – The first-ever interactive trailer allows fans to click on any part of the video to explore detail frame-by-frame and in-context "hot spots" that will offer meticulous information on characters, locations and more
* "Interactive Desktop Wallpaper" – Instant access to all things AVATAR including newsfeeds, videos, social network updates and exclusive content that is updated automatically right on your desktop
Blue Goes Green
Earth Day Network will spearhead the initiative and collaborate with its international partners to plant one million trees, indigenous to each region in 15 different countries, by the end of 2010. The organization is committed to caring for and nurturing the trees to maturity, as well as considering natural disasters such as fires and landslides during the planting process.
"I am pleased to have the opportunity to share the environmental messages from AVATAR through the efforts during the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day and with Earth Day Network," said James Cameron. "Earth Day Network's commitment and actions to promote a healthy, sustainable planet go hand-in-hand with the themes of AVATAR."
"AVATAR sends a universal message about the danger of exploiting our natural resources and brings to the forefront of the global consciousness the need to protect our planet and humanity, said Kathleen Rogers, President, Earth Day Network. "We hope this commitment from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment to plant one million trees, will inspire others to stand up against climate change for Earth Day."
AVATAR Impact
Since its global theatrical release last December, AVATAR has continued to make motion picture history. Written by James Cameron and produced with his long-time collaborator Jon Landau, AVATAR stars Sam Worthington, Zoë Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang,
Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Wes Studi and Laz Alonso.
The Oscar® and Golden Globe® winning epic is the highest grossing film of all time, taking in over $2.6 billion in worldwide box office. Director James Cameron takes audiences to a spectacular world beyond imagination, where a reluctant hero embarks on a journey of redemption and discovery as he leads a heroic battle to save a civilization. AVATAR delivers a fully immersive cinematic experience of a new kind, where the revolutionary technology invented to make the film disappears into the emotion of the characters and the epic nature of the story.
The AVATAR Blu-ray Disc and DVD will be available around the world as follows:
FRANCE – April 21 BELGIUM – April 21
NETHERLANDS – April 21 SPAIN – April 21
CHINA – April 22 BRAZIL – April 22
RUSSIA – April 22 NORTH AMERICA – April 22
GERMANY – April 23 JAPAN – April 23
SWITZERLAND – April 23 MEXICO – April 23
UK – April 26 DENMARK – April 27
NORWAY – April 28 SWEDEN – April 28
NEW ZEALAND – April 28 AUSTRALIA – April 29
FINLAND – April 30 ITALY – May 6
James Cameron and Jon Landau Unveil Blu-ray and DVD Launch and Initiative to Plant One Million Trees Globally Launch Begins Stateside April 22 on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day
LOS ANGELES --(Business Wire)-- Mar 23, 2010 Today, AVATAR director James Cameron and producer Jon Landau presented scenes from the film's upcoming Blu-ray release, outlined the ongoing fan engagement program, and announced the global partnership between Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Earth Day Network, the international non-profit organization that coordinates Earth Day programs annually.
The ultimate high definition experience for home viewing audiences, AVATAR will be available on Blu-ray and DVD everywhere in the United States and Canada on Earth Day, April 22. Internationally, the roll out begins April 21 ending May 6. An ultimate edition release with immersive bonus materials is slated for November. Connecting the two releases in April and November is "The Avatar Program," an interactive consumer experience that offers an online hub for exclusive content, discounts and more.
An action-adventure journey of self-discovery, AVATAR dramatically demonstrates how human invasion almost destroys the balance of life on the planet of Pandora. The audience passionately roots for Pandora's survival, everyone learns that all living beings are connected and that those who seek to exploit nature rather than respect it will only destroy themselves. Taking that message of conservation and ecological harmony, the studio and Earth Day Network, together with various organizations worldwide, will pledge to plant one million trees across the globe by the end of 2010.
April Means AVATAR
Determined to achieve the very best home entertainment presentation, the April AVATAR Blu-ray and DVD release features the film and corresponding menu, utilizing the disc's entire storage space in order to provide the highest quality optimal picture and sound.
"We wanted the best presentation of any film in the history of the Blu-ray and DVD formats," said AVATAR producer Jon Landau. "Our launch into the home in April will allow fans to return to Pandora again and again."
The AVATAR Program
Through a unique code found inside the AVATAR Blu-ray/DVD, consumers can register at www.avatarmovie.com into "The AVATAR Program" and gain exclusive access to first-look bonus materials, special content, money saving offers and much more. Additionally, only those fans will be able to adopt one of the one million trees being planted on behalf of Earth Day and receive a virtual hometree they can locate on a map to see where it's actually planted.
Other AVATAR digital initiatives include:
* "Pandorama" – Via a computer's webcam users can immerse themselves into the world of Pandora, inserting themselves into different locations from the movie and interacting with the elements in each; users can snap postcards and share amongst friends only at www.pandorama.avatarmovie.com
* "Pandorapedia" – The official guide to the world of Pandora and James Cameron's AVATAR, fans enter a world beyond imagination with hundreds of facts on Pandora that can be accessed online at www.pandorapedia.com
* "Immersive Trailer" – The first-ever interactive trailer allows fans to click on any part of the video to explore detail frame-by-frame and in-context "hot spots" that will offer meticulous information on characters, locations and more
* "Interactive Desktop Wallpaper" – Instant access to all things AVATAR including newsfeeds, videos, social network updates and exclusive content that is updated automatically right on your desktop
Blue Goes Green
Earth Day Network will spearhead the initiative and collaborate with its international partners to plant one million trees, indigenous to each region in 15 different countries, by the end of 2010. The organization is committed to caring for and nurturing the trees to maturity, as well as considering natural disasters such as fires and landslides during the planting process.
"I am pleased to have the opportunity to share the environmental messages from AVATAR through the efforts during the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day and with Earth Day Network," said James Cameron. "Earth Day Network's commitment and actions to promote a healthy, sustainable planet go hand-in-hand with the themes of AVATAR."
"AVATAR sends a universal message about the danger of exploiting our natural resources and brings to the forefront of the global consciousness the need to protect our planet and humanity, said Kathleen Rogers, President, Earth Day Network. "We hope this commitment from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment to plant one million trees, will inspire others to stand up against climate change for Earth Day."
AVATAR Impact
Since its global theatrical release last December, AVATAR has continued to make motion picture history. Written by James Cameron and produced with his long-time collaborator Jon Landau, AVATAR stars Sam Worthington, Zoë Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang,
Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Wes Studi and Laz Alonso.
The Oscar® and Golden Globe® winning epic is the highest grossing film of all time, taking in over $2.6 billion in worldwide box office. Director James Cameron takes audiences to a spectacular world beyond imagination, where a reluctant hero embarks on a journey of redemption and discovery as he leads a heroic battle to save a civilization. AVATAR delivers a fully immersive cinematic experience of a new kind, where the revolutionary technology invented to make the film disappears into the emotion of the characters and the epic nature of the story.
The AVATAR Blu-ray Disc and DVD will be available around the world as follows:
FRANCE – April 21 BELGIUM – April 21
NETHERLANDS – April 21 SPAIN – April 21
CHINA – April 22 BRAZIL – April 22
RUSSIA – April 22 NORTH AMERICA – April 22
GERMANY – April 23 JAPAN – April 23
SWITZERLAND – April 23 MEXICO – April 23
UK – April 26 DENMARK – April 27
NORWAY – April 28 SWEDEN – April 28
NEW ZEALAND – April 28 AUSTRALIA – April 29
FINLAND – April 30 ITALY – May 6
Why don't they include a second disk with the extras?
@FNi
I think this is their way of charging you more without actually giving you more.
I just want a $15 Avatar disk, no trailers, no menus, no nothing. Pop in and play.
@FNi:
Because they don't want to pay more for marketing, they won't have everything ready to go until the fall, but they don't want to stop the steam train of cash coming in from this movie.
A $15 dollar disc with just the movie would be nice, for lots of movies. But not this one. This is one movie where I want extras, I want deleted scenes, I want to go behind the scenes in the creation of. Damnit, I want that deleted sex scene. Amazon currently has this release set for $25. That's far less than stores will have it, but still too much for just the movie alone.
I just canceled my pre-order. I can wait until November for the extras. If I NEED to see it again before then, I'll rent it. It's not worth buying multiple times.
Side note, the 3D version will stay far far away from my home.
@FNi Because this way is cheaper for them...
@FNi To get more out of you, and unexpected consumers, who'll get pissed when they don't get the extras at home, and can't return an opened movie due to store policy.
Honestly, I could care less about extras; just give me the damn movie.
Virtual hometree... Wouldn't this be better if it encouraged people to go plant a tree?
Or say for every virtual hometree planted, a real one was planted?
Just a thought..
So they try to milk us for multiple sales of the same movie, and then wonder why piracy is so prevalent??
Serves 'em right!
Treat customers with respect, and maybe you'll get some in return!
@toptekjon Double dipping is an industry standard, has been for a long time I'm afraid.
I'll Netflix this version and purchase the better edition in November.
@toptekjon
I am buying the movie so I can make fake subtitle videos for kicks. :D
Do the extras include a better story?
@HotBBQ Whats not to like about pocahontas in space?
@Nitesh
Hmm, I had it down as Dances With Wolves in space. It was an entertaining movie but ultimately a bit bobbins since the plot was so utterly predictable. Frankly, the 3D was driving me nuts by the end so a 3D version on an even smaller screen is about as enticing as root canal surgery.
@HotBBQ
Hey, Ferngully would like an apology.
To be honest, I didn't like the overly political message in that film either...
I saw Shutter Island before Avatar and think it beats the pants off of James Cameron's star child.
@HotBBQ
Also, 'a typical 80's Bollywood movie' in space.
@Kelmon & Nitesh
Doesn't anyone watch South Park anymore? It was clearly a 'Smurf Tries to Save the Smurfberries from the Wicked Humans' flick!
YOUR ONLY IN SPACE FOR 10 MINUTES!
"virtual hometree"
For when actually saving the environment is waaaay too damn difficult.
@Ephemeral:
lol
Eh...I think most people don;t care about the extras.
@Brian You are right, I almost never watch Extras on my Discs, but I still appreciate having them, especially if you are charging a premium price for the Blu-ray and then have the gall to double dip the release 3 months later with all the extras that should have been included in the first place.
Pay for an over-rated, abysmally written movie? I'll just get the torrent in a few years to remind myself how bad it is.
Pretty much the same with me, though with only 1 meg dsl, it's not really worth the effort.
I feel like I was played for a sap, spending $11 to see it in the theater.
This movie has made close to $2 billion dollars and they are going to basically force the consumer to buy two versions of the same movie? Its crazy to think they're asking us to buy one in April just to see the movie again and then again in November to get to see all the extras (which honestly is the only reason I'd buy a movie over just renting it on Netflix).
I had already spent an egregious amount of money to see this movie in IMAX 3D, is there any reason for me to not think that the Ultimate edition will cost more than my entire blu-ray collection?
@tasteskindasalty
No one is "forcing" anyone to do anything. They're not even "strongly encouraging". If a person is foolish enough to believe anything that is released in a shop MUST be purchased, then that person deserves to go broke. If you can afford it, buy it...if you want it. If you can afford it but don't want it...don't buy it. If you can't afford it and also don't want it, win-win. If you want it but can't afford it then save or forget it. It's not essential for life.
@Tes
You forgot the last... alternate way to acquire a movie you want but can't afford/aren't willing to shell out for 3 times...
The only problem with this is those extras arent going to be 1080p 40mbps, they will be standard definition crap.
@Sheppard How do you know? Do you have a press release or source you can point to? A lot of releases nowadays have extras in HD.
Hippy Blue cats FTW!
Which one will have the freaky alien sex scene promised?
@Nitesh:
The one in November
It's quite funny, because i noticed some pirates released a 3D version of avatar. I have no idea how they got that, it's suppose to be for those old red/blue glasses everybody have at home. Maybe it's homemade...
@SpeedyJDK Maybe they shot the movie twice, once through each lense of the polarized glasses, then merged the 2 and colored them anaglyph style in after effects or something.
So far, I have been a pretty darn good early adopter of the new technology (HD, Blu-ray, etc.). I have about 40 BDs with about 12 being double-dipped from my existing DVD collection. But this is the kind of thing that makes you wonder why we are collecting these items sometimes. It is so based on getting that 2nd purchase going once another type of release or 3D version comes out. Fox is not too foxy these days....
As for holding off on the 3D release, it has already been mentioned that either Samsung or Panasonic might get some exclusive deal for that and hence probably for that reason, a 2011 release.
Isn't this even more hypocritical instead of giving people One DVD/Blu-ray set with one Box - non recyclable. They are going to produce multiple discs and presumably multiple boxes to eventually fill up our landfills?
wow.....so uhhhhh yea....I won't being buying the first one....and if the 2nd release and the 3rd release are RIDICULOUSLY priced I wont be buying them either....Fox & Cameron are full of shit for this...
People, no-one is forcing you to buy both versions of the movie. If you don't want the barebones version, don't buy it. If you don't want the ultimate version, don't buy it.
Or maybe buy the barebones version now, then sell it later and use the money to buy the ultimate version.
All this whinging about double- or triple-dipping is just immature. Of course Fox is going to maximize its revenues any way it can, dipping back into the well as many times as it can.
Personally, I'll be buying the barebones version on April 22. If the Ultimate version delivers compelling content above the barebones version, I'll trade up to that one. Simple.
@UnnDunn
Can't applaud you more. I almost thought I was the only sane person reading this.
@UnnDunn
@UnnDunn
Way to go Captain Obvious'.
You two deserve that award today.
Of course people KNOW they dont have to buy both versions... but can we not get pissed off over the obvious holding back of the meat for more revenue? Since when are we all supposed to just bend over and take it? I mean that may be the lifestyle that you two chose, but sure aint for me. So when I read that these guys are going to bend us over, sans lube; i get pissed off, and seemingly others too. So get a grip, you guys are crying and whining more so than the people your complaining about.
@A25i
"...they are going to basically force the consumer to buy two versions" - tasteskindasalty
"So they try to milk us for multiple sales of the same movie..." - toptekjon (highest ranked comment by the way)
"...this is the kind of thing that makes you wonder why we are collecting these items sometimes..." - edelgiud
These people seem to be under the impression they are required to get every version of the film...they are complaining about the greed of movie industry. Even you say you KNOW yet STILL complain that basically you have to buy one and then buy the other as they are trying to make "more revenue"
They will only make more revenue if people are stupid. you know the bonus stuff is coming but you buy the bare bones one anyway? Why? Why would you do that?
@A25i Settle down. The "meat" is not ready yet. Look at it this way: The studio is catering to customer demand by getting the movie out as quickly as possible so impatient people can enjoy it at home right away. It's going to take time to put all of the extras together.
If you want all of the meat, wait until it's ready. If you don't, buy the movie now. As far as I'm concerned this is a win-win for consumers, not an effort to trick people. They're being up front about the first release not containing the extras... really, what more do you people want?
I'll be pirating this movie just because of all this triple dipping bs fox is trying to pull. greedy bastards.
@Jyncus:
It's not triple dipping if you tell people ahead of time what you're doing. You can figure out which version you want and wait for its release. Hell, they've even told you when to expect them. No one is forcing you to buy all 3 versions. No one is forcing you to buy next months release.
Since I saw this twice at IMAX I can wait until November for the Ultimate Edition. This first release is for those who never got around to seeing it in the theater (what, all 12 of them?).
i HATE avatar. that is all.
basically for netflix and blockbuster version
With the exception of the Terminator and T2, James Cameron sucks.
by the time the 2nd or 3rd release comes around the 1st one should be dirt cheap
considering this movie is still playing in some theaters, we'd normally not even get this on dvd/blu-ray until summer or fall anyway, but they're releasing the barebones movie earlier than normal. The extras all take time to produce. At least they're telling us all up front that this is how they're doing it. They know some people just don't want to wait the usual 6 months to get it on disc.
@McHoffa Right, that's exactly how I see it. They're catering to their fans by making a bare bones disc available right away. If they pushed the release off until November, when the extras were ready, people would complain they aren't releasing it soon enough.
It takes time to produce these things and this way, the people get a choice: Buy now for the bare bones movie, wait until November for the extras, or wait until next year for the 3D version?
Myself, I'll wait for the 3D release!
just a thought, could this be anti-piracy? you cannot rip the bonus feature if it is not on a disc right? and the online access needs a code.