Avatar DVD Review

[Alex2507]

I borrowed this from a friend. It completely sucks. I saw it at IMAX in 3-D and was really into it. The DVD has both my g/f and myself so disappointed in the PQ that we're not really interested in watching the rest.

I know BR is 1080p and DVD is 480i. What was I seeing at IMAX ... outside of the 3D part?

 

[jamie2112]

Well that sucks Alex,I just bought it yesterday to take home to the kids.....Oh well we will still watch it bro.

 

[Alex2507]

Well that sucks Alex,I just bought it yesterday to take home to the kids.....Oh well we will still watch it bro.

On a CRT it won't matter much. It's weird that some of the movie has better PQ than other parts. The beginning sucks until Bush/Cheney start blowing up everything to get to the oil and actually giving the film some red color.

oops ... did I say that out loud?

 

[skizzerflake]

I borrowed this from a friend. It completely sucks. I saw it at IMAX in 3-D and was really into it. The DVD has both my g/f and myself so disappointed in the PQ that we're not really interested in watching the rest.

I know BR is 1080p and DVD is 480i. What was I seeing at IMAX ... outside of the 3D part?

I have seen clips from Avatar on 480I and it's not a good job of down-converting. The BD version is excellent and whatever they show at an IMAX is way more detailed than a blue ray. I will say, however, that I saw it in 2D with an excellent projection job and then again in 3D and I preferred the 2D version. The 3D didn't add that much and seemed to detract from the sharpness of the 2D version, which was so detailed that it seemed almost 3D without the glasses. Whatever you prefer, it's going to need more than 408i.

 

[skizzerflake]

....The beginning sucks until Bush/Cheney start blowing up everything to get to the oil and actually giving the film some red color.

oops ... did I say that out loud?

Yeah, you did, but you'd have to be seriously non-observant to not see it.

 

[Alex2507]

Thanks skizzerflake. I was a little concerned that maybe my TV was off. Did you see an IMAX 3-D or was it on a regular screen? I mentioned this before in the original movie thread but the 3-D in the second half of the movie wasn't the bothersome 3-D. Likewise the second half of the DVD had better PQ.

I could just imagine Jostenmeat being forced to watch this like A Clockwork Orange.

It's a SIN !!!

 

[j_garcia]

Even though it made all that money, it isn't like they are going to spend a lot of time making the DVD look good.

 

[jostenmeat]

The BD version is excellent and whatever they show at an IMAX is way more detailed than a blue ray.

IMO, I thought the BD absolutely annihilated the PQ of the IMAX 3D. A friend that I went with to the IMAX was a bit skeptical, then he saw some of it too, and he couldn't believe it either.

A couple seeing it for the first time on BD said it looked TOO good. That the flaws (if still smaller than you might ever see with other movies) with the rendering/animation were actually detectable. Still, overall, they couldn't believe it.

I don't follow much on this stuff, but this was only remastered for the IMAX theater, and not filmed in IMAX. Which is like watching standard def being upconverted for a 150" projector screen, sorta? I mean that IMAX screen is multiple stories tall, it is sooooooo huge. Dunno, but anyways, the color, shadow detail, overall richness and detail, I thought BD >>>>>> IMAX Avatar in 3D.

Thanks skizzerflake. I was a little concerned that maybe my TV was off. Did you see an IMAX 3-D or was it on a regular screen? I mentioned this before in the original movie thread but the 3-D in the second half of the movie wasn't the bothersome 3-D. Likewise the second half of the DVD had better PQ.

I could just imagine Jostenmeat being forced to watch this like A Clockwork Orange.

It's a SIN !!!

Haha. Return it, get the BD!

 

[MatthewB.]

I have to disagree, I had a A/V GTG two weeks ago and we tested this movie on my Plasma and one guy commented that he now has to buy a plasma TV and this movie. The PQ is demo worthy and the audio is outstanding. Granted the movie itself sucks, but it is now my go to when I want to demo my systems.

 

[Alex2507]

I have to disagree ...

Did you catch the distinction of DVD -vs- Blu-ray?

 

[AVRat]

A friend and I just watched it, for the first time, this weekend on my ancient setup and thought it was absolutely stunning. Not sure I'll be able to handle it on my new HD "Laser" setup!

 

[yepimonfire]

DVD's can be watched in 480p without upconversion, they are all interlaced in 480p anyways. still i find DVD's look terrible on my new HDTV, even if it is only 19" if your going to watch DVDs, my advice is always use a CRT, they just look better, the contrast and clarity is great. although i have become accustomed to the "stillness" of the LCD picture that now the line scanning on a CRT is quite annoying. whats even worse on an HDTV is older PS2 games, Battlefront looks like DOOM for dos

 

[Alex2507]

... if your going to watch DVDs, my advice is always use a CRT, they just look better ...

This should be a sticky.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I know BR is 1080p and DVD is 480i. What was I seeing at IMAX ... outside of the 3D part?

I assume you saw Avatar 3D in local mall like most of us did (see Fake Imax) which probably means your saw Imax Digital projected with two 2K Projectors - with total resolution slightly over 2K
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Digital_cinema_formats.svg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imax#IMAX_Digital_Theatre_System

As you see 2K isn't much different from 1080p....

 

[darien87]

Sorry dude, but why bother even buying a DVD? That's like complaining about the cassette tape you just bought.

 

[j_garcia]

Sorry dude, but why bother even buying a DVD? That's like complaining about the cassette tape you just bought.

Especially when BD players are as inexpensive as they are. Even with a cheap BD player, the PQ is far superior to DVD, depending on the movie, and this is one of those movies that you will definitely see the difference on.

 

[yepimonfire]

hopefully once money issues get better i'm planning on getting a BD player.

 

[Alex2507]

Sorry dude, but why bother even buying a DVD?

I borrowed this from a friend.

Just in case you meant me.

My friend (Eddie of the Deck) happens to be stuck with DVD though. I gave him my old LCD HDTV that has DVI. The HDMI to DVI Monster cable that I bought for $90 doesn't work because of HDCP and all the players ever put out from component is 480p so for him it's DVD to the end.

There's no way he's gonna buy a BD player and an HDTV w/ HDMI.

 

[jostenmeat]

Just in case you meant me.

My friend (Eddie of the Deck) happens to be stuck with DVD though. I gave him my old LCD HDTV that has DVI. The HDMI to DVI Monster cable that I bought for $90 doesn't work because of HDCP and all the players ever put out from component is 480p so for him it's DVD to the end.

There's no way he's gonna buy a BD player and an HDTV w/ HDMI.

Hm, there is HDCP issue with HDMI/DVI? Strange, didn't know that. My bro's ****** POS STBs output with DVI. I will not call his cable company on his behalf, but I can't believe he hasn't called for upgrades/exchanges as they're absolute POS's. But, they output pic with DVI.

Tell me what his DVD player is, and I'll see if I can locate a "hack" that allows greater rez over component. Many oppos had hacks available that allowed for 720p/1080i, but of course that nullifies warranty. I am assuming his player is past warranty.

 

[j_garcia]

Hm, there is HDCP issue with HDMI/DVI? Strange, didn't know that. My bro's ****** POS STBs output with DVI. I will not call his cable company on his behalf, but I can't believe he hasn't called for upgrades/exchanges as they're absolute POS's. But, they output pic with DVI.

Tell me what his DVD player is, and I'll see if I can locate a "hack" that allows greater rez over component. Many oppos had hacks available that allowed for 720p/1080i, but of course that nullifies warranty. I am assuming his player is past warranty.

Yes, not all DVI displays are HDCP compliant. My former one was, but I know that some will not work at all.