With a running time of 162 minutes, you might think that the version of Avatar you saw in the theaters gave a full, complete story. While the theatrical version is certainly a complete story, it is definitely not the whole story, as evidenced on the Avatar: Extended Collector’s Edition DVD. This set is a film aficionado’s dream as you get not only the theatrical version, but the recently released in theaters special edition (170 minutes) and an extended edition (178 minutes). Astonishingly, there is also an additional 45 minutes of deleted and extended scenes to view. Everything is presented over three discs along with a couple of bonus features. Here’s a look at the discs.
DISC 1: Avatar Part 1
The first disc contains the first half of all three versions of the film. Additionally, you can also choose to watch the theatrical or special edition versions with an optional “Family Audio Track” which removes the objectionable language in the film. With no other content on this first disc, the movie itself has room to breath and looks and sounds stunning, even on DVD quality. Your home theater system will thank you.
DISC 2: Avatar Part 2
Disc two contains the second part of each version, naturally and continues the same outstanding quality from the first disc. There is one small feature presented here, A Message From Pandora, which is a 20 minute documentary about James Cameron and Sigourney Weaver visiting the Amazon rain forest. This is a very eye opening presentation as it shows not only the continual destruction of this pure land, but also the fight of the indigenous tribes against the modernization of their world. Essentially, the plight of the Na’vi is actually happening right here on our own planet.
DISC 3: Filmmakers’ Journey
The third disc in the set has some great features. There is the option to watch each of the new scenes that have been added to the special edition and the extended edition, in case your a purist and only plan on watching the full theatrical version. Also, there is an additional 45 minutes of deleted/extended scenes! To round things off there is a fascinating feature length “Making Of” documentary that will really give you insight into how much detail and love went into making this film. The documentary alone is worth the price of this set, that’s how cool it is.
Of course you probably just want to know if the new footage in the extended edition is worth picking up this set. It definitely is as the new scenes add another layer to this already multi-faceted film. I’m not going to spoil all of it for you, but there is a new opening featuring Jake Sully on Earth, more views of the mysterious wildlife on Pandora and some truly wonderful scenes that give even more development to Dr. Grace Augustine. I wish the majority of the scenes had been in the theatrical version and they really flesh out the major characters and give them even more motivations and reasons for how they develop. There is a particularly important scene towards the end between Jake and Tsu’tey that ties into a lot of what has gone before and it is a shame that it was originally cut.
This is a DVD I highly recommend and I am certain it looks even more amazing on blu-ray. Treat yourself or your favorite film buff to a pre-Christmas gift and pick this up right away. Click the cover images below to order now from Amazon and help support Pop Culture Zoo!
