James Cameron's 3D epic Avatar is finally landing in living rooms in glorious three-dimensional high definition -- it'll cost you a few grand, but you'll get a free Panasonic 3D TV thrown in.
Nearly one year after first exploding into cinemas, James Cameron's digital opus is finally arriving in 3D for your home. But if you've laid down your hard-earned cheddar for a Sony 3D TV in anticipation of some Avatar action, you're out of luck: the Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning epic will only be available as part of a package with a Panasonic 3DTV bundle. 20th Century Fox and Panasonic have done the deal so you get the film with a 3D TV and Blu-ray player, or a home-cinema setup.
The film may look spectacular but we felt let down by the derivative story and clunky themes. Splitting the story between real actors on real sets and motion-captured characters in a CGI environment is a fundamental mistake, highlighting the artificial sheen to the computer-generated elements. Still, the 3D is pretty eye-popping.
Panasonic has one of the biggest ranges of 3D kit, like the Viera VT20 telly and DMP-BDT300 3D Blu-ray player. That's not to mention the HDC-SDT750 camcorder which lets you shoot your own tri-dee meisterworks.
Panasonic authored the Avatar Blu-ray disc at its Hollywood laboratory, which we like to picture as being full of sexy scientists turning each other invisible and having wacky adventures. In our heads that's just what scientists do.
3D in its current phase is still pretty new and expensive, so there aren't a huge number of films to choose from. Avatar's importance as the pre-eminent movie of the new 3D revolution could sway a lot of people into choosing Panasonic over Sony, depending on how long the exclusive lasts. The film is Panasonic's ace in the hole to counter Sony's full house: unlike Panny, Sony makes its own blockbuster movies so it has an ever-growing slate of 3D films such as Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.
Avatar 3D will eventually get a general release, but Panasonic has yet to confirm how long the exclusive deal will be. Fingers crossed we don't end up with too many of these exclusive deals as manufacturers tie up films to secure your dosh.
Update: Avatar will be exclusively available with Panasonic tellies until February 2012. If you do score one, you will be able to lend it to your friends as the disc will work on other brands' Blu-ray players.
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Comments 8
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Anonymous 2 November, 2010 17:04
this will kill the 3D format... hate Panasonic for this. I really considered getting Panasonic BD player but since these news i can guarantee - Panasonic never ever! They can stick it where sun never shines. I'll wait until the end of Jan or will buy a copy on ebay. Manufacturers are sawing the branch they sit on. Thats why there is no mass market because every one pull the blanket to their side.
Anonymous 2 November, 2010 22:42
What a trite review of the film, Avatar! It hasn't smashed all box office records because it's clunky or derivative affair. It captured the heart and soul of enough people to see it take billions. Shame it's only being bundled with Panasonic TV's.
anonymous 4 November, 2010 11:14
DIdn't trouble my heart or my soul but that's just me. It's smashed all box office records DESPITE being clunky and derivative, but it's still an important film and well worth seeing. It is indeed a shame that it's been tied up in an exclusive deal
Anonymous 8 November, 2010 19:23
This sort of exclusivity (greed) will damage the embryonic format, if not kill it off. This will only encourage people to download/buy pirated copies, which, im informed are already available on 3dbd format.
Anonymous 9 November, 2010 19:42
This movie would have never been released in 3D on BD if it wasn't for Panasonic's involvement. Please check your facts other posters.
Anonymous 10 November, 2010 00:08
Yes, you can already download the Avatar 3D Blu-Ray from the Internet as well as all the other 3D movies that are exclusive to one manufacture or the other. People who pay thousands of dollars for a new TV, 3D Blu-Ray player and 3D glasses aren't going to be happy with only 2 feature films currently available for purchase (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs & Monster House). These people obviously have the money and desire to purchase 3D content but the studios won't sell it to them. This will only lead to piracy (and possibly a dead format).
anonymous 13 December, 2011 10:56
Although it would have been nice to see Avatar in 3D, I certainly would even consider buying any panasonic equipment to view it. Looking at all the other reviews, I'd say panasonic have launched a lead balloon. Good try panasonic, but no cigar.
anonymous 3 January, 2012 14:30
Panasonic can go straight to hell as far as I'm concerned. Those of us who already have a 3D TV and BR player are not going to buy a second one just to get this movie. And anyone who base their TV/BR player purchase on the fact that they can get 1 movie a month or two earlier, is buying the products for entirely the wrong reason. I'll wait until Feb to get it, but I'll definitely think twice about buying a Panasonic product after this stunt. And I'll probably download the movie just out of spite.