Showing posts with label avatar. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

4K Digital Review: Avatar

When Avatar came out in theaters in 2009, it was an evolutionary leap forward in motion-capture technology, 3D presentation and seamlessly blending live action and CGI.

Set in the distant future, humans have set out to explore space to find resources for Earth. Strip-mining the planet Pandora, the native people called the Na'vi do not take kindly to what is happening to their planet. This is where Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) enters. He is a disabled Marine who had a twin brother who was suppose to go Pandora on a scientific mission in a Na'vi avatar designed just for him. Since Jake has the same DNA as his now deceased brother, he can link to the avatar and joins as security for Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver). Jake catches the eye of Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) who wants Jake to spy on the Na'vi to learn their weaknesses. But Jack falls in love with the way of life of the Na'vi and with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), daughter of the leader of the Omaticaya clan.

Video:

Avatar is presented in 2160p 4K UHD video. This 4K presentation brings a substantial upgrade to the film's CG elements while the live action sequences seem a little to digitally processed for me. The highlights of the 4K video includes all of Pandora from the vegetation to the wildlife.

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos track is immersive and really puts you in the world of Pandora. There are various scenes where the layering of sound makes you feel like you are right there in the scene. At the base you can hear the rumbling of machinery and the sounds of soldiers marching around you. In the wilderness of Pandora is really where the ambient sounds surround you and bring the planet to life. The gorgeous score rests comfortably in the front and rear channels. Dialogue is crisp and clean.

Bonus Features:

Memories from Avatar (HD; 21:20) features Jon Landau, Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang in conversation.

Avatar: A Look Back (HD; 10:03) has some reminiscing by James Cameron, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington.

Capturing Avatar (HD; 1:38:25) is the same in depth four part documentary that was initially offered as a supplement on the four disc release of Avatar.

Featurettes (HD; 1:31:51) offer the same assortment of often pretty short but still generally very informative pieces on all manner of production aspects that were originally part of the four disc release of Avatar

Conclusion:

Avatar continues to be a breathtaking movie experience. The 4K transfer makes it even better with increased details in the visuals and a beautiful audio track. Solid bonus features also help to make this a worthy addition to your movie collection.

Avatar is available to own on digital download now.

*The movie was sent to me to review by Walt Disney Home Entertainment and the review is strictly my own opinion*

Saturday, November 12, 2022

NEW TRAILER AND POSTER FOR “AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER”

20th Century Studios has released a new trailer and poster for “Avatar: The Way of Water,” James Cameron’s highly anticipated, first follow-up to his Academy Award®-winning “Avatar,” the highest-grossing film of all time. “Avatar: The Way of Water” opens in theaters on December 16.

In celebration of the trailer and poster launch for “Avatar: The Way of Water,” a stunning light show of massive proportions featuring highlights from the film will be projected tonight over Niagara Falls.

With “Avatar: The Way of Water,” the cinematic experience reaches new heights as Cameron transports audiences back to the magnificent world of Pandora in a spectacular and stirring action-packed adventure.

Directed by James Cameron and produced by Cameron and Jon Landau, the Lightstorm Entertainment Production stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang and Kate Winslet. Screenplay by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver. Story by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver & Josh Friedman & Shane Salerno. David Valdes and Richard Baneham serve as the film’s executive producers.

Monday, May 9, 2022

TEASER TRAILER FOR 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS’ “AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER”

BURBANK, Calif. (May 9, 2022) – The teaser trailer for 20th Century Studios’ “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which first debuted in theaters on May 6, is available now. James Cameron’s first follow-up to his “Avatar,” the highest-grossing film of all time, will open in theaters on December 16.

Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure. Directed by James Cameron and produced by Cameron and Jon Landau, the film stars Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement and Kate Winslet.

To whet audiences’ appetites, the studio will re-release “Avatar” in theaters on September 23.

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Disney-Fox Updates Film Release Schedule: Star Wars, Avatar and More

The Walt Disney Studios has unveiled its upcoming slate following the recent acquisition of the Fox film studios, including changes to previously dated films and a number of major additions.

After kicking off with the record-setting success of Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame, The Walt Disney Studios’ 2019 summer slate includes Disney’s Aladdin on May 24, Fox’s Dark Phoenix on June 7, Pixar’s Toy Story 4 on June 21, Fox’s Stuber on July 12, and Disney’s The Lion King on July 19. Fox 2000’s The Art of Racing in the Rain moves up to Aug. 9, and Fox Searchlight’s Ready or Not will release on Aug. 23, while three films move to later dates: Ad Astra (9/20/19), The New Mutants (4/3/20), and Artemis Fowl (5/29/20).

The Studios’ 2019 slate rounds out with Fox’s The Woman in the Window on Oct. 4 and Ford V. Ferrari on Nov. 15, Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil on Oct. 18 and Disney Animation’s Frozen 2 on Nov. 22, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker on Dec. 20, and Blue Sky Studios’ Spies in Disguise, moving from September to Christmas. Among early 2020 titles are Fox’s Underwater on Jan. 10, a new Kingsman movie on Feb. 14, and Call of the Wild on Feb. 21, followed by Pixar’sOnward on March 6 and Disney’s Mulan on March 27.

The updated calendar also sets release dates for major franchises Avatar and Star Wars. With Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker bringing the original Skywalker Saga to its conclusion, three new as-yet-untitled Star Wars films will release on the pre-Christmas weekend every other year beginning in 2022. Four forthcomingAvatar films, expanding the vibrant world of Pandora, will release on the pre-Christmas weekend every other year beginning in 2021. In the holiday corridor for 2020, Fox’s West Side Story adaptation, directed by Steven Spielberg, will debut Dec. 18 in the pre-Christmas slot, with Disney’s Cruella opening Wednesday, Dec. 23, for the long holiday weekend.

“We’re excited to put in place a robust and diverse slate that lays the foundation of our long-term strategy, bringing together a breadth of films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Fox, Fox Searchlight, and Blue Sky Studios to create an extraordinary collection of cinematic experiences for audiences around the world,” said Cathleen Taff, President, Theatrical Distribution, Franchise Management, and Business & Audience Insights, The Walt Disney Studios. “With a strong summer already in place, we are eager to carry that momentum forward over the coming years thanks to a creative wellspring of bold and imaginative stories coming from our world-class studios – including several new chapters of two revered franchises, Avatar and Star Wars.”

Friday, May 4, 2018

Avengers: Infinity War’s Zoe Saldana Gets Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Take a look at some of the photos from the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony honoring Zoe Saldana.

First Look at Pandora - The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Pandora is 4.4 light years away from Earth and thanks to Alpha Centauri Expeditions (ACE), it is possible to travel this incredible distance to take people to Pandora.

*Pro Tip: Ask the technicians (aka Cast Members) why they decided to make the move to Pandora. You may be surprised at what you may discover.

This is the Flaska Reclinata, one of the largest plants on Pandora and it provides oxygen for humans to breath.

The Valley of Mo'ara is where you begin your journey in Pandora. The floating mountains greet you as you hike under them.

There is beauty everywhere.

Make sure to explore all the trails and pathways! You never know what you will discover next!

D23 Expo 2013: Imagineering Teases Pandora for Animal Kingdom!

Imagineering gave D23 Expo attendees a look at some of the research they did on the moon of Pandora. Take a look at some of the sketches of the locals called the Na'Vi.

Here you can see a maquette of one of the Na'Vi.

Here is some of the beautiful handmade ornamentation that the Na'Vi wear.

The Imagineers brought back an exopack, a lightweight atmosphere filtration system that allows humans to survive on Pandora.

This floating rock is actually a piece of unobtanium, a highly valuable mineral found on Pandora.

Pretty much all all life on Pandora exhibits bioluminescent qualities in various shades of blue, purple and green. The plant seen here seems to respond to sound. It is kept covered for safety reasons as no one knows if it may release spores or anything else that could be toxic to humans.

The Expedition Everest bags remind us that the Imagineers are going to build their version of Pandora at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Here I am trying on a Na'Vi or an avatar sized backpack. Not only is it huge on me but man it was really heavy!

Holding a massive Na'Vi or avatar sized boot! This was also pretty darn heavy!

Hopefully we will be finding out more about Pandora in the near future!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Avatar land model and update for Walt Disney World with Imagineer Bruce Vaughn

Visit http://www.InsideTheMagic.net for more about Avatar / Pandora for Disney's Animal Kingdom!

During a media presentation, Imagineer Bruce Vaughn shared a brief update about the Avatar project in development for Disney's Animal Kingdom, showing a photo featuring an early model of what the Avatar land of Pandora was once conceptualized as for Disney's Animal Kingdom. The photo features Avatar creator James Cameron along with Imagineers Joe Rohde and Bruce Vaughn, and Disney Park & Resorts chairman Tom Staggs. He noted the project has already evolved since this photo so the model is not necessarily accurate to what will be built.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Disney 'Flying Dragon' Testing! For Animal Kingdom and Avatarland? Perhaps!

In March of 201o, Walt Disney Imagineering took out this patent of a flying dragon. This of course led to speculation on what this might be. Jump forward to September of 2011 when Disney and James Cameron announced they were teaming up to bring Pandora to Disney Animal Kingdom Park! And now jump forward to yesterday when The Bakersfield Californian had this in the paper:

Thursday, Jun 21 2012 06:00 PM

Dragon spotted over Minter Field

BY JOHN COX Californian staff writer jcox@bakersfield.com

Flying a mechanical dragon hundreds of feet in the air above Shafter's Minter Field is no way to keep the thing a secret.
That was apparently Disney's intention, however, when it swore airport officials to secrecy by having them sign a nondisclosure agreement as part of its rental of a hangar, a golf cart and rights to test the modified ultralight before shipping it off to Florida later this summer.

Related Photos

By Photo courtesy of Tammy Zaninovich

But what about everyone else who has business at the airport and happened to look up at the sky at various times over the past year?

Maybe they wouldn't notice.

They did.

"It looks real," flight trainer Justin Dyck said. "I thought it was going to be in a movie or something and they throw a little dragon in there."

Restaurant manager Tammy Zaninovich snapped photos and posted them on Facebook. So much for the surprise.

"It breathes fire and the mouth opens and closes," she said. "It's pretty cool."

The independent Disney fan website Neverland Gazette says the dragon is part of a show Disney World is putting together based on the movie "Avatar."

The site links to a March 2010 patent application for a "flying entertainment vehicle" complete with technical drawings and explanations of how the dragon's tail wags and the wings fill up with air without upsetting the aircraft's aerodynamics.

Despite all of this, mum remains the official word at Disney.

"I can't really tell you much. So sorry," Disney spokeswoman Angela Bliss said Thursday, confirming only that what people around the airport saw (she never used the word "dragon") was a project of Glendale-based Walt Disney Imagineering.

"We're really always looking for new ways to expand the magic at Disney Parks," Bliss said. "But we really don't have any specific comments about what you're asking me about."

Minter Field's general manager, Sandy Worley, would not discuss the dragon, citing the confidentiality agreement. As interesting as the aircraft is, Worley said, she could only confirm that Disney was in town recently testing equipment.

Witnesses say the dragon has orange wings that span about 15 feet. They say Disney people come about once a month to test its flight performance and the distances required to take off and land.

Pilot and aircraft restoration hobbyist Patrick Wiens, who saw the aircraft flying at dawn a couple of weeks ago, said it's essentially an ultralight with a "kite kit." He said he has seen plenty of those, but "never something so artistic."

People he talks with around the airport have since mentioned the dragon to him.

"They had never seen anything like it, either," he said.

Source: http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x1076260226/Dragon-spotted-over-Minter-Field

Friday, October 21, 2011