One set for every format (VHS, laserdisc, and DVD.) Again, how is it greedy to give a consumer more than one option?
It would have been impossible to have an ultimate edition, complete with brand new visual effects, available for release now. Yet there are plenty of people who just want the movie itself and don't want to wait. It was either just the movie or nothing. You're upset that you have the option to get it now or simply wait a few months for a more comprehensive edition?
I feel like I'm being roped into an argument I don't care to have. This is not a new thing in home video releases, I know, but it doesn't mean I have to like the scheme just because Avatar is a big deal. I'll keep this concise and that'll be all I'll say of it:
Fox is out for the money. Consider this:
Blu-ray + dvd : 2010
Blu-ray + extra features : 2010
Blu-ray + 3D : 2011
Blu-ray + 3D + more extra features (if the rumor is to be believed). : 2011 (?)
TV manufacturers are rolling out 3D TVs NOW. Don't you think including 3D functionality on this Blu-ray release of Avatar this month would've been a great incentive for consumers? No. they'll pad it out and rope as many people into buying the early versions as possible. 3D blu-ray discs are compatible with standard, non-3D machines (but you can only watch in 2D, obviously).
There is so much existing behind-the-scenes stuff about Avatar floating around, interviews, trailers and featurettes and whatnot, some of it undoubtedly in a high-def format, that fitting it into a second blu-ray disc seems so so so easy. Wouldn't it have been nice to be able to watch that stuff from your couch? How about an 80 megabyte commentary track from James Cameron? Is that too big to fit on a freaking
50gb disc? Give me a break. Including a few features would not turn this into a special edition, and it would have made a lot of people happy.
It's so obvious they are going for the corporate cash grab, especially considering the ironic release of this blu-ray/dvd in order to coincide with and to celebrate Earth Day (April 22nd). Yeah, firing up the manufacturing plants to press a ____ ton of discs only to make more later in the year for this flick is totally environment-conscious, especially on Earth Day (that's unrelated, but still.). And you know what? The movie was re-released in theaters last weekend! This all ties into Fox's corporate plan. Bogus.
Screw it. I'm going to save my hard earned money and use it towards the Hot Toys figures, which, if Shai is to be believed, won't happen....