In the interviews given to promote Avatar, which opens in theaters today, James Cameron has already given a few tips on the Blu-ray of his latest movie epic. The filmmaker said that the BD will include over ten minutes of deleted scenes, and also that the initial Blu-ray release of 'Avatar' "probably won't be in 3-D", and there will be another edition with 3-D support in late 2010.
Cameron told MTV that the discarded footage gave added background on the native Na'vi people of Pandora. "It's all wonderful stuff, but it was sort of bogging down the middle section of the movie," Cameron said. "So there's plenty for a value-added DVD experience on this film. Of course, we'll have to go punch it all up and get it all mixed and stuff like that." There is also a trial ritual where, to become one of the clan, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) must hunt a local beast.
With regard to whether the Blu-ray release would include 3-D or not, Cameron said: "Probably the initial Blu-ray release of Avatar won't be in 3-D and then a subsequent release will be in 3-D. That's my guess right now. So we will probably put out a disk, you know, in six or eight months, let's call it six months, and then after that we will have a 3-D disc when there are enough sets available."
This will mean that, when released, that BD will utilize the Blu-ray 3D specification (see blu-ray.com, December 17).
Cameron is highly enthusiastic about 3-D, in theaters and at home, as you can see in this interview he gave for Attack of the Show:
wonka, most likely it will. It sounds like a win for both sides. People who want 2-D will get their copy while the rest of us can get the far superior 3-D version (as the movie is meant to be seen) somewhere down the road. Hooray for everyone!
Since the 3D version will have a 2D option anyway I will definutly be waiting for the 3D release. With the spec finalized and hardware coming as early as the spring I don't see why its initial Blu-Ray release can't be in 3D. The only reason would be to make some money double dipping.
1) Since the extra footage was "sort of bogging down the middle section of the movie", I hope the BD includes both versions.
2) I expect the 3D version may be more expensive, and only time will tell if the new 3D BD's are really compatible with older players (Maybe the mods should go ahead and set up a "My player won't play 3D movies" section).
Good information and love when the consumer is given product information in advance so they can make a product decision that works for them, instead of the moronic "double-dip" revenue game.
I look forward to the regular old Blu-ray, as switching to 3-D will entail getting a new stand-alone 3-D Blu-ray player and 3-D HD display. That will be a ways down the road. Look forward to seeing the 3-D in the theater, but will get the first release instead of waiting for the 3-D version.
Wallendo 3D version WILL be compatible with all previous Blu-Ray players. Just in 2D only for all current standalones and half resolution 3D for the Playstation 3. Its part of the spec. Its a given.
The 3D version being more expensive however is a very likely possibility.
Awesome! I am going to get the 2D version for sure. Screw 3-D!
Generally speaking: Won't there be any contrast\brightness issues with the 2D version on a 3-D disc, since 3-D has to be brighter?
"Wallendo 3D version WILL be compatible with all previous Blu-Ray players. Just in 2D only for all current standalones and half resolution 3D for the Playstation 3. Its part of the spec. Its a given.
The 3D version being more expensive however is a very likely possibility."
Since many current players have trouble with current BD's, I suspect that many players will need a firmware update, and a number of discontinued players will never get an update. The fact that this is "part of the spec" means it SHOULD work, not that it WILL work.
I plan to eventually go 3-D, but until I know that my players can reliably play the disks, will stick with 2-D versions.
In the interviews given to promote 
