Source France | Publisher : 20th Century Studios | Release date 23 June 2023
Video format
2160p24 – Ratio 1.85
HDR10 / BT.2020 – HEVC encoding
Master intermediate 4K
Soundtrack
English Dolby Atmos
English Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Subtitles
English
French
Rated 5 out of 5
Artistic : 9.5 | Video : 10 | Audio : 10
It is brought to the attention of our dear readers that, in addition to the specified and used viewing equipment, the rendering may differ from one installation to another, whether or not it is calibrated, as well as personal preferences and expectations may influence notation. Moreover, the images in the article are not representative of the edition tested.
Test equipment and condition (Config. HP: 5.1.4)
Video broadcaster : Sony Bravia XR-65A80J (Expert HDR)
Sources : Oppo UDP-203 Audiocom Reference | Zappiti Reference
Pregnant : Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar (Dolby Atmos | Dolby Surround), SVS SB-4000
Work - Back on Pandora
About ten years have passed since the previous events on Pandora. Jake Sully and Neytiri became parents. Their idyllic life, close to nature, is threatened when the « Resources Development Administration », dangerous non-governmental organization, is back on Pandora. Forced to leave their natural habitat, Jake and his family went to the reefs, where they thought they would find asylum. But they fall on a clan, the Metkayina, in different ways from theirs...
Beyond the known borders of cinema, the visionary director James Cameron recaptures the motifs of his filmography (this suite is his work sum) and plunges us, with his virtuoso camera, into a great militant ecologist bath whose unreal beauty of the universe depicts (a photorealism to no other like like) does not equal that the thematic richness of the family plot that is played (it causes ecocide, transmission, immigration, mix, education, colonization, transhumanism, integration and the passing away). Combining the epic and the intimate (the family is the engine of the narrative), the darkness and wonder, the spectacular (the scenes of action are dantesque) and the contemplative, this aquatic SF work with a rich imagination and rich dramaturgy is concerned with the environment without ever denying the roller coaster to the great heart that it is. The Pandorian epic is just beginning!
IMAGE - The other blue planet
Despite the absence of the HFR technology at 48 fps (unfortunately not supported by the Blu-ray Ultra HD standard) exploited in the dark rooms, this impeccable UHD HDR10 transfer strikes as one of the most beautiful presentations of the medium. Indeed, absolutely stunning and strictly refined (cf. the beautifully subtle use of brightness peaks) in all its components, the 4K image makes take water to its counterpart 1080p yet solidly equipped!
The original source is obviously virgin of all dirt, the details abound at the four corners of the wide frame with more textural complexity (the skin grain, hair, weaving of clothes, corals, foliage, water droplets, dirt, mountains on the horizon and so on) and the compression HEVC shows its superiority in all circumstances (starting with forest sequences where rain and mist intervene).
The naturally bold colorimetric palette (of ultra varied shades) increases in shade and vibrance (this chromatic impulse of the primarys is possible only with WCG), the range of contrasts that significantly widens (the levels of black are richer and the purity of the whites reinforced) brings depth to the images and the sumptuous light sources (bioluminescence), weighted with demand, display with increased realism (the rays of the sun, the computer terminals, the reflections on the surface of the water, the night lights, the branches-lianes of the Tree of Souls and its underwater equivalent).
SOUND - Under the ocean, under the ocean 🎶
With a live acoustic scene to the extent possible and a constant multichannel activity, the VO Dolby Atmos, once the volume increased by a few decibels, is fantastic from beginning to end.
The dynamics unfold with intensity when the armed conflict comes wildly to break the moments when calm reigns, the realism of the surrounding environment (the fauna and flora) and the regular activity of the heights (overflights of the Ikrans, underwater noises, jumps of marine creatures, debris falls, etc.) impress lastingly, the music of the Simon Frallen (very respectful of the late James Horner) is as wide as enveloping, the dialogues (provided with directionality if necessary) are set out with great clarity and the LFE channel, which is very robust, delivers huge bass as soon as the occasion presents itself (explosions, shots, roaring engines, waves that break, movements of the Tulkuns).
Even if less emotional, the VF (with careful dubbing) encoded in Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 generously deploys its effects in the acoustic space and remains well balanced.
CONCLUSION - On behalf of the ecological emergency
Before it is too late, this second wave of the great ecological saga Avatar (thirteen years after its first tsunami) continues to plead for nature by forcing us to open our eyes to the ongoing environmental disaster. Larger, more beautiful (a technological prowess all the more dazzling on 4K Ultra HD support) and stronger, this particularly ambitious alert launcher inspires us to change before the sixth extinction of species!
I must be one of the few French people who didn't see Avatar 2 and no Avatar in 3D! Too bad I would have been curious to see the tech.
Rendez-vous is taken for the third time! 😉
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