Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Giveaway: Avatar Blu-Ray

Last year at this time, all the talk in theaters was about Avatar - how cool it was, how unique and ground-breaking, how much it drew people in. And for me, the talk was about where it stopped. Shhhh but I never got around to seeing it. It wasn't that I didn't want to - it was on the top of my list of movies to see - but just that I never made it to the theater. With two small children and a husband who regularly has work events at night, movies in the theater unfortunately don't happen as often as I'd like.

On the plus side, movies come out on DVD and often have all sorts of bonuses that you don't get at the theater. Avatar is no exception, and I was lucky enough to receive a copy on the new Blu-Ray last week. In keeping with the cool vibe of the movie, the Blu-Ray has three discs (yep, THREE) full of stuff.


Not only do you get the original theater version, but there is also a re-release and a 3 hour extended cut with sixteen additional minutes that doesn't include a bonus feature with 45 minutes of deleted scenes. Watching the movie for the first time, I was blown away. It wasn't in 3-D like most of my friends saw it in the theater, but the movie doesn't need that special effect to make it a great movie.

One of my favorite parts was the soundtrack behind it. The music was so moving, and - lucky me - the Blu-Ray also includes the audio track with all the ahhh bad words taken out. I can even listen it with the wee ones (who also love the sound track btw).

As blown away as I was by the movie, I made sure to explore some of the features included for the Blu-Ray. One of the most enlightening was Capturing Avatar that went through the making of Avatar. I had no idea this was a sixteen year oddessey. Wow. It includes interviews with James Cameron, Jon Landau, and various other members of the crew and cast who discuss Cameron’s vision and inspiration behind the film.

With Pandora's Box, I learned even more about the movie's making. It went through three stages of production (and yes, I saw parts from all three in this feature) - Performance Capture, Template (where the film looks more like a video game than a movie!), and the end product. This feature also has interviews with Cameron and the other filmmakers and can be viewed as sort of a “master class” on the creation of “Avatar”.

I won't say too much about the movie itself because well... most of you have probably already seen it, right? And for those of who you haven't, I don't want to ruin it. I will say that it has an intriguing storyline that kept me interested enough that I sat through the three hour version of the movie without wondering once when it would be over or looking at my watch. That alone is a feat.

And lucky you (or two yous, as the case may be!), I have two copies of the Avatar Blu-Ray to give away to lucky readers. So what do you have to do to win one of these Blu-Ray copies? First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

This contest is open until Tuesday January 18 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 48 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me - did you see Avatar in theaters? What did you like best, or why didn't you?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter and tweeting this contest with the following tweet: "Avatar is now out on DVD with lots of extras. Win one from @honestandtruly http://bit.ly/guDudd" (leave a link to your tweet as your comment and make sure you do all the steps!)
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a copy of Avatar from Fox for review purposes only and no compensation. All opinions expressed are my own.

41 comments:

  1. I still haven't seen Avatar yet!

    hewella1 at gmail dot com

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  2. I'm a gfc follower.

    hewella1 at gmail dot com

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  3. I'm one of the "rare one's" who hasn't seen Avatar. However, I heard it was/is a great movie. I'd love to be able to win a copy so I can see what everyone has been raving about.
    Thanks for the opportunity to participate.

    Patricia Oliver

    oliverspendulum@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. i did not see it in theaters but have seen it at home i must say I was amazed at what the movie makers can do now a days.

    ReplyDelete
  5. follow on twitter and tweeted
    http://twitter.com/bani127/status/22400278208716800

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  6. I saw it twice at the movie theater—I loved the story, the special effects, everything, it was beautiful to watch!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

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  7. I didn't see Avatar in theaters due to my surgery. But, I did see it on dvd at my sister's house. I absolutely love the graphics. I love when they are all around swaying and chanting to heal Grace. It was just a magical scene, as is nearly the whole movie. I would LOVE to own this on Blu Ray and see the extended content. Thanks for the opportunity to enter.

    dizzybloom(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I follow you via Twitter @HeartnSoulmom

    Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/HeartnSoulmom/status/22844606714486784

    dizzybloom(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I follow this review blog publicly via Google Friends Connect.

    dizzybloom(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I follow your regular blog publicly via Google Friends Connect.

    dizzybloom(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I didn't see it at a movie theater but I did see it on HBO and thought it was amazing!

    dlhaley[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I saw it in the theater. It was awesome eye candy.

    MichelleB675 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I follow via google friend connect

    MichelleB675 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I haven't seen it yet, but my husband has and he loves it. I haven't watched it because he rented it late the first night it came out, and I passed out before it even started lol!

    Thanks!
    fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Twitter follower {@mom2anutball}, and tweeted!

    http://twitter.com/mom2anutball/status/23073928595382274

    fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Google Friend Connect Follower of your other blog too! {mom2anutball}

    fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com

    ReplyDelete
  17. No, I haven't seen it yet, and my friends gave such mixed reviews, I really want to see it and decide for myself.
    nieceyd(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I follow your regular blog via google friend connect - Niecey

    nieceyd(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I saw it twice in the theatre and loved it. I love that it is a revolutionary film. It was visually stunning and that alone was enough for me. annierezac at gmail dot com

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  20. http://twitter.com/#!/arezac/status/23231357601710080 Rockin Tweet!

    ReplyDelete
  21. We didn't see Avatar in theaters, but we watched it on DVD. I loved the magical world of Pandora :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
    http://scr.im/ladybugemail

    ReplyDelete
  22. Following @honestandtruly on Twitter and Tweeted the giveaway
    http://scr.im/ladybugemail

    ReplyDelete
  23. I did not see it in theaters. The men in my family did and loved it. I saw it on dvd.
    fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Follow you on twitter. Tweeted: http://twitter.com/suburbsanity/status/24635570831495168
    fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Follow this blog.
    fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Follow your other blog.
    fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  28. follow on twitter and tweeted here

    http://twitter.com/?status=%49%20%6A%75%73%74%20%65%6E%74%65%72%65%64%20%74%6F%20%77%69%6E%20%61%6E%20%23%41%72%63%20%4E%6F%74%65%62%6F%6F%6B%20%66%72%6F%6D%20%40%53%74%61%70%6C%65%73%54%77%65%65%74%73%20%73%6F%20%49%20%63%61%6E%20%63%75%73%74%6F%6D%69%7A%65%20%74%68%65%20%77%61%79%20%49%20%6F%72%67%61%6E%69%7A%65%21%20%68%74%74%70%3A%2F%2F%62%69%74%2E%6C%79%2F%65%65%56%71%6F%45#!/kawsarani/status/24650453581037568

    ReplyDelete
  29. I did not get to see Avatar in the theater, but I wish I had. I got to see it on HBO a few days ago and it was so amazing and epic that I think if I had gotten to see it in theaters I probably would've ceased to exist. Seeing it in 2d was amazing.. but seeing it in 3d would've been awe-inspiring. I loved the movie so much that I wish I had gotten to see it in theaters, but owning it on DVD would be just as good for me. :)

    violetsauce@live.com

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  30. I follow you via GFC! It should be Stephy S :)

    violetsauce@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I also follow your public blog via GFC! Once again it will be under Stephy S :)

    violetsauce@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. And I also follow you on Twitter! Here is my tweet. (Twitter handle @mellscope)

    http://twitter.com/#!/mellscope/status/25413025691336704

    violetsauce@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I saw Avatar in the theatre last year. I saw it the 1st time in 'regular' format and went back the next evening to see it in 3-D. I loved everything about the movie - the story, characters, special effects. I would love to win a copy of Avatar. Thank you for the chance.
    blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I'm following this review blog publicly via GFC (Carole Spring)
    blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I'm following your “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via GFC (Carole Spring)
    blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Saw Avatar in the theaters in 3D - I love the special effects but more importantly the plot. Thanks!
    mandalarctic at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Following you on Twitter (@mandalarctic) and tweeted: http://twitter.com/mandalarctic/status/28337430062956544
    mandalarctic at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. GFC follower of your “regular” blog Honest & Truly!
    mandalarctic at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  39. GFC follower of this blog
    mandalarctic at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

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