November 16, 2010: First look at Avatar Collector's Edition on DVD and Blu-ray

While James Cameron's Avatar was re-released in theaters on August 27, 2010 with an extra nine minutes of footage, there is already much talk about the highly anticipated Avatar Collector's Edition on DVD and Blu-ray, that is scheduled to be released on November 16, 2010. Avatar Collector's Edition will be filled with extras that will give every Avatar fan the elation of finding unobtainium. The Blu-ray version will contain three Blu-ray discs.

In both U.S. and Spain, the cover artwork has been announced and other countries may expect similar artwork for Avatar Collector's Edition.

In France, there will be a collectible limited, numbered deluxe box set priced at 149,99 euros; hopefully it will also be available in other countries. More details to come.

For those who are waiting for Avatar Blu-ray 3-D, it will be released in November 2010. However, Panasonic has exclusivity rights and it will be sold only to those who purchase Panasonic 3-D equipment. Everyone else will have to wait until 2011 for the general release.

But the bigger question is what will be included in this "massive" release aimed towards the hardcore Avatar fans who have been waiting since the barebones Avatar DVD and Blu-ray release?

Sampling of Special Features:

• Extended theatrical re-release version with 9-minutes of extra footage added to the 162-minutes of the original Avatar film (Runtime: 171 minutes)

     • Three scenes with one of Pandora's creatures, the Sturmbeest, and includes the great hunt where killing a Sturmbeest is a rite of passage

     • Sex scene between Neytiri, a Na’vi, and the avatar of Jake Sully

     • Extra footage of Na'vi clansman Tsu'tey's death, who Neytiri was betrothed to and Jake's romantic rival.

     • "Drums of war" scene which clarifies why the humans felt morally correct to invade Pandora and displace the Na'vi

     • Dr. Grace Augustine's Na'vi school

     • Iridescent rain forest-at-night scenes

     • A new flying sequence with the banshees

     • Winged dragon-like creatures that glide past the Pandora moutains

• Alternate reality version with 16-minutes of footage including the dystopian Earth opening sequence, which is about four and a half minutes long (includes the 9-minutes from the extended theatrical re-release version and 7-minutes more of extra completed footage played in continuity) (Runtime: 178 minutes)

     • Dystopian Earth opening sequence

     • More to come...

• Unfinished version with 45-minutes of deleted, unfinished footage rendered in real time by virtual camera

• Optional family-friendly audio version without any inappropriate language

• Picture-in-picture of the original motion capture footage will allow you to see the reference camera footage with the actors in black leotards syncing identically with the action on film

Avatar Sequels

With Titanic 3D, H.P. Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness with Guillermo del Toro, Battle Angel Alita and other projects on James Cameron's plate, Avatar fans will have to wait until 2014 for the sequel, Avatar 2. The focus will be on the oceans of Pandora and it will be filled with amazing creatures and Na'vi adapting to living underwater. There are many biomes on Pandora, similar to Earth's deserts, forests and mountains. Like humans, Na'vi must adapt to their surroundings to survive. Avatar 3 will most likely continue the exploration of the various biomes on Pandora.

Avatar 2 and Avatar 3 will be done together and there will be a story arc that will expand through the two films. However, each one will have its own appropriate ending, as opposed to a continuation part 1 and part 2 scenario. Most likely the films will be released one or two years apart.

In the meantime, keep an eye out for Avatar novel, which will offer a prequel of Avatar. The novel will be a backstory providing insight into each of the character's past and how their separate lives intertwined leading to the mission aboard the spacecraft on Pandora.

Where to buy Avatar Collector's Edition?

On November 16, 2010, it will be available at all major retailers:

Best Buy: New York City locations or use the store locator for other areas.

BJ's Wholesale Club: New York City locations or use the store locator for other areas.

Blockbuster: New York City locations or use the store locator for other areas.

FYE: New York City locations or use the store locator for other areas.

Kmart: New York City locations or use the store locator for other areas.

Toys 'R' Us: New York City locations or use the store locator for other areas.

Target: New York City locations or use the store locator for other areas.

Walmart: Long Island locations or use the store locator for other areas.

Amazon.com charges sales tax for all New York shipping addresses.