Wednesday, 26 September 2012

The Avengers: To DVD or not to DVD


 
I've been meaning comment on this but Home Cinema Choice has gone even further and we finally have a definitive answer. You may have been aware that for the home media release of the Avengers that a key scene had been altered, specifically a spear tip had been digitally removed from one characters death scene (links contain spoilers). Many reports were confused on the choice of censorship, but a statement from Disney UK’s home entertainment spokesperson Lydia Rodrigues convinced many that the version critics had seen was the US version of the film, whilst the UK release had already been edited.

"There’s been no censorship, no foul play. The version of Marvel’s Avengers Assemble on Blu-ray disc in the UK is the same as the version shown theatrically. It really is. The simple fact is for a 12 certificate film in the UK, that scene was deemed inappropriate. So Marvel Studios chose to remove the spear tip digitally."

But as many fans clearly remember seeing the spear on their own cinema trips HHC contacted the BBFC )British Board of Film Classification), who confirmed that two different versions of the film had been submitted to them.

“The DVD/Blu-ray version of MARVEL AVENGERS ASSEMBLE is classified 12. It differs from the theatrical version submitted to the BBFC which is classified 12A.”

The BBFC website already noted they had no problem with the spear’s presence, and there have been little (if not non) problems or changes in a films home media release since the introduction of the 12A category (and most DVDs/Blu-rays come in uncut forms). Following this Disney made their final statement on the subject.

‘Thanks to those of you who have let us know about an issue on the Marvel Avengers Assemble UK Blu-ray and DVD release, which has a less graphic depiction of [SPOILER]'s confrontation with Loki. Each country has its own compliance issues relative to depictions of violence. Unfortunately, another region’s elements were inadvertently used to create the UK in-home release which minimally altered this scene in the film. We thank our fans for their vigilance in recognizing this and apologize for the mix up.’

Sending another regions already edited copy to the BBFC isn’t the only problem Disney UK have had with the release, as fans are also missing out on Joss Whedon’s directors commentary, as Rodrigues has comments;

"That was a bit of a disappointment. Our DLT (Digital Linear Tape, required to replicate the disc) had to be delivered one month earlier than that required for the US pressing. So we missed out. We wanted it too."

She goes onto discuss the possibility of future released fixing these issues;

"That’s been the subject of heated debate here (at Disney UK), but we don’t think we can really ask fans who have bought this version to buy another just to obtain the commentary. So at the moment we are thinking it won’t be released. We also know that hardcore fans with Blu-ray players are probably going to end up buying the US release which has the commentary. The American Blu-ray is region-free. We don’t think we can ask people to buy both versions."

With several different ways to buy the film I was at odds at which to get, especially since there will be future box sets as more Marvel films appear on the big screen, which takes me nicely to the final issue Disney have had with the Blue-ray release, this time in the US. What I was really hoping to buy was the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One collection, a special box set of all the Marvel Studios feature films to date in a reproduction of the briefcase the holds the tesseract in the film.

 
However nobody has seemed to check with German luggage makers Rimowa whether they could use its likeness for other products (I’m not sure if this extends to toys) and are being sued for copyright infringement.
Amazon had pulled the item from pre-orders but has since made it available with the following statement;

ITEM UPDATE: The "Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One-Avengers Assembled Collection" will not be released by Marvel as we originally expected. We know this delay is disappointing, and we're sorry for any inconvenience this causes. Marvel is planning to offer a similar collection in new packaging. The new collection will include the original titles offered with the first version of the item, and we expect it will be available in the spring of 2013. Additional information will be available on our website and via email when available.

Amazon kindly gave anyone who had already ordered the set a free copy of the Avengers Blu-ray, but as the price doesn’t appear to have changed I’m curious as to what the ‘new packaging’ will look like. In any case Disney really need to get their act together as this is a surprisingly large amount of problems considering a 5 year old could download and burn the film (if anyone used disks anymore). Avengers Assemble!!!


Source: BBFC




Source: Amazon

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