This is going to be a far different movie review than most of my write ups. If you want my thoughts on the original 162 minute theatrical version of Avatar, I think it’s good, very good in fact. James Cameron told a familiar yet effective story that was heightened by the remarkable motion capture work and revolutionary visual artistry on display. Now, do I think the original cut of the film is one of Cameron’s top 3 best films? No, but then again, it broke the box office and became a worldwide phenomenon, so it clearly connected with billions of audience members. It’s important to note, Cameron directed my all time favorite film, Terminator 2: Extended Version, so I definitely judge the standard of his work on a higher pedestal than some other film directors.
With both sci-fi classics Terminator 2 and Aliens receiving the extended version treatment for home video, it was almost certain that there was crucial footage cut out for the theatrical release. I am here today to stress to you all that the difference an ‘extended cut’ can make may very well be the deciding factor on your enjoyment level of whichever film is granted such release. That is without a doubt the case with the Avatar: Extended Collector’s Edition which is 16 minutes longer than the theatrical cut, bringing the runtime to a whopping 178 minutes. 16 minutes might not seem like it could make a difference to the average audience member, but I cannot emphasize enough just how much a difference it actually does make.
Let’s start out with one of the most obvious changes, and that is the added sequence on a dying planet earth to begin the film. In the theatrical release, we never got to see what life on earth was really like prior to Jake Sully and crew heading to Pandora. This was a massive plot hole in the theatrical cut that raised so many questions and in turn, made the beginning feel rushed. In the Extended Collector’s Edition, we are treated to a visually exuberant dying planet earth with a crumbling economy, rampant crime, and a gorgeous Cyberpunk-like aesthetic reminiscent of the Blade Runner movies. We get to see why Jake was already losing his faith in humanity on earth and how he wanted to fight for a good cause in a collapsing society. This 5 minute alternative day in the life of Jake Sully opening sequence gives Jake so much more depth before he departs for Pandora and instantly makes him the underdog hero. It also shows how marine veterans like Jake are being maltreated after their service. In the theatrical cut, we go straight to seeing Jake’s twin brother dead in a casket and right to outer space. It makes no sense why this was cut, none at all.
Another significant scene that was restored in the extended cut was Grace explaining how and why the school was shut down. It turns out that Neytiri’s sister was murdered in front of her by the mercenaries for attacking one of the bulldozers. This exposition scene, completely absent from the original cut, gives a lot of context for why Grace was already at odds with Selfridge and Colonel Quaritch’s agenda, and furthermore why Neytiri and the Na'vi didn’t trust the humans. Speaking of Quaritch, Stephen Lang was spot on casting as the genocidal warlord, and I loved seeing his relationship with Jake develop from fellow comrades to arch enemies.
Giovanni Ribisi as Selfridge was also genius casting, with Ribisi charismatically pulling off the eccentric greedy corporate business man personality. There is also a neat little moment added in that scene where Grace encourages an unkept Jake to eat. Small details like this show the passage of time in the second act and the toll that the Avatar mind swapping programming has on users. The final big addition to the extended version is Tsu'tey’s death and his character arc coming full circle. After the Na'vi won the battle against the RDA, Tsu'tey was mortally wounded and had no choice but to ask Jake to take up his leadership role, and to mercifully kill him. This adds so much weight to Tsu'tey’s story, as he went from loathing and fearing Jake to respecting him as a brother and fellow warrior. All of these major and minor additions to the extended cut give Avatar a significant amount of depth and makes both the story and world building feel a lot richer and thoroughly developed.
Up until viewing this extended version on Blu-ray recently, I had always liked Avatar, but more so on a surface level popcorn spectacle kind of way. Now however, I have a far greater appreciation for this film due to the Extended Collector’s Edition. It’s not only a visually breathtaking movie, but with the added scenes, the story, themes, and character arcs all come together far more cohesively than in the theatrical version, making for genuinely thrilling and emotionally rewarding spectacle. This is further proof that Cameron shouldn’t have to cut out essential character/story moments to shorten the runtime on his films. Overall, if you didn’t like the original version of Avatar, this is not meant to win you over, but if you liked or loved the original cut, you’ll find even more to enjoy with the Extended Collector’s Edition.
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