Original and CE openings

[txim_asawl]

Hmmm, it feels like there's a poll missing for this topic.
Comparing the two openings, the CE opening struck me as "ah, so that's what Earth looks like", nicely (or rather, terrifyingly) corresponding with what I read in the introduction of the Activist's Survival Guide.

I also read the 2007 version of the screenplay, where I could envision the scenes from the text. I think that the CE opening serves well as setting the counterpart to the wild and beautiful nature setting of Pandora. It also reinforces my sentiments when seeing the Valkyrie glide over the giant wound of an open-pit mine struck in the moon's surface to the landing site at Hell's Gate, where the otherwise clean air is polluted by the unobtainium refinery chimneys: typical Earth behaviour, there - wherever greedy humans go, they bring their filth and destruction with them.


The small scene of Jake in his less-than-comfortable apartment was also interesting, since the voiceover from the giant-sized video wall told us about tiger cubs being cloned back into existence... such a possible future is a warning call (as has already been discussed in "Would you give up your life on Earth for Pandora?" thread).

The bar fight might seem unneccessary (and it's a nice addition to see Alicia Vela-Bailey in her human form, too), but it serves as a means to further present Jake's character as someone who still believes in fighting for things worth fighting for - which he ultimately does, siding with the Na'vi.

Jake's Pietà pose when lying on the street outside the bar, with the "suits" (the RDA agents) standing over him had a very nice ironic touch, making Jake look like some sort of redeemer-to-be.

At the crematorium, Jake's slowly spoken "The strong prey on the weak", reprising the cause of the bar fight, as he sees his dead twin brother in the less-than-compassionate cardboard coffin adds a strong emotional element that was missing from the original opening. And the match cut of the two brothers' faces (Tommy, burning, to Jake, lying in the cool blue cryo chamber) was a genius' piece of work!

To make a long story short: I'm a fan of the CE opening.

Wiggling bare toes (still at work, thank Eywa the big boss is out of the office...)

~*Txim Asawl*~

[Human No More]

Originally Posted by ISV Venture Star

You could be right. There's a solid emotional punch to the original opening which isn't quite the same in the CE. I also think the bar scene really needs its deleted counterpart in the hunting party.

Perhaps, that would mirror and contrast it very well.

Originally Posted by Helicoradian

The original opening is still my favorite because it just feels right, not to say the CE opening is necessarily bad. But one small thing I would've like to seen kept in the original opening would be the few seconds of footage from the cockpit of the shuttle while in orbit. Gotta love the view of Pandora!

True - this is the best scene from the extended opening, I think

As for the CE with the original opening - I would really like that, I think that would be the real best of both - the other added scenes in the CE have a lot of emotion, but the opening there doesn't really. Maybe I'll try putting the original opening with the CE

The CE opening was great from an interest point of view, just seeing Earth, and the bar fight was actually good - I just prefer the original one. It starts out in space, we see Pandora earlier, and just something about how it's put together is enough to make it have that huge power, just as later parts of the film do.

[Lahea Atxkxeftu]

I prefer CE openinig.

[auroraglacialis]

Originally Posted by txim_asawl

And the match cut of the two brothers' faces (Tommy, burning, to Jake, lying in the cool blue cryo chamber) was a genius' piece of work!

Oh yes, that one struck me as awesome too. It also would have fit into the original opening.

[Pa'li Makto]

I liked the original opening. As people have mentioned, the view from the shuttle cockpit, coming over the forest canopy is really something spectacular, it gets you right into Pandora. While the Earth opening was good because it gave us background onto Earth and the RDA ect, it just didn't feel right.

[mikkowilson]

The movie isn't about earth (well, obviously except for the fact that it is *all* about earth), we don't need to see it in the film.

Not to mention seeing earth clearly some time in the not immediate future cements the whole movie in the future in the viewers mind. Without seeing Earth (the Original opening); it could all be taking place *now*.

Just like Star Wars; the actual time of the events has no relevance on the story, so why not let the viewer travel their in the time-frame of their own mind?

When I watch Avatar; I don't go forward 140 years, I just go right to Pandora now.

Original / SE opening FTW.

- Mikko

[misstammie]

I liked the SE that we saw in the theaters last summer without the alternate opening on earth. The CE longer version with Jake in the bar was ok but I think I would have rather had them finish and add the deleted HUNT FESTIVAL instead. Now THAT would have been awesome!!!

I love the original and always will but I love the SE just for the sturmbeest hunt and of course the added "love scene." I'm a girl and a romantic what can I say! LOL

[mikkowilson]

...not to mention HELL YEAH!

SE is totally my favorite version.

Though I just got some fancy gear at work that allows me to finally play with the versions. SE opening + CE rest-of-it anyone?

- Mikko ... is considering making a version with all the deleted scenes added back in. "HOW long movie?"

[Human No More]

Originally Posted by mikkowilson

When I watch Avatar; I don't go forward 140 years, I just go right to Pandora now.

That is a perfect way of putting it

Originally Posted by mikkowilson

...not to mention HELL YEAH!

SE is totally my favorite version.

Though I just got some fancy gear at work that allows me to finally play with the versions. SE opening + CE rest-of-it anyone?

- Mikko ... is considering making a version with all the deleted scenes added back in. "HOW long movie?"

I'm considering putting the original opening on the CE with backups, but can't make a bluray of it. I think that the deleted scenes would be a bit of an immersion-breaker though

I love the rest of the CE, and it has even more emotion in it than the original, but the CE opening just takes too long to get going, and doesn't have the power of the original. It's the one part I consider actually justified in cutting from the original release.

[mikkowilson]

Heh, I can make BluRay ... but I'm not going to. I just want to try watching it *all* non stop in story context; allowing for the break in immersion in that mode as it's more of a fan look at the extended story. Like reading the ASG.

I could imagine 3 versions, actually:
- CE with original opening.
- All *Finished* deleted scenes added in.
- ALL deleted scenes added in. I have no idea how long that would be .. probably like 5 hours.


My only interest in watching the deleted scenes inline is simply to see them in their full story context, but otherwise the same interest as just watching them on the extras disc. Or reading the Scriptment.

To simply watch the movie; the original cuts are still the best cuts. Cameron and his editors did a great job. To try and "fix" what they did would be not only pointless as it's fantastic the way they intended and there is nothing to "fix", but also an insult to their craft.

If one was going to re-edit the movie, then why not change the framing, and the color, and the music, and the script... it wouldn't be Avatar.

- Mikko

[Mika]

Like many others whom have already commented, i find it is the original opening that i prefer, because of its emotional impact, perhaps because of the first few times i saw it. It was good to see the CE a couple times, but now that it's there as a frame of reference, i prefer to watch the SE edition. It is the only part of the CE .. that i don't enjoy .. i would like to see an editon that started with the original opening .. and then all the rest of the additional scenes, because they add so much to the whole!

[Papi]

I want to echo the sentiment in favor of the original opening. I believe Jake opening his eyes in cryo to start the film and opening his eyes as a true Na'vi to end the film are the perfect, metaphorical "book-ends" that add an extra cinematic depth to the film. The brief flash-back to the men in suits is more than enough to explain the reasons for his voyage. The beautiful images of the ship in space work better when seen more immediately.

When I want to watch Avatar I watch the middle cut -- the so-called theatrical re-release. Same beginning as the original with the extra 8 minutes.

[mikkowilson]

So I just finished capturing the CE and the Deleted Scenes.
CE is 3 hours. And there's about 45 minutes of Deleted's.

This is the 2nd time I've seen the deleteds (and I think the 3rd time I've watched the opening of the CE [I then left while the rest of it captured]); they are very cool. It's funny watching the ones that are only "Capture Level" with the raw video from the volume only; I still see the characters.

The CE opening really isn't that bad. I think it might grow on me a little. And as awesome as the SE is, the Original cut is the one that I fell in love with; and nothing can change that.

- Mikko

[Fighter-of-Wars]

Originally Posted by Hunter of the Glade

As always, the original version will have it's sentimental value in my heart.
As for the other versions, I personally like the SE...because it starts right on Pandora from the get-go. Nothing against the other versions obviously!
The one advantage the CE has on the other versions though, is the scene when Grace gives Jake closure on what really happened at the school. Such an emotional scene.

This, I really like this part and wish it would have made it into the Original.

As others said before, the CE intro is nice to have watched but when I watch it now I just watch the original because it keeps the feelings flowing stronger faster, at least for me.

For me the best version would have the original opening, but add them being at the school, grace telling what happened at the school, cut the hunt and jake killing tsu-tey scene, but if they would of had the dance scene in there that would have been great.

With all the deleted scenes, it would be hard to figure out what would have worked and what wouldn't have.

[Human No More]

In terms of ideal versions, I wanted to see one with the finished scenes of Max and the scientists at the control room, and the dreamhunt...