The Avatar original theatrical version still has it's sentimental value

[Hunter of the Glade]

The original Avatar DVD still rests on my shelf.

The pristine purity and originality of the very first version of the film; the normal footage with none of the additives still has sentimental value to me. With the CE out, that feeling has not been carried over with the new versions of the film.

This particular DVD I will always remember as the FIRST version of Avatar I ever saw. The ORIGINAL version. The version that was untouched. The version James Cameron originally set us out to see.

Such nostalgia comes with merely watching the main menu of this disc. "Jake's First Flight" playing in the background and the beautiful views of Pandora are enough to give me goosebumps: enveloping me with all the emotions of viewings in the past that have been amazing and truly breath-taking.

Sentimental value is an irreplaceable thing that can only be obtained by my original disc. Whenever I hold the case with my hands, reading the back cover quote... "...a reluctant hero, an epic journey, a choice between the world he left behind and the new world he's learned to call home," along with just the mere scent of the inside cover is enough to make me realize all of the good times I've had with this DVD and how it has changed my life FOREVER. THAT is something that the CE can never replicate.

On April 23'rd which marks my one-year, I will not watch the CE extended cut. I'm not even going to use my CE disc to play the original version...

I'm watching the original DVD. The one that I have and always will take with me throughout my entire life.
The version that I know deep down was the very first thing that ever taught me to See. The version that forever changed my life.

[Human No More]

I really like the original version. The CE is amazing with the extras, but I'm actually not such a fan of the alternate opening. I have still watched the original version since getting the CE

[josie20]

Originally Posted by Human No More

The CE is amazing with the extras, but I'm actually not such a fan of the alternate opening.

Same here. Don't get me wrong, it's amazing. It just doesn't pull me in like the original. I remember the first time I saw Avatar. I was completely captivated as soon as it started. It had my undivided attention from the very beginning to the very end. The alternate opening just doesn't quite do that for me.

[Ashen Key]

Originally Posted by Human No More

I really like the original version. The CE is amazing with the extras, but I'm actually not such a fan of the alternate opening. I have still watched the original version since getting the CE

This pretty much. The CE opening is SO USEFUL for world-building and getting a 'feel' for Earth, but I feel it doesn't quite 'work' so much. And generally if I'm watching canon just for fun, I watch the original. To watch just a 'movie', it's the original. For more world-building and for fic-purposes, I watch the CE.

[Aaron]

I didn't feel like the alternate beginning added much value to the story. It was cool, but there was something more... "pure" ...about the theatrical version's almost 100% Pandora setting.

FWIW, I've only watched CE a couple of times and I watch the theatrical version a couple of times a month still. Why? Because it's the version I have ripped to my PS3's internal hard disk. Convenience is everything.

[Grif]

I only like mine because it was signed by the guy who made the language (and doesn't have a Walmart sticker on it).

[Tsawke`Iheyu]

You are right, Hunter of the Glade The CE only reveals some untold stuff in the original footage, - made me understand why Dr.Augustine's school was left and the world where Jake comes from (like I didn't knew, it's the same world we'll face earlier than we ever thought, earlier than 2050...) -, but it won't replace the original version of the Avatar. The original version of Avatar really involves you directly into the action and that's why I like it the most !

[Icu]

SE is the best version, it's a fact

Though I do like the original version's take on the fanlizard sequence the best.

[Empty Glass]

The original cut probably worked best with it's absence of the Earth scenes. Sometimes, it's better to leave things to the audience's imagination. And actually, I really liked how from the very first minute of the movie, you were already thrust into an unfamiliar world. Zero introduction, zero build-up, zero anticipation...it worked out brilliantly.

But then the Earth scenes in the CE were nice for us über-fans who just needed more.

[Ashen Key]

Originally Posted by Empty Glass

But then the Earth scenes in the CE were nice for us über-fans who just needed more.

*laughs* Exactly! *may have actually squeaked with glee at the details on the street crowd when she first saw the CE opening*

[Woodsprite]

Actually, I've never seen the CE. I've only seen the SE in theaters, and I've had the CE blu-ray for 3 months. Never watched it; only the original theatrical. The original version just seems like the best version. Even though there were some pretty good scenes in the SE, the theatrical version has the best continuity to me. It had the best editing.

[Raptor]

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

Even though there were some pretty good scenes in the SE, the theatrical version has the best continuity to me. It had the best editing.

I have to agree with ya. I liked the inclusion of the story of Sylwanin because it made Augustine much more sympathetic. I really thought that she was a jerk when I first watched the movie. While the Earth scenes aren't bad, I just don't like it as much as the original intro. Speaking of the alternate intro, I noticed that a few Na'vi actors also played as bar customers (i.e. Wes Studi [Eytukan], Alicia Vela-Bailey [Ikran Clan leader])

[Grif]

I really wanted there to be more Earth stuff, like feature length Earth stuff. I mean I know they're wouldn't be one, but the future looks interesting.

[Eltu]

Well, the original version is the only one I have seen, so...

It certainly is beyond what could ever be explained by words.

[Helicoradian]

I only watch the CE now for the extended theatrical release, which IMO makes the best use of the additional footage. The Earth opening scene while interesting, just doesn't seem flow as well compared to the original opening. As for the original blu-ray...it holds a good bit of sentimental value For some of us it was out of theaters for at least a few weeks at that point, and the ability to go back was something I needed at the time (as did a few others )

Not to mention the video quality of the original blu-ray is a small fraction better compared to the CE.