Extended Collectors Edition/Deleted Scenes Character Development

[yarik83]

Warning this will and or may contain spoilers. If you have not watched extended edition and deleted scenes please proceed with caution.

Looking at a copy of my theatrical version in blu ray I have gently placed it back on its shelf and in my other arm I hold a treasure. A 3 disk collector's edition blu ray which contains 3 versions of the movie, hours of bonus features, featurettes and more.

So having spent better part of this weekend watching a non stop marathon of everything that came on that 3 disk set I am kind of disappointed and baffled. May be it's just me but did anyone else feel the vibe of Cameron painting a completely different picture of certain characters in his extended cut and deleted scenes vs the original version?

Lets start with the main cast.
Norm.
in theatrical version he is a bit of a geek and has later become a grumpy geek. In the 3 disk set (from here on we will abbreviate it to "full version") he is a lot more grumpy and also anything but a geek. Involved in untold romance hanky panky
Trudi.
seems like all out tree hugger in original and aside from untold romance she is also a bit of a conspirator.
Neytiri.
Who knew that she had a sister? And was the best student in school?
Quaritch.
In original version is all macho but with a hit of moral character, willing to compromise but still directs things with a firm fist. In full version he is outright evil as exemplified by his confrontation with Selfridge.
Selfridge.
Originally seems like mr bad guy and a bit of a greedy selfish bastard. In full version he seems to have second thoughts and suddenly develops morals?!

I could go on and on but if I never watched original version and had to develop an opinion of characters... I would have had a completely different picture in mind. Normally when a movie is made... its usually longer than desired so editors cut and recut and cut some more and in the end best cuts that would not really add anything to the movie get dropped and placed under "deleted scenes". In Cameron's version, however that does not seem to be the case. There are untold romances and completely different character developments for supporting characters. There are new grudges and untold stories that make everything completely different. I dont know about you guys but I think I should have completely avoided watching deleted scenes.

What do you think?

[sanchezmyran]

I kind of feel the same way. Mostly about Quaritch and Jake, though. Norm seemed the same to me, we never really learned much about Trudy in the original movie, and Neytiri seemed about the same to me, too. But in the original, Quaritch seemed like he actually thought he was doing the right thing, and in a way he was. He was doing something wrong, but for the right reasons. But the deleted scenes just made him seem bad all the way through, like he knew that what he was doing was wrong, he just didn't care.

And was it just me, or did the deleted scenes make Jake seem like a real jerk? His comment to Wainfleet on the way into Hell's Gate was somewhat justified, but what's with the rudeness the first time he met Norm? Also, the way his secret mission with Quaritch was introduced in the deleted scenes made it seem a little more sinister.

Also, I thought the deleted scenes made Grace not seem nearly as tough, and made Selfridge look like a complete wimp. I still really enjoyed them, though.

[Ja'k Dawsiin]

I thought the deleted scenes made Grace not seem nearly as tough

Grace was seeing Jake interacting and experiencing the Na'vi in ways she never could,and also seeing the conflict within him as the three months went along,so she went along on his journey,partly for him,and partly for her own journey of percieved guilt over Silwanin's death. there was some great acting and moments in these deleted scenes and i definitely saw Grace in a much more nuanced and pained position as head of Avatar program and ally of the Na'vi people. to you,Grace,hoping you are a big help to Eywa,'cause the skypeople are definitely coming back.

[MarkD]

Jake being a jerk based on the new scenes. Well he went only to help complete what his brother set out for. He felt it was something worth doing, even though he didn't really want to. Not to mention it would help him financially if he did go since money was offered if he did and given he lives only on VA benefits, he could use the money.

At first he wanted to just go there, get the job done, and go home. After he met Neytiri, everything changed. He also told Grace and Norm why he was there because he was conflicted on helping them or do as Quaritch wanted. You could tell he loved Neytiri by then and wanted to protect her. And besides if he told the na'vi they'd kick him out and if he didn't do as Quaritch asked, then he'd be removed and Quaritch would use force and kill anyone in the way.