There is only a very small number of films which, just shortly after their theatrical release, can be characterized with superlatives such as revolutionary or matchless. But if there is one film that these attributes are really applicable to, it is certainly James Cameron's space fable "Avatar". Even though critics have not yet grown tired of branding the shallow story as too simple, the film has accomplished something no other film has been able to do within the last thirty years: it has re-defined the idea of cinema and lured the masses back into the movie theatres. In a time which saw declining box office takings, an identity crisis of cinema as a medium and sinister forecasts predicting the end of the silver screen as an instrument of mass entertainment, James Cameron, along with 20th Century Fox, has heralded the start of a new era of cinema. Not quite unexpected, but enormously successful. One can criticize "Avatar" as regards content, but even the most blistering critics cannot deny the following: the film is a cinematic experience never seen before. Even the greatest artists of the movie industry could not dispute on that. Steven Spielberg said, "Avatar" was „the most evocative and amazing science-fiction movie since Star Wars“. His long-time friend, the producer Frank Marshall, agreed just as euphorically („Audacious and awe inspiring. It’s truly extraordinary!“). Ruben Fleischer, director of "Zombieland" was positive that it was „So next level. So awesome. Avatar is a game changer.“ - and he was proved right. "Avatar" was indeed a game changer, which changed cinema for good. Some say it changed for the better, but some say it changed for the worse.

For more information about the production process of "Avatar" and the additional scenes of the Special Edition read the preceeding censorship report on the theatrical version and the Special Edition.


According to director James Cameron, the Extended Edition was specially compiled for fans. The actual theatrical version always represents his director's cut, while the respective Special Edition is only meant to deepen the story. Thus, the present Extended Edition was just enhanced by a few scenes, which do not change the story, but add two interesting aspects. The biggest difference is certainly the opening scene on Earth which was cut to accelerate the pace of the movie, since it does not really advance the story. The rest refers to the massacre in the Na'Vi school which caused the death of Neytiri's sister. The school scene was only inserted in the Special Edition, but the Extended Edition goes into it more explicitly. However, it is barely comprehensible why these scenes had not been in the Special Edition already, since the SE itself introduces this plot line.

Consequently, the Extended Edition should be regarded rather as a bonus version. It is based on the Special Edition and is almost completely identical with it - with the exception of the aforementioned scenes.

Altogether, the Extended Edition, compared against the Special Edition, is 436.64 seconds longer.

0:00:52
The opening scene has been changed. It now starts on Earth and takes a look back into Jake Sully's past as a paraplegic war veteran. He drinks, he fights, he rusts away - aimlessly and forlorn. That only changes when he is visited by two representatives of the mining company. They ask him to take over the role of his deceased twin brother and fly to Pandora.

Further outlooks on the future of the Earth are interspersed en passant. We learn that the Bengal tiger, just like many species more, has meanwhile become extinct, but was recreated using genetic engineering. Earth is overpopulated and polluted. Most people wear respirators. Due to the quantity of people (and corpses), undertakers have degenerated into industrial facilities.

For lucidity reasons, the complete opening scene will be reproduced here. The parts of it that had already been seen in the theatrical version have been subtracted from the total runtime.

269.32 sec.

0:03:06
Before they take off to Pandora, an additional shot of the shuttle pilot has been added.
4.52 sec.

0:51:53
Before Jake returns to Pandora, he and Grace talk some more. Norm is jealous, because a shallow ex-marine like Jake has meanwhile been accepted into the inner circles of the Na'Vi - even though Jake does not even know the goddess Eywa. When Dr. Augustine considers a picture of Neytiri, she begins to wallow in memories and talks about Neytiri's sister Sylwanin. Jokingly, Jake tells Norm that he had a date with Sylwanin too. Dr. Augustine remarks that Neytiri's sister was dead. Apparently, this scene is meant to link to the school scene. It is obvious that Neytiri's sister had been killed by humans.
19.92 sec.

1:04:56
Dr. Augustine brings Jake back and tells him to eat something. He refuses, but Dr. Augustine insists on it and he obliges. At the dining table, Jake finds a picture of Dr. Augustine as Neytiri's teacher. He asks her about what happened at the school. Dr. Augustine tells him that Neytiri's sister and some of her friends had attacked a bulldozer which had threatened them. Hoping to find shelter with Dr. Augustine, they fled into the school. However, the mercenaries pursued and killed them.

For lucidity reasons, the complete opening scene will be reproduced here. The parts of it that had already been seen in the theatrical version have been subtracted from the total runtime.

180.76 sec.

1:34:57
When the marines vacate the research laboratory and prepare for retaliation, Jake and Dr. Augustine talk longer. A short, but interesting extension, since it becomes obvious that the war against the Na'Vi had been desired and planned.
15.08 sec.