I didn't follow Avatar all that much back in the day and had no clue it was originally titled 'Project 880' - which is obviously a code name to keep it under wraps at that time.
Devin Faraci from Chud.com has been destroyed by Avatar fans (much like myself who also defend the movie with blinding rage). So he's been researching why he didn't like Avatar as much as the majority of the sci-fi world. He gave Avatar a 6/10 I believe - or around that score.
His essay details the differences between Project 880 and what Avatar is in it's current form. The changes are insane. I could either take or leave much of them - some of them being much darker in theme...Which I thought were pretty tight.
Here's some highlights - For the full massive read head here - http://chud.com/articles/articles/21969/1/PROJECT-880-THE-AVATAR-THAT-ALMOST-WAS/Page1.html
- Earth is seen - and it's a run down hole. The death of Jake's bro is detailed as he was killed in a subway fire and they show his funeral etc.
- Sully cries and has a more emotional breakdown when he finally can walk again through his Avatar form instead of running around like a kid.
- A previous Avatar controller is now insane because his Avatar was eaten alive by a creature not shown in the movie.
- The military initially wanted to control the Navi as a workforce because it was cheap labour.
- Sigourney Weaver's Character doesn't die and survives the soul transfer
- Sully rescues prisoners to prove his worth as a leader in a huge action scene and there is no big dragon taming - other Navi can ride them as well
- Sully threatens earth that he will wipe them out with a disease if they return to Pandora at the end of the film.
- The world of Pandora is shown as connected right from the start as plants and wildlife attack the marines.
- and much much more. I suggest reading it. As much as I loved Avatar - some of these original concepts feel more oldschool Cameron and have some cool dark themes to them which would have been awesome on the screen. Maybe he'll carry over some of this into a sequel - which I would welcome with open arms. Some very cool ideas here.