In almost any other case, where a film was re-released with only minor alterations, I would cry foul. Not only would it be a shameless attempt to cash in on a familiar name brand, but why would the director go ahead and mess with something that was perfectly good to begin with? I remember feeling this way with the "Star Wars" re-releases: Why add in CG backgrounds when we loved the sets just the way they were the first time through Tatooine?

But in any event, "Avatar" is coming back at the right time. Not only is the movie exciting and entertaining and deserving of more time on 3D screens that were far more limited back in December, but far more importantly, it continues to stand tall as the most exhilarating proof of what 3-D cinema is capable of.

So in regards to the "special edition," there are three things to address: The film, the extra footage and the 3-D debate that has been swirling as recently as "Step Up 3-D," a dance movie that some critics said had no business being in 3-D.

Let's begin with the second item: The nine new minutes are compelling and almost all hefty additions to the story. These aren't extraneous seconds of footage, but tangible asides that add depth and texture to the characters we've already come to appreciate.

Three key new sequences would involve the death of Na'vi warrior Tsu'tey, which does not happen off-screen this time around, but occurs front and center; a whole new battle sequence that takes place right after the humans first raze the magical Pandoran willows; and the introduction of a whole new species of Pandoran animals via a "Sturmbeest Hunt."

I found the additions substantive, particularly the death of the Na'vi warrior, who does not so much fall to the sidelines this time around but arrives at his final moment in an honorable, sympathetic fashion.

Seeing the film anew for the first time in half a year, I find it difficult now to look beyond some of the formulaic plotting and simplistic story construction. It's a very typical exotic romantic thriller. The more times you watch it, the more obvious the structure becomes.

But after a year of lackluster 3-D treatments, what I find most compelling about "Avatar 2.0" is that even though I found the story more wanting than previous viewings, I found the 3-D that much more dazzling. This truly is the gold standard of 3-D epics, the movie that shows what can be done when you start with 3-D from day one and do your due diligence in integrating the technology into every aspect of the production and exhibition.

We have had a year of depressing 3-D conversions - movies like "Clash of the Titans" and "Despicable Me" which truly did not need that extra third dimension. And as the 3-D ticket sales have waned and films like "Step Up 3D" have gone to great pains to market themselves as 2-D films, as well, Hollywood seems to be at a crossroads in terms of this next great technological hurdle.

For those who loved "Avatar," I would highly recommend this return screening. You'll feel like you saw a couple new hearty scenes. But it's for those who never saw the movie in 3-D that this is a must-attend event.

Before you miss the chance again, see 3-D executed as high art. More than anything else, I am wondering if "Avatar," paired with December's "Tron: Legacy," which was also created in native 3-D from day one - and also sports a virtual world that could benefit from the 3-D treatment - could resuscitate Hollywood's fading dreams of ambitious 3-D endeavors.

Only time will tell.