Foto (c) Dreamworks Animation / Universal
Is this a sensitive cut or does this change the expectations of the potential audience by omitting the moment that defines the characters?
I could not help noticing, that there is a significant difference between the US trailer and the european trailer, or better let´s say between the european trailer and the trailer released in the rest of the world.
The european trailer has been censored, cut, shortened right in the beginning when Jo is taking out her knife and flips it open, holding it in front of Raissa´s face.
This is taken out of the trailer in the european version, while it remained in all the other trailers I found all over the net.
Why is that and does that mean the cut will also be in the final movie here in Europe?
Normally I would not mind, because there are perhaps good arguments not to show a kid whirling a knife. But here, in this case and in my humble opinion the cut damages the trailer because this is essential to the tone of the film and especially to the character design of both protagonists. Jo is wild and Raissa is fearless, together they will be a great team.
So in taking this out, the Europeans will have greater difficulties to understand and to connect to those two characters.
And while some may say, the knife scene is too threatening, I would argue that in the following montage, where both kids create their memories together, there is more wild, dangerous stuff happening then showing off with a knife. Especially when the teens are driving a bus being chased by the police….
So, I like the US trailer more then the european one. What do you think?
The international Trailer – uncut – with a whirling knife:
The european trailer – sensitively cut – without a whirling knife: