Then I found out there was a Director's Cut version that included all those missing scenes and it was like a whole different movie.
The shorter version is Besson's director's cut. It was the only version in existence anywhere in the world until the Summer of 1996. When asked why he then released a longer version (interview in 2000), Besson responded that the short version was his director's cut, but he had about 20 minutes of footage that nobody had seen, so he put out an extended version for fans in a few Paris theaters over the Summer of 1996. This version was carried around the world on DVDs, thanks to a request from Japan, and is called the International version.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110413/board/thread/2406531?d=41099842&p=3#41099842The original script called for a teenaged Mathilda, someone who would participate in killing and die in the end like Leon(he auditioned girls between 15 and 18, Portman was initially rejected because she was too young).
When he ended up choosing the 11-year-old Portman instead, he changed the script to one where her childhood was protected and she survived. The powerful Russian Roulette sequence set up what he hoped would be a humorous montage, but it also showed her not only as a happy participant in killing but celebrating it all afterwards. That destroyed the premise of the film for those looking for more than explosions and drama.
Using the Happy meal example, it is more like a sandwich with a double helping of spice in it or one with just the usual fixings. There are people who like extra spice, but it is a debatable question.
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