APOCALYPSE NOW

War films are not my thing. Even when you get a good one, like Saving Private Ryan or Full Metal Jacket, they are still riddled with obvious characters and terribly cliches. But Apocalypse Now is not a warm film, not really. Oh sure it starts out as one but as Willard and his crew journey up the river toward Kurtz, it transforms into a philosophical film about the darkness that lives in all people, and how long anyone can face the madness of war before succumbing to that darkness. To the horror.

I love these psychadelic 70's flicks, though they usually age easily. Not this gem of a film, though. Whether its the original edition or the Redux version, this is a flick for the ages with great action sequences, unforgettable characters and performances and Vittorio Storaro's breathtaking cinematography. It's a shame that modern Hollywood doesn't have the balls to make a movie like this anymore.

The new Exorcist Blu-ray has a brand new restoration, completed under director William Friedkin's supervision, and features the 1973 original cut and 2000's The Version You've Never Seen. The Apocalypse Now Blu-ray will also feature both versions of the film, with new special features and, for the first time, will be grouped together with its sister documentary Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse. Unless my sources fail me, the new releases will both be out some time in October.

If you love these films as much as I do, go and watch them again. They're always worth at least one more viewing. If you've never seen them before, you have deprived yourself of two of the greatest films ever made. But not to worry, it's never too late to discover them.

Personally, and surprisingly, neither of these movies did much for me upon their release or at any time since.

Quoted from Dreamscale Personally, and surprisingly, neither of these movies did much for me upon their release or at any time since.

Same. What can I say? I don't like war movies in general with the exception of The Thin Red Line because I find them boring for the most part, but not that one (don't ask me how).

As for The Exorcist, it's just a simple, "I didn't enjoy watching you". Oh, well. They can't all be winners, now, can they?

Totally agreed, Blonde, but I LOVED Saving Private Ryan, easily the best war movie, IMO!

Quoted from The boy who could fly it is in no way even close, in a million trillion miles, to platoon, glory, saving private Ryan or black-hawk down as the greatest war film, not even by the longest long mile, at least for me,

Respectable opinions, although I'm surprised to see Black Hawk Down (good as it was) in there with those other instant classics. I only say that because in Black Hawk Down, you don't really get to know the characters which is one of the things war stories are built on. Just me, though. =)

Guess what I've been watching. Just picked up a DVD copy of the Redux version. 49 minutes of extra footage. And every extra second is brilliant. FFC, what a geezer. Shame Marlon's no longer with us. Too many burgers and tubs of ice cream I heard. Another bloody genius who peaked too early. rest on, big fella. Walter E. Who else coulda played him?

Charlie don't surf.

Someday this war's gonna end.

Never get out of the boat. Absolutely goddamn right.

First hour is amazing. Easily the best film I've seen of the last few months. Been years since I saw the old version. Always wonder what it woulda been like if Martin Sheen hadn't replaced Harvey Keitel.

Picked up my copy for 2.50 euro. That's about ten pence in old money. Bargain? Bloody gift week. Next I'm gonna watch the Foxx doing Ray then Danny Genuis Boyle's Millions. Then Letters from Iwo Jima and Clint's other version, the sad tale of Ira Hayes. Call him drunken Ira hayes, he won't answer any more. Not the whiskey drinking Virginian or the marine that went to war.

I'll love ya and leave ya. Later.

R xo

Should have waited a couple of weeks.  It's coming out on Blu-ray.

And isn't it whsikey drinking Indian?

Depends on the verse, Seay, and the singer. I'm a whiskey drinking Mick, so you may be right. Where's me JC CD gone?

The horror, the horror...

P&L

R

As my username indicates, I'm a huge fan of Apocalypse Now and actually plan on watching the Redux version proper, then with Coppola's commentary followed by the documentary in the coming weeks as its been a while since I've seen them.

From my perspective I would consider this and The Thin Red Line to be the greatest films dealing with war and the effects it has on both the individual and the collective…at least from what I can imagine These two films look at the conflict from a more philosophical view then the others mentioned like Black Hawk Down or Saving Private Ryan. More character driven, and more personal with less action so usually they tend to engage me on a much greater level.

Platoon and Full Metal Jacket take a more metaphysical approach too but, for me, don't reach the same depths as AN or TTRL. I think it can provide an insightful reflection on one’s tastes when you ask them what their favourite war (or anti-war) films are. Some will go for the gung-ho action orientated, heroic pictures while others will prefer the moody, slower paced, character led pieces. Whatever floats your proverbial…

Either way, I’m thankful I don’t actually know from first hand experience what these misfortunate characters go through, seeing it from a cinema seat or my armchair is close enough for me.

And while I heap much kudos on RV for bringing up Ira Hayes and the Dylan covered ballad, Seamus is right.

Col.

Quoted from Dreamscale Personally, and surprisingly, neither of these movies did much for me upon their release or at any time since.

-- I dunno about the rest of you but reading this didn't come as a surprise to me in the slightest.

Are you losing your power to shock and perplex us, Jeff! ;)

Quoted from col. walt e. kurtz8 Seamus is right. Col.

Not when I sing it. Like I did Saturday night. Truth is subjective. And drink was taken. I think he was from Arizona. A Pima Indian. Although, I may again be wrong. You try singing it in a pub fulla Irish who wanna talk with a skinful. Ooops. The performer doth protest too much.

Where's the fat lady when ya need her? And where is my capo?

R ox

EDIT:

Call him drunken Rendevous
He won't answer anymore
Up the stairs with a bottle of whiskey
And imaginary women who aren't whores

Ira Hayes, Ira Hayes
Call him drunken Ira Hayes he won't answer anymore
Not the whskey drinking indian or the marine that went to war

Thanks Walt and Seay, just had to write it to check.

I don't have a Blu Ray player yet. Times are hard and times are tough. I'd rather spend the money on Jameson and petrol. Must stop putting the JJ in the car and drinking the petrol though.

I shall now recommence Reduxing AN. More here later. If I can still focus on my keyboard and find the computer's On button. I didn't last night.

R xo

My final post on this thread.

It still is utterly amazing. A Kubrickian length in production, the story before release was they were calling it Apocalypse When?

Having seen this properly, soberly(ish) I'm almost dumbfounded. They shoulda released it in the Redux version originally. It's better, more coherent and more enjoyable. Still, I suppose it's like you get the Cd single or 7 inch then you get the 12 inch remix.

The Bullshit piled up so fast in Vietnam you needed wings to fly above it.

On the house, Captain, no more funerals, yeah.

There's many lines in this film. Not one spoken struck me as poor. Every one is spot on. And how many films can you say that about.

The visuals, the sound, The Story.

Nuff said.

FFC - I salute thee and those that helped, sir.

R ox