Rating: 
Summary: A great film made greater
Review: Although "Apocalypse Now Redux" is only 49 minutes longer than the original theatrical release, the net effect is to create a very different movie--far more eerie and moody than the original, more connected to the demons driving the characters (and Coppola and the cast, per "Hearts of Darkness"). The result is a film that may be truer to what Coppola experienced and felt during the more than two years he spent making "Apocalypse Now" than the one he released to theaters. The quality of this DVD is supremo, the video and audio surpass even the earlier DVD. As for the extra scenes, they're a mixed bunch: Every bit of extra with Duvall is wonderful. This was one of his greatest roles, and the additional stuff extends the inspired madness that made his scenes so riveting. Ditto the extra dialog with "Larry" Fishburne, which gave him more character. The scene where they steal Duval's surfboard (and when his coptors come looking for them) humanizes Sheen and establishes comradeship in a way that was missing earlier, and makes a net improvement. The scene with the stranded Playboy bunnies was completely superfluous, and the dialog those poor gals got stuck with was ridiculous and banal. That one was a flop. The French plantation sequence is hard to figure. The opening and closing were richly atmospheric, adding to the unreality of the planters' situation. and enhancing the overall mood of anachronism and weirdness. The dinner was a jumble. The extra Brando footage was actually good, because the longest part (where he reads Time Magazine to Sheen) made him look and sound more like a soldier, less like a beached whale on mescaline. Sorry they chose to eliminate the final airstrike when the credits rolled (forever).
The critics weren't ready for the original "Apocalypse," and I think this version would have been a critical and box office disaster if it had been the initial theatrical release. As a "redux" it's a welcome artistic enhancement, an emotionally and intellectually exhilirating way to look deeper inside one of the all-time greatest films.
Rating: 
Summary: What a giant, nut-filled turd...
Review: The original Apocalypse was a dark classic, this new version just flat out sucks. The new scenes take away from the flow of the story (and are sooooooooo boring and unnecessary) - especially unbelieveable is that in this new bad version almost half of the group of army gentlemen have romantic encounters w/ playboy playmates! Ugh! Like that really happened to any of the real soldiers that served in Viet Nam. Skip this one and buy the original version instead. Apocalypse Redux is as stinky as Godfather III.
Rating: 
Summary: No Extras ???
Review: The movie is 5 Stars and the Redux version is worth seeing. This is one of the few movies since The Abyss where where the extra movie footage adds to the movie.BUT THE LACK OF VITUALLY ANY EXTRAS IS A TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT. Here's my suggestion, rent it at Blockbuster and wait for the Directors version of Redux with comentary and a new making of (you know it will happen).
Rating:
Summary: What, No Extras?
Review: For me, "Apocalypse Now" was always more about the journey and not so much about the destination. With the release of "Apocalypse Now Redux" on DVD, my opinion hasn't changed. The added scenes of "Redux" give more depth to Captain Williard's journey, but the destination, i.e., the termination of Colonel Kurtz "with extreme prejudice" still is somewhat of a let down. Dennis Hopper's babbling photojournalist character seems even more ridiculous and annoying today than he did 20 plus years ago. And, in my humble opinion, Brando's performance is way overrated. Still, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts and, for that reason, "Apocalypse Now Redux" gets my four stars. The DVD presentation is an entirely different story, however; Paramount really blew it with this release. Yes, they have given us the additional 49 minutes of restored footage that is "Redux," but there are absolutely no extras save the "Redux" trailer. No director's/actor's commentary. No "behind the scenes" footage. No biographies of Francis Ford Coppola or any of the principal actors. No production notes. Nada. Nothing. Come on, Paramount, that's what DVD is all about, especially for a film like "Apocalypse Now Redux." One star (and a raspberry) for the cheapskates at Paramount.
Rating: 
Summary: Paramount Drops the ball (again)
Review: Once again, a sub-standard DVD edition of a well-made Paramount movie. Apparently the only movies Paramount cares about are "Forrest Gump" and "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." If *I* was producing this DVD, I would make it a 2-disc set, with the features being a new Audio Commentary by Francis Ford Coppola, an Audio Commentary by Martin Sheen and Robert Duvall, and on the second disc, the Documentary "Hearts of Darkness," recounting the making of the film. We should come to expect nothing less these days.
Rating:
Summary: Review Redux
Review: What a bunch of whiney crybabies. For those that don't like the added scenes, just skip them. Quit complaining, it's still a good movie.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST FOR ANY "APOCALYPSE NOW" FAN
Review: I REMEMBER SEEING THIS IN THEATERS, BOTH THE ORIGINAL VERSION (AT LEAST 3 TIMES) AND THE RESTORED VERSION. THE BEST REPRESENTATION OF THE CULTISH FOLLOWING WAS A MIDNIGHT SHOW AT A SMALL TOWN MOVIE HOUSE AROUND 1983. THE MANAGER OF THE THEATRE HAD FOUND A NEW PRINT, AND INTRODUCED THE FILM TO THE AUDIENCE WITH A PROUD FLOURISH. WELL, THIS IS A VERY SIMILAR SITUATION ON THE DVD RELEASE. YOU CAN TELL HOW MUCH EXPERTISE AND LOVE HAS GONE INTO THE DVD TRANSFER. THE SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL IS NEXT TO NONE, BECAUSE OF THE 202 MINUTE RUNNING TIME, AND THE RESULT IS A STUNNING TRANSFER THAT MAKES ME WANT TO BREAK DOWN AND FINALLY GET THAT HDTV WIDESCREEN SET !!! I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THEY GOT THE BIT RATE TO THIS DETAIL IN THIS LONG OF A FILM, BUT WOW....THE NEW SCENES ARE ALL WORTHY ADDITIONS, EXCEPT THE FRENCH PLANTATION SCENE. IT TAKES THE MOVIE INTO ANOTHER AREA ENTIRELY. IT SEEMS LIKE A REALLY GOOD TEN MINUTES, BUT FROM AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MOVIE. FOR THAT, I MUST TAKE A STAR. BUT, REST ASSURED, ALL APOCALYPSE FANS SIMPLY MUST HAVE THIS RELEASE !!!
Rating:
Summary: Great movie, but where are the special features...?
Review: I love this film. I saw the "Redux" at the Academy premiere in July 2001 and couldn't wait to buy the film on DVD for the second time. But I recently saw the DVD and where are the special features? No Coppola commentary? No "Hearts of Darkness" documentary" Great movie, but my original DVD has more features than the Redux.
Rating:
Summary: Where is the bonus star?
Review: It was my intention to add another star to this. you know... 6 stars... that way this amazingly amazing movie could get its properness. If that fails to make sense, maybe you dont have the right kind of mind to watch this movie. Granted, EVERYONE has already seen it. prebirth human beings, not yet exposed to the horrors of the acid culture (definitely displayed in this movie) have seen this movie... or at least remember seeing it. Some weird genetic memory fellow that we cant shake off. I fully enjoyed this movie, mostly due to the fact that this is something to watch over and over again while "twisted on weird chemicals", as Thompson would put it. 'nuff said.
Rating:
Summary: No extras?
Review: Though it is still a great film, frankly, i think this Redux version lacks the mystery, the caotic fascination and sensuality of the original 1979 release version. Sure, the themes are more clearly expressed here, for instance the sex-scene with the Playboy Bunnies is very expressive about the clash of two civilizations in which the law of the jungle gradually takes over the "civilized" (particularly when Lance starts putting green paint on the girl's face). The French plantation sequence and Kurtz reading an article from the Time magazine points out the root of this insanity (as one of the French in the film says it was the US who first put the seeds for Vietnamese guerillas-- ... but these things, we have already felt from the previous version, even though there were no verbal explanations. Also, the added amount of Willard's voice over, where the background of Kurtz and Willard's growing sympathy towards Kurtz are more clearly explained.... ... Rather, those added explanations (added with the totally-visible Kurtz as he reads the Time article in broad-daylight) chases away a considerable ammount of Kurtz's mystery. In the audio commentary of the prvious DVD edition (on the "destruction of Kurtz compound" footage), Mr.Coppola explains that his intention of making the film, especially at the ending, was that he wanted to make an anti-war film, ... The Redux version ends with a clear anti-war, non violence message, by simply adjusting the sound effects and making us hear clearly that the natives are putting down their weapons as Willard and Lance walk to the boat. Also, "The horror, the horror, the horror" voice-over is removed from the ending. True, Coppola has now made his point clear. But I wonder which one would be a more powerful film. ... One thing for sure, the new version is less dangerous than the previous 1979 original release version. .... Anyway, after the exciting and insightful supplements of the GODFATHER DVD's, I at least have expected a detailled full-length audio commentary from Mr.Coppola. But it seems like there's no extras on this DVD. It's a pitty if there won't be any commentary and supplements, since Coppola is really a great storyteller, not only in cinema but also as he talks.
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