Rating: 
Summary: Top three vietnam movies of all time
Review: THIS WAS THE EDITION I HAD BEEN WATING FOR. REDUX SIMPLY THE BEST VERSION PERIOD. OF APOCALYPSE NOW THE DISC IS VERY CLEAR AND DETAILED GREAT SOUND AND A GREAT CAST. MAKE THIS ONE OF THE BEST EVER DVDs. BUT THE ONLY THING I DID'NT LIKE THAT I THOUGHT SLOWED IT DOWN WAS THE FRENCH PLANTATION SCENE . OTHER THAN THAT IT WAS GREAT. AND A MUST BUY FOR ANY ONE WHO LIKES WAR FILMS.
Rating:
Summary: Smells like...victory
Review: When I found out the APOCALYPSE NOW was being re-released with additional footage, I looked forward till it came out. I can say that APOCALYPSE NOW is one of the greatest movies ever made, and with the additional footage that we now have, the movie is even better. The additional sceens with Robert Duvall makes his looney character even loonier and thats a good thing. The only extra scene i didnt care to much for was the dinner scene. To me it slowed down the movie and wasnt all that necessary. The additional scenes on the boat were also good we got a better look into the charecters, something we missed in the original. I can say that this is an excellent DVD in my opinion and if you liked the original, you will love this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Sometimes more is less...
Review: I always believed AN was half a classic. The film is brilliant until we actually reach Kilgore's compound. This new and expanded edition actually improves the film. It's still a bloated, messy epic film but it's one that works! The picture is crisp, cinematography sharp and the picture quality of the DVD quite good. The acting by Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest, Larry Fishburne and Martin Sheen is top notch. Heck, even Harrison Ford's cameo bristles with energy.There are a few complaints; 1) Why isn't this in the original aspect ratio? 2) Why isn't there a second disc with additional outtakes (or the original version of the movie)and the brilliant documentary Heart of Darkness? 3) This film is really for film fanatics so why isn't it packaged with that in mind? As usual the major studios (and, in this case, Coppola) have missed the boat. This trip up into the Heart of Darkness isn't nearly as successful as it could have been. I'm betting a widescreen version (with proper aspect ratio intact) and extras is around the corner. Hold out on buying this and rent it instead.
Rating: 
Summary: The Original Was Much Better
Review: The problem I had with this version of the movie is that every added scence doesn't seem to have anything to do with the general story. Which is a solider on a mission to assassinate an American Col. who has apparently gone crazy. This version makes the film too long and at times boring. During the French Plantation scene I couldn't keep my eyes open. The scence had nothing to do with the movie. This version moves at a slow pace where as the original moves at a faster pace. A necessary pace. I'm sure a lot of you won't agree with this review. But I'm just gonna stick to the original.
Rating:
Summary: Astonishing Surrealist Epic
Review: I saw "Apocalypse Now" twice in 1979, during its first theatrical run. Parts of it impressed me, parts of it seemed incoherent (particularly the final sequence). I always thought of it as flawed, until I saw this new extended cut. I can't think of a movie I've enjoyed more in the last year --- and I watch a LOT of movies. The additional footage does improve the film, although the dinner scene could have been trimmed a bit. Still, so many ideas were tossed around during this part that I'm looking forward to watching it again to soak in every detail of the dialogue. "Apocalypse Now" will never be a movie for all tastes. There's too much symbolism for some viewers, and to be sure, plenty of violence (what do you expect in a war picture?). For me, this epic has grown on me over the years and gets better with repeated viewings; the new footage amplifies and enhances it, and some bits make more sense. I highly recommend it. As to the DVD: 3 hours and 20 minutes is long enough. I have stacks of others DVDs to watch. I don't have TIME to listen to a commentary track. I'd rather rent "Hearts of Darkness" or read a book about it (although it would have been a nifty idea to include the documentary in a two-disc set... with a heftier price tag, of course). The remixed Dolby Digital 5.1 sound is excellent. This is the first time I've seen my dogs dart around the room, trying to figure out where those helicopter sounds at the beginning are coming from. There was some controversy over the original DVD release; apparently the aspect ratio used was different from the theatrical release. Although the picture was shot in widescreen, it's presented here in 1.85:1; my guess is that the new cut was projected this way and that's why it was transferred like that. (It is an anamorphic picture.) In many theaters widescreen films are projected flat because the screens aren't wide enough for the actual film aspect ratio --- even in the theater, you don't always get the "theatrical" aspect ratio... Bottom line: if you like this movie at all, even part of it, at least rent "Redux" and see more of Coppola' vision of wartime hell. You won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Classic
Review: I have a VHS copy of Apocalypse Now and have nearly worn it out, now that I have my copy of Apocalypse Now Redux I'm over the moon the quality is outstanding and the Extra footage really make the storyline whole. It's taken a while to do but the "whole" movie should be renominated for the 2002 Oscars!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful!
Review: No words of mine can make your mind for you. All I can do is encourage you, if you haven't already, to SEE THIS MOVIE! The book upon which it was based, Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" is also well worth a look if you have seen the film and would like further insight into the themes. With Redux comes nearly 50 minutes of added and restored scenes. I think the scenes are a great look into human relations, but don't really add to the ultimate Kurtz plotline, which is really just slowed down by these other scenes. I would suggest seeing the original cut first, as it's more coherent and flows a little more smoothly- then, by all means, see this cut. There's great expansion to all of the characters, particularly Lance and Willard. If while watching the original, you noticed a somewhat abrupt change in these two, you'll find the explanation in these added scenes. The reason I can't give this disc 5 stars, (Notice I say disc, not movie- the movie is worthy of 10 stars!) is because of the change in aspect ratio. The movie was shot in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio- very wide. The DVD transfer appears in 16x9 (or 1.8:1)! Why? I assume because 16x9 digital set users have complained about those "annoying" black bars at the top and bottom of their screen: "What did I buy a widescreen set for anyway??" So in an attempt to quiet these ignorant types, the producers of this disc decided to chop off a good deal of the frame. To see what I'm talking about, go to the French Plantation scene. When the widow is making drinks and the picture of her dead husband is on the opposite side of the frame, half of it is cut off! Inexcusable. I thought I abandoned these pathetic compromises when I threw out my VHS tapes! Anyway, see this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Better whole than perfect
Review: Now that the film is more complete, it is probably less perfect, which may be why I like it better. The completed version, the original of which provided the symbols for my nightmares (I was draft age during Vietnam), is less univocal in its grim assessment of life as a war with self. The notable additions are the comical and sexy material that was deleted. Some of the additions, notably the love scene, are monumentally bad ideas (i.e., the wheezy music and cheesy sentiments). At times Sheen, who seems made of angst in the original, shows a face that is out of character, as if he were suddenly grinning at the camera, Tom Jones style. Coppola's additions have brought life to this film, which makes it seem shorter though he added almost an hour to an already long movie. I watched it last night and will watch it again.
Rating: 
Summary: Apocalypse Now Redux
Review: Apocalypse Now Reduced!
Two good reasons not to buy this DVD :
1) The Coppola's renewed masterpiece is not presented in its original aspect ratio of 2:35, but in 1:85, which is inexcusable.
2) A total absence of extra features. Mike Goldberg
Rating:
Summary: Apocalyptic Letdown
Review: After waiting a year or so for this extended-version of "Apocalypse Now," I must say that I was a bit disappointed. The image and audio transfer are quite good but the additional footage (while enjoyable to watch) did not add anything to the overall film. If anything, it’s a distraction as the scenes interrupted the flow of the story line. Martin Sheen's character is shown to have more depth but his detached nature (in the original) is diluted with spurts of camaraderie in this newer version. I guess my biggest complaint is "Why-why-why no additional features??" Sure, director's commentaries take time to put together but at least throw the public a bone or two. The "Hearts of Darkness" documentary wouldn't need any cleaning up and would have been an ideal extra for this DVD. (...)Paramount sure made out with this bare-bones disc - but next time, I'll be a bit more frugal when it comes to buying their discs.
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