Apocalypse Now on DVD and Blu-ray

[HerrSchreck]

My problem with Apocalypse Now Redux is that if you have seen Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse, it is very clear that Coppola gave up on filming it, and that what was eventually put together was not what he wanted in the end, regardless of what he says about it now. It's hard for me to watch those parts of the movie without that in mind.

My sentiments exactly-- I can't tell you how many times I ran my HEARTS OF DARKNESS VHS into the ground, as I worshipped APOC NOW in my youth. Seeing him reinsert 2nd string material (particularly his originally-despised French Plantation Scene) seemed to me, with the doc as hindsight, to be a cold scheme to milk a masterpiece for more revenue. It also registered as further evidence of Coppola's wasting away in his own magesterial reputation instead of staying creative & making a new film for that money. (I mean, he did make the GODFATHER 1&2-- please don't mention 3-- as well as this film, so he knows he's fine if he never makes another film again.) Of course, sucker I am (and fanatic of Brando's performance) for this film, I went to see REDUX at a Sony IMAX theater here in NYC.

[FilmFanSea]

Confirmation today in an article entitled "Coppola's DVD Producer Preparing for HD"

An excerpt:

[quote]For the past 15 months, Aubry and his team have been working on the upcoming special edition DVD release — Apocalypse Now: The Complete Dossier, a sort of “kitchen sinkâ€

[TedW]

Thank God. Now if we can only get it transferred in its proper aspect ratio, all will be right with the world again (although only briefly).

[richast2]

Hmmm ... no word on Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse, but it's gotta be there, doesn't it? Either way, it's exciting news.

I'm not holding my breath, but hey, it's fun to hope, right?

[TedW]

I got my DVD of Hearts off eBay, I think. Hunt around; it's out there.

[filmfan]

Unless they are willing to come across with the legendary 5 hour plus Beta edit this is all a TOTAL waste of time.

This guy can retool this FOREVER as long as there is some maniac willing to indulge him !

[hearthesilence]

Yeah. No Hearts means no-desire-to-buy for me.

[TedW]

I have the rough cut -- it's not even a rough cut, it's more of an assembly. It's certainly not a movie and not even that interesting to watch. I definitely wouldn't burn the world down to locate it if somebody hadn't given it to me.

[hearthesilence]

Aren't rough cuts usually bloated anyway? I think "assembly" is a good description of them, just roughly assembling what you have without tightening anything or excising much, i.e. they usually run way too long. Not the same thing as a 'director's cut,' more like getting your ingredients in order.

[TedW]

Well, an "assembly" is just that: pretty much all the scenes shot, in order, with the shots cut together in a first-pass form without serious regard for performance, rhythm, etc. No major decisions are made at this point. It is intended just for the filmmakers to see what they have. A "rough cut" implies a step or two down the line, with some attempt made at making an actual movie out of all the footage, but far from a finished work. The Apocalypse bootleg is somewhere between the two, but closer to the former.

[filmfan]

What does Coppola have to offer the customer in another release of this film ?

[richast2]

My problem with Apocalypse Now Redux is that if you have seen Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse, it is very clear that Coppola gave up on filming it, and that what was eventually put together was not what he wanted in the end, regardless of what he says about it now. It's hard for me to watch those parts of the movie without that in mind.

that doesn't make it any less of a film. the version of Dreyer's Passion of Joan of Arc isn't what he wanted, but it's a magnificent film nonetheless.

[Gigi M.]

Is official. Release date in august.

[oldsheperd]

Coppola does give good commentaries.

[Gordon]

Four months away? Great!

[Gigi M.]

Release date slated for August 29. Same day as Double Indemnity.

[rwaits]

Did anyone ever figure out what the hell the difference is between this release and the one already in existence?

[Gigi M.]

From this same page:

[quote]For the past 15 months, Aubry and his team have been working on the upcoming special edition DVD release — Apocalypse Now: The Complete Dossier, a sort of “kitchen sinkâ€

[rwaits]

I thought someone had mentioned at some point in this thread that the original had been dropped and it was just a new version of Redux, which seems almost pointless to me.

[godardslave]

if it doesnt include hearts of darkness, this set will suck.

[rwaits]

That's what I mean--if its not on there, its just pointless. It seems that that announcement would have been made already, though.

[exte]

What's so pointless about new documentaries that promise to cover the postproduction process, something completely missing from Hearts of Darkness, yet took two years to complete?

[franco]

Here it is

[rwaits]

That packaging is pretty ugly.

[Gigi M.]

Amazing... Just amazing. Great artwork.