Apocalypse Now Redux (2001, DVD)

Theater Now
I was really excited to see this movie this summer. Apocalypse Now has always been one of my favorite movies, and so when I heard that Francis Ford Coppola was re-releasing it in theaters with the edited-out footage, I nearly wet myself. I knew that even if every other summer movie was horrible this year, there would be two that were great, this and the re-release of 2001..(by the way, does anyone know if they are still planning on re-releasing that in theaters as I had heard some months ago?). I was there in New York City the day Redux(as I'll refer to this updated version of the movie) opened by coincidence, but couldn't even get close to the theater which it was in, with the lines wrapped around Times Square in Manhatten. So I knew I'd have to wait until it came out in my home town of Cleveland, Ohio, and this past week....it did! Only playing at the Cedar Lee theater, I got there extra early to make sure I got a ticket. The theater was packed, the screen was a bit too small, the sound system could have been better, but other then that, I was thrilled I got to see this movie in a theater.

Just For the Fans?
Redux is of course, the exact same story as the original Apocalypse Now, just with some added scenes that were excised in the cutting room. Honestly, I can see why each of them were cut(most obviously to cut off about an hour of the film's length), but for anyone who has seen and really enjoys this film, I recommend seeing this "full" version, for if nothing else, an insight on the editing process. However, I'd have to say that if you've never seen Apocalypse Now, you may not want to go see Redux first, because nearly everyone that I saw in the theater had a hard time sitting for the three hours and forty-five minute film, and it may discourage you from an outstanding movie. So see the original first, in all it's glory, and if you love it, check out Redux, a great "expansion pack".

'nother Hour or So
So the story is of Captain Benjamin Willard (Martin Sheen) and his journey to find Colonel Walter Kurtz (Marlon Brando), a highly decorated officer gone a little astray during his stint in Vietnam. Willard is chosen because he has experience, and the men in charge, including a young Harrison Ford, believe he will carry through with his orders, unlike the last man they sent. Willard is to be taken to Kurtz' base by a riverboat of men lead by Chief Phillips (Albert Hall). The other soliders on board are a young surfer, Lance (Sam Bottoms), a New Orleans chef, Chef (Frederic Forrest, and Mr. Clean (a 17 year-old Laurence Fishburne). This group of men must make their way up a river running right through the heart of the Vietnam War, and into Cambodia where Kurtz is. It goes without saying that the mission of just making it to Kurtz is going to be one of the hardest missions possible.

As they make their way up the river, Willard reads over Kurtz' history, briefing us with the facts and his insights about the man. After all, this Kurtz isn't just some guy gone looney, he's a former green beret, tuned from birth to be a high-ranking soilder in the United States Army. He has served in countless other wars and battles, so why was Vietnam his breaking point? Leading to the question of the times, what exactly was going on over there?

Apocolypse New
The new scenes added are highlighted by the two biggest ones. One is a scene after the Playboy bunnies' show, where Willard's ship comes to a station to find that they are marooned there in desperate need of fuel. Willard works out an exchange of sex with him and his men for their fuel. This is one of the funniest scenes in the film, as both of Playboy bunnies shown seem very spaced-out and/or crazy. Especially the one with a bird fetish. The other long scene is very long, involving Willard and company stopping at a French plantation site in Vietnam. A real "time-out" is taken from the war, as Willard and his men go in to the house of the owner of the plantation for a great meal, and to discuss politics. I like how Coppola doesn't translate the French being spoken for us, so we are just as much in the dark about what is being said at the table as Willard is himself. The French scene concludes with a very strange sex scene. Another neat scene added, that probably damages the feel of the film the most is the one in which we get to see Kurtz in full light for the first time, outside reading a Time magazine to Willard. While it doesn't make him seem any less strange, just his full image makes him seem more of a man then a god or god-like figure.

Then and Now
I was really glad I went to see Redux despite its very long run time. While the new scenes didn't really make the film any better, they were interesting to see, and fresh to watch. I don't have to tell you probably that all the performances in Apoloypse Now are great, Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall (as Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore), Denis Hopper (as a strung-out photographer in the Kurtz camp), etc..., all make this film the Vietnam movie. Not so much dealing with the physical battles, as Coppola brings us to understand a little of the emotional battle that underlay the entire conflict in Vietnam. This film nearly broke Coppola in every way, and gave Martin Sheen a heart-attack, but this film packs a punch of a message that most films miss......the horror, the horror.


Charlie don't surf