Apocalypse Now (1979)

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by Sagacious Koreo

It's about time! And from what it souds like, we're finally getting a complete release of the film. Everything we could ever want.

Well not quite everything - unless a miracle happens and Lionsgate decide to defy Storaro and present the film in the OAR (2.35).

[blufellas]

Day 1 for me

[Bunker]

Favorite movie of all-time. Someone needs to tell the DP to shut the hell up and use the OAR, though.

[al cos.]

Originally Posted by retablo

As long as the blu has the destruction of the Kurtz compound footage that was originally supposed to play over the end credits, I'm happy. It was on the original DVD release but left off the Complete Dossier edition.

The best buy bonus disc has it.

[Hep]

I generally consider Apocalypse Now one of my top ten favourites; I'm really happy to see it get the BD treatment. It'll also be nice to see The Heart of Darkness again, it has been forever.

[GuruAskew]

I'm surprised at a couple of the comments here, surprised to the point where I had to register just to post this.

Paramount didn't license this to Lionsgate nor will Paramount be releasing this film as a Sapphire title.

"Apocalypse Now" was independently financed and produced by Coppola's American Zoetrope. Most people are familiar with the troubled production of "Apocalypse Now", a studio undoubtedly would have reigned Coppola in.

United Artists distributed "Apocalypse Now" theatrically in 1979 and Miramax distributed the "Redux" version theatrically in 2001. As such one might assume that MGM or Disney would be the distributors of the DVD releases. That assumption would obviously be wrong because Paramount had the home video rights to the majority of the Zoetrope catalog.

The key word there is "had". The relationship lapsed recently and Coppola moved the catalog to Lionsgate. That really isn't a downgrade because in both cases the home video releases are prepped by American Zoetrope and not Paramount OR Lionsgate. I'm fairly certain that Kim Aubrey is behind this new Lionsgate Blu-Ray release even if Lionsgate is pressing the discs and shipping them to stores.

Unless you have some sort of obsession with seeing a mountain surrounded by stars rather than a bunch of gears and cogs when you spin the disc the Paramount to Lionsgate transition should be absolutely seamless because it's still Coppola's production company behind the releases either way.

It's just somewhat interesting that Paramount had absolutely nothing to do with the film itself yet there's an undeniable connection in the minds of home video consumers.

[Duffy12]

One of my Top Two Favorite movies!



Lets...

[Show spoiler]CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!!

"Everyone gets everything he wants. I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one. Brought it up to me like room service. It was a real choice mission, and when it was over, I never wanted another."



.

[Drewza89]

Originally Posted by GuruAskew

I'm surprised at a couple of the comments here, surprised to the point where I had to register just to post this.

Paramount didn't license this to Lionsgate nor will Paramount be releasing this film as a Sapphire title.

"Apocalypse Now" was independently financed and produced by Coppola's American Zoetrope. Most people are familiar with the troubled production of "Apocalypse Now", a studio undoubtedly would have reigned Coppola in.

United Artists distributed "Apocalypse Now" theatrically in 1979 and Miramax distributed the "Redux" version theatrically in 2001. As such one might assume that MGM or Disney would be the distributors of the DVD releases. That assumption would obviously be wrong because Paramount had the home video rights to the majority of the Zoetrope catalog.

The key word there is "had". The relationship lapsed recently and Coppola moved the catalog to Lionsgate. That really isn't a downgrade because in both cases the home video releases are prepped by American Zoetrope and not Paramount OR Lionsgate. I'm fairly certain that Kim Aubrey is behind this new Lionsgate Blu-Ray release even if Lionsgate is pressing the discs and shipping them to stores.

Unless you have some sort of obsession with seeing a mountain surrounded by stars rather than a bunch of gears and cogs when you spin the disc the Paramount to Lionsgate transition should be absolutely seamless because it's still Coppola's production company behind the releases either way.

It's just somewhat interesting that Paramount had absolutely nothing to do with the film itself yet there's an undeniable connection in the minds of home video consumers.

Thanks for the insight. Do you know of any other films that Coppola moved to Lionsgate?

[QuasidodoJr]

Originally Posted by Drewza89

Thanks for the insight. Do you know of any other films that Coppola moved to Lionsgate?

I wouldn't mind if one of them was The Virgin Suicides, directed by Sofia Coppola. I think Lionsgate would give it a blu-ray release, whereas I think Paramount would not even consider the idea.

[GuruAskew]

Originally Posted by QuasidodoJr

I wouldn't mind if one of them was The Virgin Suicides, directed by Sofia Coppola. I think Lionsgate would give it a blu-ray release, whereas I think Paramount would not even consider the idea.

"The Virgin Suicides" is at Lionsgate now. It's not just the FFC-directed Zoetrope films.

It's pretty much everything that was once at Paramount minus the "Godfather" movies. The day Paramount lets those slip from their grasp is the day hell freezes over, though Paramount simply owns those movies lock stock and barrel so Coppola couldn't bring them elsewhere if he wanted to.

"The Conversation" is the one I hope they cross off the list next. Give me the "Godfather" films, "Apocalypse Now" and "The Conversation" and I'm good when it comes to Coppola. Its not that I have no interest in the rest of his filmography, its just that nothing else is a must-buy like his 70's output is.

[doctorsteve]

Oh

Frikken

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

"... When Coppola was asked about the authenticity of this report, he stated 'It's alright! It's alright! It's all been approved!!!' "

[GODHOOD]

Not a fan of Apocalypse Now redux, the added scenes really slows down the movie so I hope they have the theatrical version on blu-ray as well.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by al cos.

The best buy bonus disc has it.

I have it on the original release. But if it's only on a bonus disc exclusive to one retailer, then I don't really count that as being included.

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by GuruAskew

"The Conversation" is the one I hope they cross off the list next. Give me the "Godfather" films, "Apocalypse Now" and "The Conversation" and I'm good when it comes to Coppola. Its not that I have no interest in the rest of his filmography, its just that nothing else is a must-buy like his 70's output is.

Lionsgate have already announced a DVD release of 'The Conversation' for August 17th. I don't know whether it's based on the same SD master that Paramount used or a new HD one.

However there is no mention of a Blu-ray release at this point. I share your hope that it will be forthcoming in due course, but it's a bit disconcerting that they haven't announced it along with the DVD release. Hopefully it's simply because no HD master has been produced yet, so the DVD release may just be a repackaging job for the change of label.

[luwanda]

my favorite movie finally coming on blu!

[RocShemp]

I hope this is called the F**k You Storaro Edition and features both cuts of the movie in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio.

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by rocshemp

i hope this is called the f**k you storaro edition and features both cuts of the movie in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio.

lol!!!

[Lyle_JP]

While I appreciate that some (most) seem to think the Redux cut slows things down too much, I must vigorously defend the French Plantation scene. While most of Redux's additions were crap (well, except the surfing stuff too which was hilarious), the Plantation scene puts so much of the film and Vietnam in perspective. It talks of the Cong being a creation of the Americans originally to oppose colonialism, mentions that the Americans could win the war the minute they decide to actually fight to win it, and finally asks why Americans would fight for a place that is not (unlike the French planters) their home. It's also a sad look at a man forcing his family into death to preserve a lifestyle that had already become unsustainable a decade previous.

It's the perfect place for the film to catch its breath before finally meeting Kurtz. Also, the funeral scene is the best scene Albert Hall has in the whole film.

[HeavyHitter]

I like both versions for different reasons.

[Majestyk]

Lionsgate have already announced a DVD release of 'The Conversation' for August 17th. I don't know whether it's based on the same SD master that Paramount used or a new HD one.

DVD? Why? Who would buy it? And it was already released on DVD, by Paramount, ages ago. I'd buy this on Blu in a heartbeat!