Apocalypse Now 4K UHD (1979)

[LoSouL]

Finally got mine today and watched Final Cut. Looked excellent. Sunlight glinting off the water ripples and around bodies, the lights at the USO show and just the image consistency in general. I was just having a laid back watch, so I wasn't up close scrutinizing for anything anomalous, but it definitely gave me the experience I was hoping for.

I don't have a full surround or Atmos set up, and did keep the volume pretty high and my sub at base 0, but it was a really palatable sound mix. Easy on the ears, nothing shrill and piercing, but still plenty of rumble and punch, and no need to keep the remote close.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

Heh. I've gotta say that the lip sync was all over the place for me at my regulation -40 sync setting on the OPPO with the Final Cut, I had to push it to +20 to get it to line up.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Heh. I've gotta say that the lip sync was all over the place for me at my regulation -40 sync setting on the OPPO with the Final Cut, I had to push it to +20 to get it to line up.

Ha... interesting. I'm always noticing lip-sync issues, but not with this sucker. One of the benefits, I suppose, of DolbyVision down-converting to 1080/60p (instead of 1080/24p) on my SDR projector. Chalk one up (and only one) for low-tech.

[Alister_M]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Ha... interesting. I'm always noticing lip-sync issues, but not with this sucker. One of the benefits, I suppose, of DolbyVision down-converting to 1080/60p (instead of 1080/24p) on my SDR projector. Chalk one up (and only one) for low-tech.

I used to get that all the time with my first HDTV (32", 720p) when I got my first BD player - obviously an artefact of the 3:2 pulldown, it was so bad it motivated me to splash on a proper 1080p display.

[Sky_Captain]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Heh. I've gotta say that the lip sync was all over the place for me at my regulation -40 sync setting on the OPPO with the Final Cut, I had to push it to +20 to get it to line up.

I don't care about the lip sync, it was the suggestion that the audio's actually bad.

[HDMan72]

Watched the Theatrical Cut 4K UHD tonight and had 2 audio dropouts. One at around 1:50:45 mark and another around 2:18:00 mark that lasted about 10 seconds, no audio. Oppo 203 with Marantz AVR. My setup is Atmos enabled 5.1.4

[steel_breeze]

I will say that while the grain on the UHD makes this a "real movie" again (LOVED the grain, in case you didn't see my earlier post), there's not one single scene where I thought "wow, this new color grading is much better than the previous Blu-ray release"... whereas, there actually WAS exactly one scene where I DIDN'T like the new color grading as much, and it took me out of the movie for a moment. This was the "sampan off the port bow" scene, where they slaughter those innocent people and find the puppies. It was always one of the most "beautiful" scenes, with the golden sunlight contrasting starkly with the horror of the moment. And in the new version, it was just kinda... meh. Not a big deal, just an observation: nothing in the new color grading seemed "better" to my eyes, but that sampan scene seemed definitively "worse".

Still, that film grain will keep me coming back for more.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

I don't care about the lip sync, it was the suggestion that the audio's actually bad.

Some people aren't all that impressed with the PQ either. Horse, lead it to water, etc etc

[Dre327]

Originally Posted by HDMan72

Watched the Theatrical Cut 4K UHD tonight and had 2 audio dropouts. One at around 1:50:45 mark and another around 2:18:00 mark that lasted about 10 seconds, no audio. Oppo 203 with Marantz AVR. My setup is Atmos enabled 5.1.4

I had a popping sound around 2:05:48(Theatrical Cut 4k UHD). You can hear it every time at the same mark. I also have Atmos enabled. I have a Sony x800 with Sony 3100es. I did not encounter any actual dropouts.

[Eye Candy]

It's a beautiful presentation. I felt like I was watching at the theater, more than any other film I've viewed. Really made me wish that instead of a 50" that I had an 80"... someday..


My amp doesn't have Atmos sound decoding, but I selected the Atmos sound anyway, and then let the player automatically pull what I guess is the core of that, to listen by. Sounded good and clear.


I couldn't figure out to close the case with that cardboard with the extensions on each end.... Then, I finally figured out I was to remove the cardboard from the back of the case.


A couple of the discs had smudges. But they cleaned off nicely. I guess I should ALWAYS wipe the disc before playing anyway.

[veganrichy]

Originally Posted by larrygeller

My OPPO 203 does not play the 4K discs properly. All blacks show up as crimson. I had to watch the digital copy to see Dolby Vision, but lost the Atmos in the process, as my TV does not pass Atmos. This seems to be a problem with all Paramount 4K discs, as A Star Is Born had the same problem. Is anyone else with an OPPO experiencing this?

The only issue I had was a disc skipping around the final act, where Dennis Hopper's character asks them to "turn on the siren." For whatever reason, the disc skipped there.

[veganrichy]

Originally Posted by sorgansf55

I've seen the original about 40 times (saw the premier in Hollywood in '79) and I've seen the Redux about 10 times. I've also watched the 5 Hour rough assembly on a crappy VHS tape (it is, uh, very rough; almost unwatchable). The French Plantation scene is tough. It's necessary in that it adds the politics of the war into the film. But its execution stylistically is counter to the rest of the film. And that "love theme" between Willard and the French woman is a real head scratcher. And don't get me started on Clean's funeral--a total waste of time. Personally, I would've left it on the editing floor. It sticks out like a sore thumb and bogs down the pace of the film when it needs to pick up a bit.

Just my 2 cents.

Yup, the love scene was way out of place for me. I did not understand it at all.

One reviewer explained the context of adding it, but to me, it dragged out and it did not enhance the story for me one bit.

[Pgcmoore]

i had some time yesterday to put a few new buys under the belt. and as it turned out, was a rather odd triple feature, but was a very enjoyable day https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=4882 , the only thing in common between the three was dolby vision, and i actually didn't realize they shared that until the last of the three was in, which i started with the theatrical original release of this old favorite, i found the presentation excellent. i can't remember enjoying it more than i did yesterday although i have seen it at least a dozen times before. the opening sequence of burning palms and low flying choppers looked a bit overly grainy, almost noisy but as soon as i saw willard doing his morning exercises and bloodying up his sheets i knew this was going to be great! then you get to clean, then kilgore, and wagner! and it's on! it makes me wonder if vietnam was ever that colorful. i was 14 when our last guys were being pulled out, it was all i thought about growing up. several older family members went, and like lance, they all managed to make it back. since it was on the same disk i started up redux with the optional commentary audio, i learned a lot about this film i never knew and recommend anyone who hasn't to do so. i personally have never been a fan of the redux version. but it did explain the opening sequence. and a lot about coppola i never knew, looking forward to what else is on the rest of this exceptional release!

[zallapo]

Originally Posted by larrygeller

My OPPO 203 does not play the 4K discs properly. All blacks show up as crimson. I had to watch the digital copy to see Dolby Vision, but lost the Atmos in the process, as my TV does not pass Atmos. This seems to be a problem with all Paramount 4K discs, as A Star Is Born had the same problem. Is anyone else with an OPPO experiencing this?

I had an issue with my Oppo 203 playing Dolby Vision discs after I updated to the last firmware. The colour and blacks were freaking out. Simple fix was to change the 'Dolby Vision Processing to 'TV-Led' instead of 'Auto' in the 'Setup/Video Output Setup/HDR Setting' on the Oppo 203 player. Hope this helps.

[HDMan72]

After seeing the Final Cut couple weeks ago in IMAX I decided to watch the theatrical cut which has always been my preferred version, never really loved Redux version but I must say now I think I do prefer Final Cut, what he trimmed out were my least favorite parts anyway and I kinda do now enjoy and totally understand the French Plantation. What’s funny I almost felt after Clean’s death the pacing was to quick with Chief’s death in the theatrical cut. I don’t know, funny how different cuts of film can persuade us. I’m usually a theatrical cut guy with a few director cuts that I do enjoy. Apocalypse Now is the latest one.
One more thing, seeing Kilgore’s surfboard in a few scenes also put me off while watching the theatrical cut, I never really payed that much attention to it.

[the_sextein]

In the past, I have went up to Best Buy and purchased movies at release. Many times I have shown up and they don't have the movie on release day. Every time I voice my frustration people ridicule me for not ordering online as if it should matter. This time I ordered from Amazon and I have prime shipping. Still 3 days late. Pisses me off.

As for the film, I watched Redux 4k. I didn't have any audio drop outs, stutter, lockups or any other problem. Played all 3 hours and 15 minutes without issue. The Atmos track sounded good to me. I recently upgraded my speakers so I can't attribute all of the clarity improvements to the audio on disc but I can comment on directionality and low frequency. This recording sounds like it's using the two rear speakers in a 7.1 setup where the older version clearly did not. The helicopter moving around the room at the beginning and many of the shots when they meet up with air born displayed tighter directionality. The low end is not crazy active but most of the bombs and some of the larger guns now have a more natural low end that is less boomy and more full and punchy. I heard the height channels discreetly during some helicopter pans and explosions. I also noticed it with some wind and rain effects. The moment when Brando says "the horror" and the end of the movie, has some pretty low extension that caused some vibrational sounds from my walls that I have not heard before. It's a 1979 movie and it sounds the way it sounds but I feel like this audio track delivered clear improvements in multiple areas and I'll gladly take it.

As for the video, it looks natural to me. The grain structure looks untouched and the heavy grain from mixing multiple video sources and moving them all over is simply a natural result from the editing process. The colors are beautiful. Skin tones look great and the bright lush greens from the jungle as well as the warm sunset shots on the water are very impressive. This benefits more from color than it does from clarity but 4K does add a little pop to the presentation.

Overall, the package offers the promised 4K upgrade and includes both the Theatrical and Redux version of the film with a new cut thrown in for good measure. All versions of the film are presented in 4K with DV HDR and uncompressed Atmos Audio. Hearts of Darkness and all previous extras are included with a few new ones as well. Can't complain. As for the Blu-rays. I'll never watch them, that is why I bought this set, to replace my old as dirt blu rays. I wouldn't mind if they were not included at all. This is pretty much all I could ask for and it's not a bad price either. Very satisfied.

[larrygeller]

Originally Posted by zallapo

I had an issue with my Oppo 203 playing Dolby Vision discs after I updated to the last firmware. The colour and blacks were freaking out. Simple fix was to change the 'Dolby Vision Processing to 'TV-Led' instead of 'Auto' in the 'Setup/Video Output Setup/HDR Setting' on the Oppo 203 player. Hope this helps.

This worked!!! Thank you SO much.

[sorgansf55]

Originally Posted by larrygeller

My OPPO 203 does not play the 4K discs properly. All blacks show up as crimson. I had to watch the digital copy to see Dolby Vision, but lost the Atmos in the process, as my TV does not pass Atmos. This seems to be a problem with all Paramount 4K discs, as A Star Is Born had the same problem. Is anyone else with an OPPO experiencing this?

I checked it again on my OPPO 203 and I didn't notice anything being crimson. I have a LG OLED screen and the scene with Brando had nice blacks--looked pretty accurate to my unprofessional eyes.

[vjo81]

Some of the special features are very interesting. The one that showed how Coppola worked with Dolby to make AN one of the first true surround sound movies was very good. There's a short feature in which Coppola talks about decisions made in regard to the bombing of the Kurtz compound and whether to include it at the end the film. These are only a small sample of the voluminous information provided by the specials.

[TheSweetieMan]

Just wanted to come in here to say **** Movie Reedem's customer service.

When I redeemed the digital copy, it was supposed to be in UHD for all available cuts for the film, but it only redeemed in HD.

I contacted their customer service, they replied a day later, requesting photos and receipt information, which I provided. I hadn't gotten a return e-mail, so I've e-mailed them once a day in the last 3-days to see what progress is being made, and I'm getting nothing but radio silence.

Trash. Absolute trash.