Apocalypse Now 4K UHD (1979)

[TwoTecs]

Saw it in UltraAVX today. A completely enveloping experience. The DCP had a healthy amount of grain and I love the new color job. The previous grading applied a yellow filter all over while this one has a more varied mix of colors.

I also loved The Final Cut. Compared to Redux, the original version just seemed truncated; Redux itself could be a test of patience at times. I agree with Coppola's assessment of this as a healthy medium. It is more luxurious than the original which is more in line with Coppola's ambition of an art-film about war but also better paced than Redux.

PS I never got the resistance to the stuff with the surfboard. The board can be seen on the boat in the original version. How do people explain that within the film's world? And I don't think its a bad decision to show Willard having a sense of humor, being mischievous etc. People have many sides to them. The goofy look on Sheen's face as he salutes Kilgore's helicopter is also priceless.

[HDMan72]

Originally Posted by TwoTecs

Saw it in UltraAVX today. A completely enveloping experience. The DCP had a healthy amount of grain and I love the new color job. The previous grading applied a yellow filter all over while this one has a more varied mix of colors.

I also loved The Final Cut. Compared to Redux, the original version just seemed truncated; Redux itself could be a test of patience at times. I agree with Coppola's assessment of this as a healthy medium. It is more luxurious than the original which is more in line with Coppola's ambition of an art-film about war but also better paced than Redux.

PS I never got the resistance to the stuff with the surfboard. The board can be seen on the boat in the original version. How do people explain that within the film's world? And I don't think its a bad decision to show Willard having a sense of humor, being mischievous etc. People have many sides to them. The goofy look on Sheen's face as he salutes Kilgore's helicopter is also priceless.

I seen it last Thursday night and I always preferred the theatrical cut over Redux but the more I think about it, this Final Cut is actually the perfect medium and what I will watch as soon as I receive my pre-order. And as you described, the surfboard was always in the theatrical cut.

[OutOfBoose]

I think Redux will remain my favorite version of the movie. Final Cut changes are minor and pointless, imo. Unless you're counting minutes while watching Redux and desperately need something to be trimmed. Basically, Redux minus two relatively short scenes that I love.

[HDMan72]

The real big change in Redux I don't like is very minor I bet to many people. I love in the theatrical cut the scene where Willard is reading the dossier as they are going up river, a fantastic music score I might add. They pass a downed Huey helicopter, than we see Clean and Chef arguing. I do get in the theatrical cut we don't quite get what their argument is about. Chief than yells at Chef about stop smoking dope, meanwhile Lance has his face painted camouflage. The music score plays beautifully through that whole scene. In Redux I hated when that scene breaks, after they pass the downed Huey and land in the monsoon and run into where the Playboy girls are with their helicopter out of gas. I know after all that we know why Chef was clearly busting on Clean. Basically I like how in the Final Cut he removed meeting the Playboy girls and retained the scene I'm talking about the same as in the theatrical cut.

That scene reminds me of The Empire Strikes Back. Vader saying "Bring my shuttle" which I loved since I was 8 years old. The newer "Alert my Star Destroyer of my arrival" simply ruins it for me. Funny how a quick scene, or dialogue can do that.

[NotASpeckOfCereal]

For those wondering if this is going to be late (for everyone), I got this from Amazon 3 days ago:

"We have good news! One of your pre-ordered items is now eligible for release date delivery and has been upgraded at no additional charge. Your new delivery estimate is:

"Apocalypse Now Final Cut [Blu-ray]"
Estimated arrival date: August 27, 2019"

The irony for me is that I almost always get stuff late from Amazon these days (and they don't tell me until the day it's supposed to arrive), but this is the one that I don't really care about as much because I'll be seeing it in the theater before (this afternoon).

But at least according to that one Amazon email, it's tracking to be on time.

Chris

PS: I laughed at the "has been upgraded at no additional charge" part. I pre-ordered it and always expect it to come on time. I should never be charged extra to get it at the actual promised date; and yet, Amazon is often late. (I should be charging THEM when they're late, George Costanza style.)

[jsm1963]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Where did you hear this? It's my understanding -- backed up by photographic evidence of the actual discs a few pages back in this thread -- that all 3 cuts are available in 4K and 1080p. There's one disc for Final Cut 4K, one disc for Final Cut 1080p, one disc for Theatrical/Redux 4K and one disc for Theatrical/Redux 1080p... and then two other discs (Hearts of Darkness, extras, etc.)

I was going by the information provided by Lionsgate posted on this site and every other site. The picture a few pages back appeared to be a UK release. Certainly not a US release. Of course, now a picture of the US version has apparently come forward.

Not sure what happened, but it's very unusual for the studio's own press release to get information wrong. It's supposed to be the best information on such matters and they're describing a 4 disc collection and only discussed the 4k versions of the films and never provided any information on the 6 disc set:

"In addition to the restoration, this 4-disc Apocalypse Now Final Cut anniversary set also includes the film's Theatrical Cut and Extended Cut (Redux), as well as the acclaimed Hearts of Darkness documentary. Loaded with hours of in-depth special features,"

[pfac51]

Best Buy lists the set as 6 discs now, after having taken down their pre-order last week. I've had this on pre-order since 05/15/19, and last week was the first time they took down the pre-order.

Apocalypse Now: Final Cut [40th Anniversary Edition] [Digital Copy] [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray] [1979]
Model: 39045348
SKU: 34617831

[Blu Balls]

I still need to watch Redux, but after seeing Final Cut in IMAX yesterday, I'll stick to the theatrical version. I didn't feel that any of the added scenes brought much to the film. The whole French dinner scene really kills the pacing. It seemed totally out of place to me.

[KIDplus]

Embarrassed to say I've still never seen the theatrical cut even though I've owned the bluray and DVD sets. Redux version was the first I ever saw, so that was my go-to. I keep reading theatrical is the best cut, so I'm eager to rectify when this comes out.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Blu Balls

I still need to watch Redux, but after seeing Final Cut in IMAX yesterday, I'll stick to the theatrical version. I didn't feel that any of the added scenes brought much to the film. The whole French dinner scene really kills the pacing. It seemed totally out of place to me.

The French Plantation sequence is like it's from a completely different movie. Willard is wholly out of character too. Coppola was right to cut it the first time.

[HDMan72]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

The French Plantation sequence is like it's from a completely different movie. Willard is wholly out of character too. Coppola was right to cut it the first time.

I always felt the same way about it but after seeing this in IMAX last week, I feel different about this scene now in which I actually like it now and its telling along with the cinematography.

[DJJez]

just arrived. the USA digipack. be warned. there is no slipcover to go over the digipack. its a bare digpack once opened with a paper thin J card

The UK studiocanal version looks different in packaging with more flaps and a slipcover.

[OutOfBoose]

So TC and Redux are treated as extras discs, lol.

[Member-167298]

Looks like a steal for $17.97!

[OutOfBoose]

Originally Posted by RodChester

So, only the final cut gets a 4K disc. That is disappointing. I really thought we were getting all the versions of the move in 4K.

Right under 4K Final Cut disc you can see the gray disc "Redux" and "4K Ultra HD" sign on it. It's not clear, but it's there.

[RodChester]

Originally Posted by OutOfBoose

Right under 4K Final Cut disc you can see the gray disc "Redux" and "4K Ultra HD" sign on it. It's not clear, but it's there.

Yeah, I noticed that after I made my post and deleted it. Just assumed all those grey discs were blurays.

[trekky76]

This digipak looks cheap. There are 6-disc cases so I don't see the reason for this packaging.

[mr young]

I will be getting the UK version which i hope is better.

[OutOfBoose]

Hoping for screens. At least the new BD.

[TwoTecs]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

The French Plantation sequence is like it's from a completely different movie. Willard is wholly out of character too. Coppola was right to cut it the first time.

How is Willard out of character? His whole demeanor is very consistent between the plantation scene and the arrival at Kurtz's compound. The way he looks at the blockade, "I just want to talk to him", him listening to Kurtz; he has a look of stoic acceptance of the insanity of the situation through it all.

The plantation sequence is supposed to be jarring. It is supposed to be a break in the texture of of the film. However it still functions to heighten the sense of surrealism present throughout the film. The crew has passed the Do Lung bridge and yet they meet this French family who are still trying to hold on to the past while the world burns around them. They are just as delusional as everyone but have wrapped themselves up in the fiction of their supposed superiority and civility over the native inhabitants.

This is not going to convince you that the sequence is "good" but it definitely is there for legitimate artistic reasons.