Apocalypse Now Redux
(1979)
Universal
194 minutes
R18+
Director: Francis Ford Coppola.
Cast: Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall,
Sam Bottoms, Laurence Fishburne, Frederick Forrest, Albert
Hall.
Format: Widescreen. Ratio 2.0:1, 16x9 enhanced. Single-sided,
dual-layer disc.
Language: English. Dolby Digital 5.1.
Subtitles: English.
Extras: Theatrical trailer, PBR Streetgang, Apocalypse
Then and Now, Destruction of the Kurtz Compound with and without
commentary.
Comments: Definitely a mixed bag of extras. The strongest
part is the PBR Streetgang featurette which has interviews
with the crew of the patrolboat - Albert Hall (Chief), Laurence
Fishburne (Miller), Sam Bottoms (Lance) and Frederick Forrest
(Chef). These guys worked together on the boat for two-plus
years and had a bond that few actors get the time to develop.
It is astounding to think how Fishburne was 14 when he got
the role, filmed it while 15 and 16 and was just 17 when it
was released. Apocalypse Then and Now is another short on
some of the problems the movie had and how the remastering
of the sound was a major project on its own. The longest of
the featurettes - at just under six minutes - is the film
of the destruction of Kurtz's base. To me it was six minutes
of explosions and edgy music and will really only appeal to
firebugs or arts students. It added almost nothing to my appreciation
of the epic, other than agreeing with whomever cut it out.
