Apocalypse Now Redux.
Saw the original of this on video and watched it repeatedly when I was 14-ish. It is one of my favourite movies in its original form. I've tried to watch it again a number of times since, but always seem to be either too drunk or tired to make it through, especially with its renewed extended running time.
So this was a bit of a chance to catch up with an old friend in new clothes so to speak.
It was a major disappointment. Like a lot of extras added to DVD the majority of the scenes not in the released version add very little to the plot. So if it was just seeing a bit more of Robert Duvall as Killgore that would be fine if not terribly exciting. My problem comes where there is a major insertion of about 25 minutes of Mr Clean's burial on the French sugar plantation and Willard's time there shagging and opium smoking.
There are a couple of reasons for this being a problem. Firstly, it takes the running time to three and a quarter hours, which is very long (no shit Sherlock). The scene also majorly interrupts, detracts from and distracts you from the story. I really don't know why they spent so much time and effort on it. It bored me, and really meant it's hard to say I enjoyed the film as a result.
There are still some great scenes and superb realisations of Coppola's vision (and updating) of Conrad's novel. The acting is excellent and overall feel of chaos the film engenders is powerful. But the inserted scenes add a big "but" to the end of that statement.
Should've left well alone, I'd recommend the original cut, but don't think that's available any more :-(
Update: The original is still available, get that.
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