Movies Apocalypse Now - Where should I start?

[StewDogg11]

I picked up this bad boy for roughly $10 including shipping on eBay. It comes with all three versions of the film as well as the famed documentary Hearts of Darkness. I know there were some big Apocalypse Now fans on here so where should I start? Thanks!

 

[lsa]

start at the beginning

 

[StewDogg11]

start at the beginning

It contains three versions of the film dumbass.

 

[BisexualMMA]

I would watch the version without the plantation stuff...it just kind of bogs the movie down with less return on your time.

 

[Strychnine]

BIG Apocalypse Now fan here.

I'd start with the vanilla theatrical release then move on to the "Complete Dossier" version, then the "Final Cut" version. There's a LOT that was cut from the theatrical release. What was cut isn't actually necessary to the core of the film, but it fills in minute gaps.

 

[lsa]

It contains three versions of the film dumbass.

My post still stand.

 

[Strychnine]

I would watch the version without the plantation stuff...it just kind of bogs the movie down with less return on your time.

This^. The plantation stuff just wasn't necessary to the core of the film. Apocalypse Now was a "White whale" film for me. I had to get it on every format that I could play it on, and I still have my copies.

Vhs
Laserdisc
DVD
Blu-Ray
4K-Blu-Ray.

I had to do it.

 

[StewDogg11]

This^. The plantation stuff just wasn't necessary to the core of the film.

So what about between the Theatrical Version and The Final Cut?

 

[Osculater]

Watch it in chronological order

 

[Strychnine]

So what about between the Theatrical Version and The Final Cut?

Well, they flesh out the "surfboard" angle a bit more and they catch up with the Playboy Bunnies.

 

[Cherry Brigand]

The original story sucked. And the movie sucked. You got robbed.

 

[BisexualMMA]

So what about between the Theatrical Version and The Final Cut?

I think the theatrical version is all you really need but the deleted scenes are worth a look in isolation. The same as the deleted scenes from movies like Aliens and Terminator 2 are worth a look but they didn't really belong in the movie.

I liked the scene of Marlon Brando reading Time Magazine though that I think is only in the super duper long dong silver cut.

 

[StewDogg11]

The original story sucked. And the movie sucked. You got robbed.

Damn. Good thing $10 won’t financially break me.

 

[Tone C]

start at the beginning

it's a very good place to start...

 

[lsa]

it's a very good place to start...

I dont always start, but when I do, I do at the beginning

 

[Streeter]

Loved the performances but movie was to sad an depressing for me to enjoy. It's a 1 watch movie for me. I would just watch the original cut in HD .

 

[jeff7b9]

start at the beginning

Fuckin A!!

+1

If you start in the middle you might miss important context.

 

[Ballsaque]

It contains three versions of the film dumbass.

The one that is first on the dvd then - I dont think his instruction was unclear...

Kidding aside, Apocalypse now is probably my favorite movie, or at the very worst top 5. I think one model is to watch the theatical cut first, assess it and then watch the different other cuts to see what it adds/takes away from your experience.

For example I liked the Redux version with the french planations scene, it added an extra layer of surrealism, strangeness and hopelessness to the film for me - However the narrative is that it doesnt "fit in", which to me shows that you have completely missed the point of the film - Specially how it ties into the original novel "Heart of Darkness" (Which I very much recommend you to read, although it is depressing as fuck), but I digress.

I watched the 5 hour version even, i think that one is probably too disjointed.

Alternatively you could start with "Final Cut" which is Coppola's prefered version and the newest one from 2019, and then go from there, but this is the newest one and with probably the best quality regarding presentation - I appreciated the grainyness of the original film.

 

[wildchild88]

Watch the original cut, Redux has the plantation section which gets a bit boring, although (spoiler alert) there is a romance scene with Willard which adds a touch more depth to his character.

 

[Ballsaque]

Watch the original cut, Reduce has the plantation section which gets a bit boring, although (spoiler alert) there is a romance scene with Willard which adds a touch more depth to his character.

+ boobs