FINALLY. Apocalypse Now SE in the pipeline

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 18 Jun 2006, 21:31

the island of dr moreau remake was probably romero's favourite brando

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 19 Jun 2006, 16:15

I really didnt like that one

that film did scare me, but only because Brando was so out there, freaky is the only world for that performance.

Appolcolypse Now 3 dvd is cheap now, the thing is how cheap will it be in the sales! in 6 months time, I still dont understand why its so cheap, very odd.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Jun 2006, 18:15

A: There is no Apocalypse Now 2 let alone an Apocalypse Now 3
B: There is an Apocalypse Now: Special Edition coming but it's 2 discs not 3

At £8.50 from DVD Pacific I'm not complaining, even though agreed it is cheap. I'll preorder it some point in July. It's to early to preorder now IMO.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 31 Jul 2006, 19:24

Woo hoo my Apocalypse Now SE has shipped. Will I be the first on bullets to get it

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 01 Aug 2006, 06:55

review now up at dvdtalk

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=22951

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 01 Aug 2006, 10:41

bradavon wrote:A: There is no Apocalypse Now 2 let alone an Apocalypse Now 3
B: There is an Apocalypse Now: Special Edition coming but it's 2 discs not 3

At £8.50 from DVD Pacific I'm not complaining, even though agreed it is cheap. I'll preorder it some point in July. It's to early to preorder now IMO.

LOL Brad surely you realise Romero meant the "3 DVD version of Apocolypse Now" - of course there is no AN 3

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 01 Aug 2006, 11:24

WTF?! You read the DVDtalk review yet Brad?

They've split both cuts over the two discs (seamlessly branched). Why not have both cuts on one disc and the all the extras (aside from the commentary and Coppola introduction clips) on Disc 2? :shock: :twisted:

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 01 Aug 2006, 16:45

Thats sad

Thats would pee me off a bit as it can fit on one dvd easy! any cut! the old transfer was perfectly good, wonder if its that much of an improvment then?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 01 Aug 2006, 21:01

EvaUnit02 wrote:WTF?! You read the DVDtalk review yet Brad?

Nope the mother of assumptions meant I preordered it weeks ago. It's shipped now so to late.

EvaUnit02 wrote:They've split both cuts over the two discs (seamlessly branched). Why not have both cuts on one disc and the all the extras (aside from the commentary and Coppola introduction clips) on Disc 2? :shock: :twisted:

Dam!

I guess they decided the Redux cut was to long for one DVD-9 to keep the bit-rate up. Looking back there were loads of clues and lots of assumptions. The way the extras were listed stunk of it.

At 202 minutes Redux would definitely struggle on one DVD-9 so far enough splitting that (the recent 190 minute Kingdom of Heaven has also been split) but the 153 minute theatrical cut should've been on 1 disc!

It will be great for the extras so still a purchase but I'd somehow prefer the Original back in my collection now.

Still it is a long film so I guess I can live with it, it's becoming the norm. Look at Titanic split JUST because of all the Audio tracks, King Kong: Extended Cut split because of well I'm not sure why (it only has 1 commentary and 1 DD5.1).

That said I don't mind owning two DVDs but I'm sure not owning 3 and as I already own the French Redux (on 1 disc, second for extras) it will do.

EvaUnit02 wrote:Why not have both cuts on one disc and the all the extras (aside from the commentary and Coppola introduction clips) on Disc 2? :shock: :twisted:

Seriously 202 minutes on 1 DVD-9 and KEEP the bit-rate up would be pushing it. I guess the current Redux DVDs must have a low bit-rate.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 01 Aug 2006, 21:09

From the review:

yes, I know - it's been "cropped" to a 2.0:1 ratio; fret not purists, as this home video controversy is addressed in the extras

I doubt to any satisfactory conclusion. I can't wait to check out their excuses.

AMENDED 7/30/06: Despite my not noticing any drastic visual changes from the first DVD, per a note from DVD producer Kim Aubry, this edition features a higher bit rate transfer and better encoding.

This says it all. I guess they decided Redux's bit-rate would've need lowering to much. I'm not sure where I stand on that one.

I guess overall I'd still prefer it on 1 disc. I remember the French Redux and UK Original looking very similar.

I'll/we'll find out for sure if it was worth while soon enough.

After careful scene-specific comparisons of all three DVD incarnations of Apocalypse Now, I can't discern any truly striking difference in quality between the trio of anamorphic widescreen transfers.

Are they including the original DVD surely not? If not what on earth 3rd version are they comparing???

"The Complete Dossier," does not include the compound destruction footage

That's a shame but boy the extras look GREAT!

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 01 Aug 2006, 22:16

bradavon wrote: After careful scene-specific comparisons of all three DVD incarnations of Apocalypse Now, I can't discern any truly striking difference in quality between the trio of anamorphic widescreen transfers.

Are they including the original DVD surely not? If not what on earth 3rd version are they comparing???

Yes, he means the three DVD releases the film has seen (original R1 '79 TC DVD from 2001, original R1 Redux DVD from 2002 and the new 2006 "Complete Dossier") have been compared. Both cuts are seamlessly branched on the "Complete Dossier" BTW, so it's the same transfer.

"The Complete Dossier," does not include the compound destruction footage

That's a shame but boy the extras look GREAT!

Yeah we already knew this, that's why we're keeping our existing Redux DVDs.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 01 Aug 2006, 22:28

EvaUnit02 wrote:Yes, he means the three DVD releases the film has seen (original R1 '79 TC DVD from 2001, original R1 Redux DVD from 2002 and the new 2006 "Complete Dossier") have been compared.

Thanks.

It does therefore mean WHY bother splitting them?

+ as I've thought for a while better encoding and a higher bitrate (unless it's uber low to start with) mean very little in reality.

I still say the Original Cut "at least" didn't need splitting. That said there's still some merit in seeing for myself.

At the end of the day this new SE still looks lovely and all the moaning isn't going to change shit, AND crucially it doesn't change it from a "must buy" to "I'll pass".

Both original DVDs are now cheap as chips so it's probably worth picking up a copy of one of those too (depending on which cut you prefer).

EvaUnit02 wrote:Both cuts are seamlessly branched on the "Complete Dossier" BTW, so it's the same transfer.

True but it's possible the extended footage could look different.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 15 Aug 2006, 00:30

NOOOOOOO. :shock: :twisted: Please save a DVDR rip for me Brad.

DVDF wrote:For those who have posted links to Play re: Heart Of Darkness may want to take another look.

It would appear this is a boxset of 3 films - info here

BTW Brad, did your Complete Dossier arrive yet?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 15 Aug 2006, 19:50

I thought you knew that? I would've posted otherwise. Yeah it's a no go I'm afraid. Sure the video is still on my hard disk ready to rip when I get round to it etc . . .

Oh yes I knew I'd forgot to talk about Apocalypse Now:

French Redux 2 Disc SE vs. R1 2 Disc SE

I'm going to assume the French Redux DVD looks as good as the R1 Redux, UK R2 Redux and R4 Redux DVDs. I don't know for sure but considering the cost of the DVD, French DVDs in and general I think it's a safe bet anyway. Why wouldn't it be?

Now that important point is out of the way. I always thought since I picked up the French DVD that while it's perfectly fine it doesn't have amazing picture quality (it's murky and well not as good as it should be). I don't own the UK R2 Original 1979 Cut DVD anymore but I remember it being about the same as the French DVD.

So I plonked the R1 Disc 1 (I've not tried Disc 2 yet) in and OH MY GOD it's stunning quality. It's such a leap forward over the French DVD. I was really shocked. The colours are so dynamic, crisp and vibrant, it's sharper too. The audio is probably a touch better but tbh I could be looking for a difference (in short there's nothing really in it). Apocalypse Now has always had top 5.1 sound.

I sampled some of the commentary and what I heard was ace. The "History of 5.1" is tops despite only being 5 minutes. A must watch for al 5.1 fans (it did make me wonder why 6.1 has all but flopped???), it's interesting to note Apocalypse Now was shown in 5.1 in selected cinemas on release. Not the DD5.1 of today but 5.1 sound so it's actually the original mix.

The Text FAQ is really detailed too. I so disagree with the excuse given for cropping the film. They say even 16:9 WS sets have less resolution than 2.35:1, sure I agree there but an "anamorphic" image can't be half as bad as a non-anamorphic 4:3 set (which agreed can be 57% less line resolution). More to the point a reduced line resolution or fucking copping the film to shreds. It's not a hard decision.

In short unless the French and R1 DVDs really are different the DVD Talk reviewer is wrong. Pick the R1 SE up now!

EDIT: That said going by this DVD Beaver comparison the R1 Redux does look better than the French Redux:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompar ... senow3.htm

p.s - I'm still keeping my French SE though, it has some exclusive extras + the alternate ending. Oh the packaging is looks lovely too.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 15 Aug 2006, 19:54

Eva are you going to pick up the R1 SE? An alternate comparison from you as you own the R4 would be interesting.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 15 Aug 2006, 22:12

bradavon wrote:Eva are you going to pick up the R1 SE?

Most definitely yes, as soon as I've cleared by credit card (which won't be for a while).

An alternate comparison from you as you own the R4 would be interesting.

Ok. Remember to include approximate time indexes for each screen cap you take or I won't bother posting any.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 16 Aug 2006, 20:42

I meant a written comparison tbh, that will suffice. Just your opinion when you're ready what's better the R4 or R1.

I've got no time no with holiday next Tuesday to do captures right now.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 03 Sep 2006, 08:49

I saw the '79 cut for the first time this evening and it is SO much better than Redux.

The original cut is a revelation. The pacing is now perfect; free of the dead-weight of such useless sequences like the French plantation and the 2nd Playmate encounter which slowed the film to a crawl and destroyed Willard's (Martin Sheen) character motivation.

The Complete Dossier set is lovely, but I recommend waiting for the R2/R4 - the lower resolution of NTSC does hurt this magnificent visual film IMO.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 03 Sep 2006, 13:33

I thought it sucked on the whole when I 1st saw the movie in the origanal form, the Redux at least was watchable, still a shame the couldnt edit out the last 30 minutes and save the film, less Brando = better film.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 26 Apr 2007, 13:27

I happened across this:-

What's odd bout it is that it's in the OAR of 2.35:1, I wonder where they sourced the print from? AFAIK it's been in 2.0:1 since the LD and Widescreen VHS days.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 27 Apr 2007, 17:31

Isn't the trailer in 2.35:1?

Yep the film on every format ever released has always been cropped. It's how they foolishly want it. Why Coppolla agreed when the rest of his 2.35:1 films are not cropped I'll never know.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 27 Apr 2007, 22:08

bradavon wrote:Isn't the trailer in 2.35:1?

The Resux one on my R4 is.[/quote]

gojensen · Post by **gojensen** » 28 Apr 2007, 08:39

bradavon wrote:(...) VRC (...)transfer to DVD too (such as Blade Runner: Theatrical Cut).

There are better sources for this "out there" than the VHS.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 28 Apr 2007, 14:04

You talking bout HoD? There's open-matte LDs floating around AFAIK.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 28 Apr 2007, 17:51

gojensen wrote:There are better sources for this "out there" than the VHS.

I'm sure there are but any cut other than the DC or coming soon (when is it btw?) Final Cut doesn't interest me.

I so can't wait to get hold of the Blade Runner: SE box set.