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The Original Was Better
by Yahoo! Movies User (movies profile)
May 7, 2006
1
of
1 people found this review helpful
What's with Francis Ford Coppola? Is he never satisfied with his own work? Currently, there are at least three versions of "The Godfather" trilogy. Now we have "Apocalypse Now Redux". Next will probably be "Tucker-A Man and His Dream Restored", the 274 minute version. And Coppola always uses the same reasoning-it wasn't the way he wanted it the first time.
Well, I have news for you Mr. Coppola-this film fan actually liked the first version of your Vietnam opus, "Apocalypse Now" better than "Redux". In fact, you made me appreciate your original vision more than I did back in 1979.
The strongest point of "Apocalypse Now" is the images and music that create a very haunting atmosphere. It's like a bad dream, a nightmare that's difficult to shake. School children happily gathering for playtime right before an Aircav attack, oblivious to the war adults and their politics of both sides have brought on. The patrol boat, silhouetted against the forboding jungle filled with unseen dangers at dusk. Passing the smoking ruins of firefights past. Seeing the wreckage of a B-52, wondering about the fate of the crew. The images invoke the horror of war and more specifically, the muddled mire into which the war in Vietnam eventually degenerated.
There still are moments of creative brillance from the original cut throughout "Redux". Witness Willard's mission briefing by the General and his aide while a mysterious man in civilian clothes listens quietly, only to say four words near the end of the briefing. `Exterminate-with extreme prejudice.' We know by implication this man is with the CIA. We also know, by implication, that the moment Willard sits at the dinner table with these men, he has ceased to exist. Consider also the Sampan sequence. It's an under appreciated scene, actually more important to the characters and the film than anything in the Kilgore sequence. This is a pivotal moment that not only makes us think of what we would do in a similar situation, but also causes the crew of the patrol boat to see Captain Willard as the cold professional he really is. As Willard says after, they would never look at him the same way again. And the scene offers no answers, just questions. And finally, the entire Kurtz sequence. Here is screenwriting, acting, and directing at it's best. It's a look into the complex, intelligent mind of a man who has gone over the edge, a man who has already decided he needs to die by the time Willard arrives. Is Willard worthy enough to be his assassin? Does Willard understand him? Does Willard understand the pragmatism essential to fighting a war?
So, Mr. Coppola, what was the point of "Redux"? What was the point of adding the Medivac Playboy Bunny sequence? It did nothing to further the story or add to the characters. Superfluous, it's called. I understand you were make commentary about the treatment of women in American society in the 1960's, but it was out of place here and felt tacked on. And watching your added French plantation dinner scene, I couldn't understand 95% of what was being said because the French accents were so thick. After the film was over, I went back to that scene and put the English subtitles on (I didn't think I would have to interpret English since I understand English). Although a very interesting conversation, to include the scene in the film was again superfluous. It was too intellectual, to academic for a film based on moods and emotion. There was no reason to build a larger cultural framework into which the Willard/Kurtz story could fit. Finally, the removal of the B-52 strikes on Kurtz compound at the very end of the film was a mistake. The scene implied the `establishment' was going to assert its will no matter the result of Willard's mission. A final metaphor of the powers that be and Vietnam. I understand the new final shot is suggesting Willard has become Kurtz, but this was well represented in the original version. And to have "The End" playing over the images of the jungle flames was much better than your revised finale. The original ending was so tragically poetic. The "Redux" ending feels generic.
Mr. Coppola, please recut and re-release. The original was better. Much better. Meanwhile, I'll be watching the original. |
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