The Final Edition

New DVD: Apocalypse Now-The Complete Dossier

Ye cynics will say that Coppola is sure milking his masterpiece by first releasing the Redux version and now this edition. Ok, maybe you're right, but when I read the bonus features, that was all the convincing I needed.

Brando's complete reading of T.S. Eliot's The Hollow Men? Not negotiable, a must buy. Unseen footage? A reunion of the actors in the PBR Streetgang? This is not filler for the true fan of this film. This is must-see stuff. I have only watched a small portion so far of the extras and am really pleased.

One curious thing: both the 1979 version and Redux are on here, but with both, you have to change to another disc to finish the film. That doesn't make any sense to me. Why not have the original, Redux and then bonus on three discs?

Fans complain that the documentary "Hearts of Darkness" detailing Coppola's trails and tribulations while making this film should have been included. Hey, I agree, but that would have made four discs. How much do you want to pay?

This can be taken to an extreme like George Romero's zombie fanatic followers who complain that there are always things missing from any special edition. For example, Romero released a FOUR disc set of Dawn of the Dead and still some online idiot complained that the bootleg German edition was not included. Somehow they believe that unseen footage remains locked mysteriously in a vault somewhere.

(Above: is this a missing frame from Dawn of the Dead? Scientists and fanatics debate this "still.")

There is finite amount and of that only very little is watchable. Do fanatics get the concept of editing at all? Do they really want to sit through take after take of all the footage shot?

I got this beauty on sale at FYE at the Charleston Town Center for $16.99. If I had waited (impossible!), Amazon's price is $12.99, but you have to spend $25 to qualify for free shipping. There's the rub.

The color is amazing and widescreen is the only way to view this film.

Watch in awe at this masterpiece, but be careful:this is powerful stuff.