MovieChat Forums > Apocalypse Now (1979) Discussion > Just watched the Redux version on Netfli...

Just watched the Redux version on Netflix - Spoilers

posted 2 years ago by KBiker (1019)
7 replies | jump to latest

I've seen the theatrical release a few times and was curious about the differences between it and the Redux version, which has scenes cut from the theatrical version. IMO, there were too many scenes in Redux that were unnecessary and added nothing to the general plot. For instance:

- The stealing of Col Kilgore's surfboard and subsequent hiding of it in the boat beneath jungle cover, all of the men giggling while Kilgore flies back and forth overhead in a chopper pleading for it on a loudspeaker to be returned. A silly moment going nowhere.

- A day after the Playboy bunnies put on a show for the troops, the boys have a sexual interlude with the bunnies, arranged by Capt. Willard, in the bunnies helicopter. More silliness, mixed with sex.

- The visit to the old French plantation and its inhabitants by Willard, during which the plantation owner rants over the reasons for the war, all the way back to the French defeat, was again unnecessary and over the top. Then, of course, Willard shares an opium pipe with the guy's daughter and she seduces him. Right!

There are others as well. Just my opinion but none of the scenes in the Redux version add anything to the movie. The theatrical version was a better watch. It was tighter and more to the point of what the movie was about, despite what Francis Ford Coppola thought.

[–] mannerism (78) 2 years ago

I thought the scene at the French plantation was important because France's involvement in Vietnam had just preceded the US and not mentioning it would have been a huge hole. That said, I found it to be one of the weaker scenes and wish it had been done better.

As for the other scenes, I enjoyed them. If you're going to be that picky, why even include a lot of other scenes such as the USO show, the surfing, etc.

[–] KBiker (1019) 2 years ago

As I said, there were other scenes I didn't mention. But the surfing scene, as ridiculous as it was, was in the theatrical version. I was taking issue with the Redux version.

The USO show, is also in the theatrical version. I didn't mind so much. Maybe that's because I was over there as an enlisted man, and saw a number of USO shows and loved them. No Playboy bunnies though.

[–] DaveBowman2001 (518) a year ago

I like the Plantation seem. It's kinda dream-like and a contrast to the river scenes, but I can understand the reasons for cutting all the OP listed scenes in the main release.

[–] pjl69 (2647) 2 years ago

I agree totally. I especially have problems with the surfboard scene. First of all, it destroyed the monumentally serious Willard's character and second, Kilgore had already a perfect exit line with "some day this war is going to end..." It was so unnecessary addition.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

The theatrical version is better in my opinion.

Redux drags on too much.

[–] cyguration (3951) 2 years ago

Agreed on every single point.

I remember I never fully watched Apocalypse Now after catching glimpses of it every so often, and then I finally saw the Redux version and hated it, mainly because of that Playboy scene in the dank helicopter while they twaddle endlessly about pointless drivel. I hated that scene so much it made me almost disdain the film.

I absolutely adore the theatrical cut, though. It's one of the best films I've ever seen.

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 2 years ago

Stick with the Final Cut. It keeps the additional Kilgore scenes which are great, it removes the playboy bunny sex scene, it removes the additional scenes with Kurtz and the plantation scene is trimmed so it doesn’t drag as much