- Post
- #1588236
- Topic
- Apocalypse Now - Willards Odyssey (A discussion about the workprint and the The various release versions unseen cut)
- Link
- https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/1588236/action/topic#1588236
- Time
So to summarize on this.
I think Coppola did a good job on Redux but it falls short with some bad decisions. I have not seen the final cut version yet but this for all intentents and purposes is a halfway house affair between theatrical and Redux.
I would very much like to see a fourth attempt at this considering Redux took and drew from the cut assembled prior to the decision to slash the running time.
The Booby trap scene is good.
Lance Shooting at the water buffalo is good anf it gived up thete position which led to Cleans death.
I think cleans funeral could be shown just the shot of his flag wrapped body would be enough disdolving over chief looking whilst tape recorder is playing.then go with the monkey sampan sequence without intercutting.
The scene with Kurtz and Willard talking at the Bamboo cage about “Right and Wrong” from the workprint is much stronger scene than of the shipping container scene in Redux. But I think the Solitary confinement should be shown as more torture until Kurtz decides to put willard under guard. It just should not have hime reading times magazine.
That is a difference in the film Redux and theatrical Willard is let to roam freely as per Willards narration lines. The actual intention or story was Willard was NOT allowed to roam freely. So that creates conflict about Kurtz wanting to die and choosing Willard to sacrifice him. Tbat does indeed mean Kurtz did not want to die or give up his power. But it is inferred that people under Kurtz were growing tired of him killing people indiscriminately for little or no reason. That Willard was being chosen by the people as an alternative to Kurtz. Kurtz did indeed accept his fate when it came and knew he had lost support.
The workprint has a few occasions were gun’s can be heard going off too no doubt to kill someone indiscriminately although not shown nor cut to visually That whole indiscriminate killing is not shown at all. Kurtz I think may have shot the french guy he was talking to. Although it happens off screen.
Still an excellent film in any version that won’t change. But the way I see it. If you are going to create an extended version keep the extra stuff in that is Strong and cut out the stuff that is weak. That was the basis of the theatrical cut and I guesd thinking on the final cut, but Coppola seems hung up on the plantation scene. He should just let that go and serve uo the stronger material and sort out the narration problem before Willard goes to the briefing. Brilliant bit of film making though amid a very messy production.