Review of Redux

Rating: Null/10 (24 October 2001)

Like many of the reviewers for the Redux version, I will start by saying that Apocalypse Now is one of my favorite films of all time. However, Apocalypse Now Redux belongs in the lower portions of the rankings along with The Matrix and Twister. Well, maybe not that bad, but it really upsets me to see a great film ruined.
I'm normally the first person to defend a director's right to do with a film what he or she pleases. But in this case, I feel that Coppola has, since going through the hell that was directing this film, become a completely different director who makes nothing but terrible movies like Jack and Godfather Part III. Therefore, he shouldn't have been allowed to go anywhere near this film again. This restriction would have been out of fear that he would do exactly what he did. He reduced one of the greatest pieces of pure cinema into a summer blockbuster, action, buddy, popcorn movie.
Think about the first time you ever saw Apocalypse Now. Think about the sense of wonder that washed over you as you followed Willard down the river into the unknown. Getting to the point where you knew you had to simply accept all the things that were happening around you was the point of the entire first two thirds of the film. It was after that point, that you are brought to realize that you must do something. You must try your hardest to affect the outside world that you seem to have cut yourself off from. This was (and still is) a brilliant film.
Now imagine if that huge flow of precious emotion that you were feeling the entire time was reduced to a feel good movie about a bunch of guys on a boat going to kill some one. Imagine plenty of things blowing up real good. Imagine Kilgore turning into a whiny freak who just wants his surfboard back. Imagine Willard developing a sense of friendship with the rest of the guys on the boat. Imagine a slapstick moment of gratuitous sex. In your worst nightmare, you can not imagine how low Redux sunk compared to the original.
The first major change that shows up is the assault on the village with Kilgore. I have to admit that I thought it looked much better. It seemed to be a little easier to get a hold of. However, I didn't realize that the rest of the movie would be just that. Apocalypse Now was a film that begged to be seen several times. It was hard to follow, not because of poor writing or editing, but because that's the nature of war and becoming a killer. Redux is as straightforward as movies get. It's up there with the original theatrical release of Blade Runner. Redux takes the stance of "We need to spell everything out for people so they don't feel confused." If some one watches a movie and hates it based solely on the fact that it's hard to follow at first, you shouldn't want them as an audience.
It's time for people who enjoy films to start demanding good films. Why do we have to reduce everything to the lowest common denominator in the audience. Sure, we can let stupid people have their movies like Armageddon, Tomb Raider, and The Animal. But don't turn a great film into dumbed down trite. You always hear about studios retooling movies so as to make them more marketable. I understand that studios have to make money, so let Julia Roberts and Adam Sandler churn out movies for stupid people and use those profits to make ten good films that you won't mess with.
ps. The French Plantation scene was actually a pretty nice addition.