Tremendously overrated

Rating: 4/10 (13 July 2005)

I saw this movie in 1979 and found it very slow, though bearable and "chic". I recognized back then that there was some symbolism that was understandable and some that was not, although I thought the viewer had to stretch his imagination a lot to catch a glimpse of the point of the movie. Now, because of the "Redux", the movie is again getting a lot of good press. I watched it again, both versions, with my children. We all agree that the film is just boring. The scenes are wayyyyy too long, the action moves at snail pace. The philosophy behind the film is very contorted, sometimes unclear or very plainly confusing. There is actually very little to praise about this movie, apart from the score (especially the Valkyries during the chopper flight) and Marlon Brando's very unique acting style. I do not recommend this movie as an example of good cinema. I really do not consider this movie, especially the current "Redux", to be up to Coppola. I really do not understand how the genius that filmed "Bram Stoker's Dracula", "Goodfellas" and the "Godfather" series could turn out this boring, overdone, overrated and barely comprehensible movie.