Apocalypse Now Redux - aspect ratio?

[John Nelson]

Hi,

Could anyone who has the new R1 redux version of Apocalypse Now confirm what the aspect ratio is?

All versions of the original theatrical cut were presented at 2:1, in accordance with the wishes of the director of photography on the film (apparently it was filmed with the intention of being cropped to this ratio). But the new redux version is showing up on play247 as being 2.35:1.

I'm not really concerned one way or the other, but I'm curious :)

Thanks,

-- J.

[charlie angel]

This has just fallen into my grubby little mits - & it doesn't say anywhere on the cover what aspect it is (just that it's anamorphic)

Won't know until tonight :(

[cervaro]

Just checked the disc, and it seems the ratio is indeed 2.0:1 as quoted on a US newsgroup.

[Panavision]

The film was shot with 2.35:1 in mind, I must say that the decision to crop the picture is very disappointing.

[cervaro]

Originally posted by Panavision
The film was shot with 2.35:1 in mind, I must say that the decision to crop the picture is very disappointing.

For some reason, wasn't this the original cinematographers preferred ratio? Coppola decided to go with his preference. :(

Maybe next years Special Edition will be different again! No doubt we'll have the Star Wars style argument again, i.e. we want the original cut, we want the redux cut, seamless branching, etc. For the record I'd prefer the latter option as it's the best of both worlds. :D

[John Nelson]

Originally posted by Panavision
The film was shot with 2.35:1 in mind, I must say that the decision to crop the picture is very disappointing.

Normally I'd be the first to agree, but in this case the film was definitely shot with 2:1 in mind. Seeing this at 2.35:1 would be like seeing a 1.85:1 film open-matte.

The DP, Vittorio Storaro, has for a long time been championing his Univisium (http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/2072/) format. His idea was for a system that used spherical lenses to capture a 2:1 image, with no extra "matted" image top-and-bottom (that is, much in the same way that Super Panavision 70 works). He also proposed TVs with a 2:1 screen ratio! Univisium never took off, but that didn't stop Vittorio from shooting certain films in the wider 2.35:1 format, with the intention that they would eventually be cropped to 2:1.

Also, Apocalpyse now was conceived as a 70mm roadshow presentation. Blowing the film up to 70mm would have resulted in an aspect ratio of 2.20:1, which is that bit closer to the intended 2:1.

-- J.

[Panavision]

D you think the framing looks awkward in 2.1? Do you think Vittario was thinking about 2.1 back in 1978/79?

[DeadKenny]

Interestingly it was being shown at Universal City's (in LA) IMAX cinema a few weeks back, but I couldn't see if it actually was in an IMAX format (not sure how you'd do that from the original format). It was their main film, advertised just under the huge word saying 'IMAX'.

[John Nelson]

IMAX is 1.33:1, so I would guess that they would have projected a 70mm version of the film across the centre of the screen.

-- J.

[DeadKenny]

Originally posted by John Nelson
IMAX is 1.33:1, so I would guess that they would have projected a 70mm version of the film across the centre of the screen.

-- J.

I think they have more screens than just the main IMAX as they had a long list of other standard-run films, just like a multi/mega-plex, so they can't all be showing on IMAX screens, but yeah, I guess they could just show it across the centre.

[grant]

on a slightly different note, it's interesting to note that the BBFC have rated Redux as a 15 for theatrical release...

[Madm@tt]

Originaly posted by grant
On a slightly different note, it's interesting to note that the BBFC have rated Redux as a 15 for theatrical release...

I saw that in this month's Empire magazine and thought it was a misprint... I guess we have "...grown up"... (As Martin Sheen said in his interview with 'The Movie Chart Show'.)

[Michael Brooke]

Bear in mind the 15 certificate didn't exist in 1979 - the closest equivalent was the AA, which barred under-14s from seeing films.

[rgfinch]

I don't think it was originally shot with 2:1 in mind . The original DVD looks cropped as the framing just looks wrong on a few shots . I wish Coppola would have left the extra width on there.

[Panavision]

They must have had 2.35:1 in mind when shooting it.