BLSTK

They hit the church, fer Chrissakes! Is nothing sacred?

Phenomenal footage there, WynnterGreen. Nice job with the editing.

Well said, BG.

Well said, SLIM.

@ para I didn't exactly answer your question, did I? Sorry about that. I wasn't trying to be obtuse. I just come by it naturally. Calling the General Release 35mm version which I saw (before it was pulled by Coppola) both "original" and "uncut" was misleading. It may have been original. But it was by no means "uncut". I didn't realize there were so many versions of "Apocalypse Now" until you mentioned the "Workprint Edition". That sent me to Wikipedia and the text I cut and pasted three posts back. I do own a copy of "Redux" but would love to get my hands on the "Workprint Edition". Has anyone actually seen it?

From Wikipedia: "At the time of its release, discussion and rumors circulated about the supposed various endings for Apocalypse Now. Coppola stated the original ending was written in haste, where Kurtz convinced Willard to join forces and together they repelled the air strike on the compound. Coppola said he never fully agreed with the Kurtz and Willard dying in fatalistic explosive intensity, preferring to end the film in a more encouraging manner. When Coppola originally organized the ending, he considered two significantly different ends to the movie. One involved Willard leading Lance by the hand as everyone in Kurtz's base throws down their weapons, and ends with images of Willard's Swift boat slowly pulling away from Kurtz's compound, this final scene superimposed over the face of a stone idol, which then fades into black. The other option showed an air strike being called and the base being blown to bits in a spectacular display, consequently killing everyone left within it. The original 1979 70mm exclusive theatrical release ended with Willard's boat, the stone statue, then fade to black with no credits, save for '"Copyright 1979 Omni Zoetrope"' right after the film ends. This mirrors the lack of any opening titles and supposedly stems from Coppola's original intention to "tour" the film as one would a play: the credits would have appeared on printed programs provided before the screening began.[46] There have been, to date, many variations of the end credit sequence, beginning with the 35mm general release version, where Coppola elected to show the credits superimposed over shots of Kurtz's base exploding.[46] Rental prints circulated with this ending, and can be found in the hands of a few collectors. Some versions of this had the subtitle "A United Artists release", while others had "An Omni Zoetrope release". The network television version of the credits ended with "...from MGM/UA Entertainment Company" (the film made its network debut shortly after the merger of MGM and UA). One variation of the end credits can be seen on both YouTube and as a supplement on the current Lionsgate Blu-ray. Later when Coppola heard that audiences interpreted this as an air strike called by Willard, Coppola pulled the film from its 35 mm run, and put credits on a black screen. (However, prints with the "air strike" footage continued to circulate to "repertory" theaters well into the 1980s.) In the DVD commentary, Coppola explains that the images of explosions had not been intended to be part of the story; they were intended to be seen as completely separate from the film. He had added the explosions to the credits as a graphic background to the credits. Coppola explained he had captured the now-iconic footage during demolition of the sets (set destruction and removal was required by the Philippine government). Coppola filmed the demolition with multiple cameras fitted with different film stocks and lenses to capture the explosions at different speeds. He wanted to do something with the dramatic footage and decided to add them to the credits. [47]"

I feel fortunate to have seen the original (uncut version) of "Apocalypse Now" within days of its release. Twice. On the big screen, no less. While I had planned on attending the early show, it turned into a double-bill. After sitting through the first two-and-a-half hours of Coppola's masterpiece, I subjected myself to a further two-and-a-half hours before calling it a day (night). Who could forget the obliteration of Colonel Kurtz's Compound as the credits rolled? Talk about an assault on the senses. Good movies will do that. I sat through "Fury" once. Once is enough, thanks.

Point, Kettler.

Mashed potatoes for breakfast. Mashed potatoes for lunch. Mashed potatoes for supper. It's bad enough we have to drink them. Now you want us to eat them too?!

Well, one thing seems certain as far as what is or isn't considered fair play: "All is fair in love and war and Combat Mission".

Sniper, I trust no oranges were harmed in the making of that scenario. (The military term is "Naval").

To shoot one of your soldiers would be akin to a mercy killing. I'm surprised you even have an army. All those Conscious Objectors didn't leave to escape fighting an "unjust war". They just didn't want anything to do with you.

On the subject of taking prisoners, it should be noted that I believe in equal opportunity vehicular homicide. Not only have I run over enemy combatants trying to surrender, I have attempted to do so against traitors who give up the fight. (I refuse to elevate them to the status of "soldier"). Shooting them is not only impossible, but too good a fate for these heathen. Sadly, due to coding within the game, a tank which had express orders to flatten them simply drove around them. For want of a Panzershreck, the TC would have perished as well. Where have all the good men gone?

Ian...how could you? How very...unCanadian.

If I am not mistaken, isn't a topiary a form of...shrubbery? Don't say I didn't warn you.

I must confess, I've done all of the above at some point. At the time I thought myself clever until I realized the limitations of my AI opponent. Versus a human being, however, the rules of engagement would have to be spelled out. Lawyers called. Papers signed. On second thought, I'll take my chances against a (sometimes) beatable opponent who can't sue my pants off. Pants which, BTW, I may or may not be wearing anyway.

Very well, Mr. Enema, you have been chosen to do the requisite spanking. We will forego the rectal feeding...for the time being.

Speaking of shots, down yer nek, Banesy. Happy Robbie Burns Day, fellow Scots!

Bless you, Vanir. You have given me renewed faith in the power of redemption.

Perhaps I could have made better use of the Editing Stage during the writing of this thread. I will be the first to Admit (with a single letter "m") that the only thing I use more freely than words is ammo. If you thought fuel was cheap, try talking. Thank you for your indulgence. We now return you to your regular program.

BTW, "committed" has two "m's" in it. Having seemingly erred twice, does this count as one sin or two? Who, then, will spank me? As this is Combat Mission, you could argue that one is a sin of Omission, while t'other would be one of Commission. And why is it that "Omission" only has one "m" in it? Or even the word "Mission", for that matter?

...and also my ammo was running low. Fuel is cheaper.

In my defense, I was running out of time. I mean, life is short. Especially if you're Russian.

Ok. I'll go first. "Forgive me, Father..." The Russian soldier held his hands "hohe". Instead of waiting for the Little White Flag, I ran him over with a transport truck. Is this "gamey" behaviour? Does it make me a bad person?

And Now For Something Completely Different. (With my condolences to the family of Mrs. B.J. Smegma).