Catch, Club
join a re-edited Apocalypse in realm of classics
DV Indeed
By Michael the K
With the onslaught of mediocre films these days, one has
to ponder spending hard earned cash and being bored. The following
are films that take you away on an adventure rather than leaving
you restless. These are true classics and deserve your attention:
|  Apocalypse
Now Redux (2001) - Apocalypse Now has been available
in many versions over the years, since its release in
1979. I was lucky enough to be present at its San Francisco
debut at the wonderful (since closed) North Point theater
. Director Francis Ford Coppola brought in special sound
equipment to give the impact, he had so laboriously
toiled to inject into this masterpiece!
|
The entire soundtrack was recorded at the “Automat,”
a state of the art facility, located on Harrison street, south
of market in San Francisco. The studio was one of the first
automated recording studios in the United States. The soundtrack
is a marvel of music and effects, all created by 4 electronic
keyboard masters headed by Pat Gleeson.
Apocalypse is a masterpiece in any of the versions released
over the years, but this version is in a class by itself .
Scenes that were cut from all the other versions are resurrected
here and takes the film to a new level . Be sure to check
Laurence Fishburn at ages 15 through 17 (it took 3 years to
make Apocalypse) and Harrison Ford in a cameo. Coppola has
an eye for talent, with Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert
Duvall and Dennis Hopper in unforgettable scenes. If you’ve
never been to Vietnam during the big conflict, you will feel
like you have, after viewing this film! This may be one of
the best films ever made, and an R rating with graphic violence
shouldn’t deter mature audiences.
 Fight
Club (2000) - Here’s an amazing effort by a new
cutting edge director that really knows how to tell a story
and keep you glued to the action. This R-rated feature guided
by David Fincher is big on gore but insightful when examining
the consumerism drowning our humanity.
Great performances by Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena
Bohnam Carter caught in a love triangle that will keep you
amused and glued in you seats to the very end. Be aware of
the glitches and flickers that appear throughout the work,
as they are clues to the real subject, buried in this intriguing
plot. Hint! It’s not what you think!
The title of the film itself is misinformation about its
true subject . Excellent physical acting by Meatloaf Aday
in a key supporting role. The soundtrack is lush and rich
in textures and sucks you into the environment the characters
play in. The plane crash will shock you, so careful of the
volume. I had a friend jump up and run into a wall when it
occurred. This is exciting film-making here. One to watch
over and over and a must for your collection.
 Catch
Me If You Can (2000) - It’s the true story of Frank
W. Aborginale, a man who, with out giving out the intricate
plot, has had an effect on every American today. That alone
should make you run out and rent or buy this great disc. Steven
Spielberg is at his best here. None of the usual corny close-ups
he so often injects into his films. This one is pure entertainment.
Tom Hanks stars as an indefatigable detective on the trail
of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Aborginale, a true human chameleon.
While the cops-and-robbers theme might be apparent to some,
the deeper commentary centers on the nature of trust and the
corrosive influence of a culture centered on salesmanship
over substance.
John Williams also scores big here (excuse the pun) with
an amazing score. He delves into jazz, not seen often enough
in contemporary film. Mr. Williams and the music is electrifying.
Please, please activate the incredible DTS 5.1 mix here as
it is the preferred system for music. DTS was pioneered by
Steven Spielberg, who wanted a more precise process for his
production of Jurassic Park! (George Lucas releases his Star
Wars DVD series only in Dolby Digital. Too bad too, the lush
orchestrations were veiled in Revenge of the Sith.) The soundtrack
of Jurassic Park blew up sound systems in theaters all over
the country, as it has a huge dynamic range. Here its quality
shines, as it renders every subtle nuance clear and clean.
The whole package is one to be proud of. |
