FIRST OFF . . .

Into this year of war movies comes again “Apocalypse Now,” Francis Coppola’s 1979 foray into the Vietnam War. United Artists announced that new 70-millimeter Dolby-ized prints of the Oscar-winning film will play exclusive engagements in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and several other cities beginning Aug. 28. While “Apocalypse” co-producer Fred Roos acknowledged the success of “Platoon,” “Full Metal Jacket” and other war films as being behind the decision, he also tied the re-release to the emergence of Lt. Col. Oliver L. North as a public figure. Roos suggested that North bears “an uncanny resemblance” to Lt. Col. Kilgore (the role played by Robert Duvall in the film).