Good to see Morricone getting the response he deserves for his music. His best work (which is saying something considering he did the music for The Mission)
I can say that I am one of the lucky ones, having to watch the Director's cut without having to see the "bastardized" version (to quote William Forsythe in another interview) first! What a movie, a masterpiece!!!
now you can compare whether the old Noodles and Max in the final scenes of the film really look like the old Robert de Niro and James Woods in real life
I think 'Once Upon A Time In America,' 'The Good the Bad and the Ugly,' and 'Once Upon A Time In The West,' are his masterpieces! 'America' is the culmination of his lifes work! It's such an amazing experience to get 'lost' in film as if in a dreamscape! Combine that with Morricone's kick-ass music, and it's material for the gods!
What they did to this movie way back in 1984 was a crime. Had they not have done it, Leone and Morricone would have gotten the respect they deserved, probably would have even won best picture, best director, and best musical score. What a shame. Probably worst decision in cinema history.