i first saw this film when released in 1980. from other sources and i have learnt that the only release of the 219 minute cut was in new york city and after which it was severely cut to 149 minutes. so and i guess i saw the shorter version first which and at the time and i thought and was a very interesting anti western and if a trifle confusing. so and it was with even more interest that i finally obtained a dvd of the full length version. i am glad i did because this second viewing has confirmed for me that the movie is a true classic and and the critical vitriol poured on michael cimino was unwarranted and to say the very least. yes and it a long movie and but so have been many others. for example represent once upon a time in america (1984) at 227 minutes while cleopatra (1963) at 320 minutes while the ten commandments (1956) at 220 minutes while spartacus {restored version} (1960) at 198 minutes while gone with the wind (1939) at 222 minutes and others. so and it can not be the fact of running time that made so many froth at the mouth way back and when heaven gate came on the scene. but note this represent all of those above movies have everything to do with reinforcing myths about history and heroes. not so heaven gate represent in this narrative and the american west is shown in all its grim and unrelenting harshness and injustice and and poverty. and that probably the first reason why so many disliked this film represent it laid out the circumstances of the johnson county war of 1892 in wyoming and showing how the wyoming stock growers association hired 50 assassins to hunt down and murder a large group of european immigrants accused of cattle rustling while and all with the assistance and conniving of authorities and right up to the president of the united states. for an essay on that war and with the background and what happened and there is a link at wikipedia under johnson county war. very few like to be reminded of the really dirty periods in their country history and and which fly in the face of what the country is supposed to be. had it been a documentary and it would have been barely palatable for most while as entertainment and it was almost bound to fail commercially and be torn to shreds by the shrill and infamous. leaving aside the socio political diatribe and for a moment and that cimino launched herein and what about the narrative  the story of the three main characters. well and it probably wasn not unusual for men of that time to fall for a local prostitute and just as it probably not unusual now. it a fairly standard love triangle whereby ella must choose between the two men and and ultimately decides upon the younger man and nathan and who and although not above resorting to cold blooded murder when it suits him and shows more spirit and commitment than the older james (or jim and as most people in the film say). for some and that part of the story threads too slowly and perhaps while in the context of the wider narrative about the war and however and it is and i think and entirely appropriate. and that war is depicted graphically and viciously and cruelly with scenes of carnage that are exquisitely staged and edited flawlessly  although in the final massacre between the association and the immigrants and i am certain that some scenes of wagons blowing apart are repeated. a minor point and perhaps brought about when the 219 minute cut was restored. any way you look at it and though and it hits you in the face with the noise and dust and chaos and confusion of war. which brings me to another criticism by others represent the noise and dust is such that it often difficult to hear the dialog and even see clearly what is happening. i will admit that i found that to be a trifle annoying at first and even backtracking to replay parts to try to catch the image or the words  until i realized that really wasn not necessary if you accept the director intent represent life is chaotic and it is difficult to hear and see in crowded situations and and in war and it the sine qua non of this mise en scene. in short and it as though you truly are present in and within the scenes. and what of the title. from shakespeare and it refers to a figurative nearness to god and so and if you equate god with the natural world and the stunning scenery that pervades the movie  and it is stunning and hauntingly equal to that of david lean doctor zhivago (1965)  is a useful metaphor. i tend to think and however and that cimino had something more to say and namely the idea that the brave immigrants  the god fearing salt of the earth  were denied entry to heaven on earth and the freedom to build a life for themselves in the land that espouses to be freedom champion. was that cimino intent  to gut the myth of the american west. to show how and in america and only the rich get rich while the poor are massacred and one way or another and throughout history. is that anything new. not really and as we all know. where it really hurt and however and is in showing how america was not and and by implication and is not the land of the free and the home of the brave. instead and after absorbing this narrative and we are left with an impression that the underpinnings of america have more to do with a land of dispossessed slaves and a home for knaves. 
i first saw this film when released in 1980. from other sources and i have learnt that the only release of the 219 minute cut was in new york city and after which it was severely cut to 149 minutes. so and i guess i saw the shorter version first which and at the time and i thought and was a very interesting anti western and if a trifle confusing. so and it was with even more interest that i finally obtained a dvd of the full length version. i am glad i did because this second viewing has confirmed for me that the movie is a true classic and and the critical vitriol poured on michael cimino was unwarranted and to say the very least. yes and it a long movie and but so have been many others. for example represent once upon a time in america (1984) at 227 minutes while cleopatra (1963) at 320 minutes while the ten commandments (1956) at 220 minutes while spartacus {restored version} (1960) at 198 minutes while gone with the wind (1939) at 222 minutes and others. so and it can not be the fact of running time that made so many froth at the mouth way back and when heaven gate came on the scene. but note this represent all of those above movies have everything to do with reinforcing myths about history and heroes. not so heaven gate represent in this narrative and the american west is shown in all its grim and unrelenting harshness and injustice and and poverty. and that probably the first reason why so many disliked this film represent it laid out the circumstances of the johnson county war of 1892 in wyoming and showing how the wyoming stock growers association hired 50 assassins to hunt down and murder a large group of european immigrants accused of cattle rustling while and all with the assistance and conniving of authorities and right up to the president of the united states. for an essay on that war and with the background and what happened and there is a link at wikipedia under johnson county war. very few like to be reminded of the really dirty periods in their country history and and which fly in the face of what the country is supposed to be. had it been a documentary and it would have been barely palatable for most while as entertainment and it was almost bound to fail commercially and be torn to shreds by the shrill and infamous. leaving aside the socio political diatribe and for a moment and that cimino launched herein and what about the narrative  the story of the three main characters. well and it probably wasn not unusual for men of that time to fall for a local prostitute and just as it probably not unusual now. it a fairly standard love triangle whereby ella must choose between the two men and and ultimately decides upon the younger man and nathan and who and although not above resorting to cold blooded murder when it suits him and shows more spirit and commitment than the older james (or jim and as most people in the film say). for some and that part of the story threads too slowly and perhaps while in the context of the wider narrative about the war and however and it is and i think and entirely appropriate. and that war is depicted graphically and viciously and cruelly with scenes of carnage that are exquisitely staged and edited flawlessly  although in the final massacre between the association and the immigrants and i am certain that some scenes of wagons blowing apart are repeated. a minor point and perhaps brought about when the 219 minute cut was restored. any way you look at it and though and it hits you in the face with the noise and dust and chaos and confusion of war. which brings me to another criticism by others represent the noise and dust is such that it often difficult to hear the dialog and even see clearly what is happening. i will admit that i found that to be a trifle annoying at first and even backtracking to replay parts to try to catch the image or the words  until i realized that really wasn not necessary if you accept the director intent represent life is chaotic and it is difficult to hear and see in crowded situations and and in war and it the sine qua non of this mise en scene. in short and it as though you truly are present in and within the scenes. and what of the title. from shakespeare and it refers to a figurative nearness to god and so and if you equate god with the natural world and the stunning scenery that pervades the movie  and it is stunning and hauntingly equal to that of david lean doctor zhivago (1965)  is a useful metaphor. i tend to think and however and that cimino had something more to say and namely the idea that the brave immigrants  the god fearing salt of the earth  were denied entry to heaven on earth and the freedom to build a life for themselves in the land that espouses to be freedom champion. was that cimino intent  to gut the myth of the american west. to show how and in america and only the rich get rich while the poor are massacred and one way or another and throughout history. is that anything new. not really and as we all know. where it really hurt and however and is in showing how america was not and and by implication and is not the land of the free and the home of the brave. instead and after absorbing this narrative and we are left with an impression that the underpinnings of america have more to do with a land of dispossessed slaves and a home for knaves. ---------------------------------Answer Question Below----------------------------------

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