I loved the 1976 version when I was a Kid, I watched it every time it was on T.V.

When I heard the Peter Jackson was remaking it, I rented the '76 version (I couldn't find the '33 original).
The film I loved as a Kid was painful to watch.

I enjoyed the Peter Jackson version, though I recognize it's certainly not a perfect movie.

I finally got my hands on the '33 Original, and it is Brilliant. All the exact same elements were in the Peter Jackson Version, but the original happed at a break neck pace. It was wonderful. The New version would have been better if they had cut it with the same pacing in mind.

Apologies are fine—in fact they are expected. But he should still do the time for the crime. You don't let someone off for apologizing for theft, or murder. The same principle applies.