What a powerful film. What an apocalyptic place of horrors. Who wouldn't go mad in a place like that. This really is a war film like no other, with a dazzling visual piece of land and images that probably will end up haunting you. With the location being a nightmare of Vietnam and with the obvious disturbing mood of the film, this movie accomplished something that wowed both the crowd and the critics, saying it's one of or if not the best film in cinema history. Well, it definetely succeeded with one thing on my part: I now never want to step foot on war territory in my whole life.
I would NOT watch this. I heard about it from classmates in my Honors Recent American History class when we had to watch a movie about the Vietnam War and--eesh--I think it's the worst war movie I've heard about!
One of the greatest achievements in cinema history. More than just an action or war film. Coppola has created a profound philosophical metaphor for the entire Vietnam experience. Has perhaps the most effective opening in filmmaking history. The perfect closing for one of the most important and exciting decades in American cinema.
A deeply flawed film. Between moments of pure genius and virtuoso filmmaking are stretches of self-indulgent clap-trap. The script and performances really fall apart when Brando shows up.
francais ford coppola went through hell and back again to make this movie and at most part it shows, a slight humourous side to over compenate for a long run time, the film uses it resources well and gave us one of the most famous quotes of our time, i love the smell of Nepalm in the morning
I had always wanted to see this film because it is a classic, and because of how the critics praised it so much. I just finished reading Heart of Darkness for school, and I just watched this movie for the first time. There were alot of similarities between both the book and the film. I really enjoyed the film more I would have to say though. The plot, soundtrack, and scenery was amazing. I didn't even recognize Laurence Fishburne at first, until I saw him smile. Very small role for Harrison Ford, and even smaller for Scott Glenn. I would have to say Robert Duvall's most memorable to date. Dennis Hopper was really good as the photojournalist who had lost it. Sheen did a good job as the protagonist, and Marlon Brando was by far the best performance in the entire film.
Apocalypse Now Redux:
I just finished watching Apocalypse Now Redux, and I thought it was very good as well. I only noticed 5 added scenes. The first was added footage of Duvall, where he rescues a child, gives Lance new shorts, and talks about how the wind from the Napalm is affecting the waves. Sheen stole his surfboard as they were leaving, and hit one of Duvall's men with it as he was running back to the boat, then they hid from him as he had helicopters searching for his board. The second added part was changed slightly, the scene from the original with "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones, was put in after they met Duvall, not before. In this part, Chef and Fishburne talking about the playmate bunnies, then Lance was gets the surfboard to surf behind the boat, in the original he was jet-skiing. The third part I noticed that was added was when The playboy bunnies traded a few hours of sex with the PBR Street Gang for diesel fuel. The fourth addition I found was the French plantation scene, and the fifth was where Kurtz came into a large steel container where he had Sheen imprisoned, and read him the article out of TIME Magazine that was released contrary to the report that Kurtz had provided to Lyndon B. Johnson. In this scene there are alot of kids arond listening as well. Those are the only differences I found between the two. I prefer this version the best, I really liked the added footage. I did really want to see more of Scott Glenn though, he didn't have anymore fottage than he did in Apocalypse Now.
Apocalypse Now Workprint:
There is another version the Coppola has not released to the public, where the photojournalist comes running to Sheen and says he thinks Kurtz is going to kill him because he took his picture again, and right then Scott Glenn takes out a gun and shoots him in the back. Then Sheen and Glenn have a shootout and Sheen kills him. I am very eager to see it.
Apocalypse Now is an intense ride through a Vietnam that differs from any other portrayed by hollywood. The entire movie was extremely dark, including the pulp-like narration which was perfectly scripted. The acting didn't have to be great, but it was solid. The events that unfolded all seemed unattached until you reach a point in the movie and Sheen's character is faced with the fear of becoming what he's most afraid of and it's amazing that it never has to be said or acted. Amazingly directed and scripted. The one negative to this movie is that it is almost too dark to enjoy, which says something, considering my taste.
Brutally magnificient. Apocalypse Now is a bit-by-bit dissection of the destructive behavior of men, in all of its disturbing humanity. While it's hard not to focus on the triumphant technical achievement that it is, there lies a sweeping moral lesson in the screenplay that elevates it among the best motion pictures of all time.
While the running time was rather long, meaning I watched it in two installments, I really enjoyed it. the beginning is rather artistic almost, with parallels drawn between the hellicopters and the palm trees and all that. Seemed to depict the war honestly (but what would I know) and was not over-the-top in its portrayal of anything. I felt like I was watching something that really happened.
Probably one of the most intense films I've ever seen. You really get caught up in it, just from the visuals. Time seems to not exist due to Coppola's constant in and out fades and the juxtaposition of shots. This is only the 2nd Brando film I've seen besides 'On The Waterfront', and while he was great, Martin Sheen was absolutely amazing. This is by far the best role I've ever seen him in. Dennis Hopper is also great in his limited role as a photo journalist gone insane.
I totally didn't understand what the hell was going on. . .I hated "Heart of Darkness" (yes yes, everything was dark and brooding, we get it) so I wasn't surprised that I disliked the movie. Totally overrated.
simply the best (anti)war movie ever made..every time i watch it i feel like i was in this war,that i was a part of it..coppolla's directing masterpiece!
This film is a philosophical discourse done in the wonderful format of cinema. A movie so startling and genuine at tandem, so beautiful is its canvas, so pure its words. When I was watching this, I kept rewinding it, just to listen to the words again. The way the dialogue was written, like when he said he cried, like an old grandmother was so perfect because when paused at the part when he said he cried, I expected the stereotypical cried like a baby, but the words were done in a way that fooled the audience. This film proves Coppola as the best among the American film brats.
The film has been viewed as a journey into the darkness of the human psyche.One of the greatest stunning craziest war epics of our time. Even the documentary about this film is worth watching just because it shows what really happened behind the scenes of getting this film made which almost never happened. based on the novel Heart of Darkness by critical acclaimed writer joseph conrad, francis ford copolla directs Martin Sheen who plays dissillusioned vitenam vet Captain Benjamin Willard. Captain Willard is so out of touch with reality and an alcoholic who has lost hope with his world and has tried to kill himself a few times before gets a visit from two soldiers who were sent to bring Willard to the quarters of General Corman played by famed acahracter actor G.D. Spradlin. Once Willard arrives he is greeted by other officers, one being Colonel Lucas played by Harrison Ford who offer Willard another chance to redeem himself and to find and bring back an ex soldier Colonel Walter Kurtz. A Colonel who was once respected but through years of fighting and killing has become a loose canon and is considered by his fellow soldiers as insane. He has dropped of the earth and General Corman wants Captain Benjamin Willard to find him and kill him if possible. Captain Willard listens to the tapes and can not grasp how a very respected Clonel can lose grip with reality. He takes on the mission and is escorted on a boat which is managed by Cheif Phillips played by Albert hall and his crew played by sam bottoms as the surfer and soldier Lance B. Johnson, laurence fishburne as Tyrone clean Miller a very young soldier who doesnt take the war too seriously and doesnt understand what war can do to a man his age and doesnt mind killing a few gooks and frederric forrest as jay chief hicks.
It is where the film actually takes off as captain willard and the crew travel on boat up through a river right into cambodia. along the way Willard meets a leutenant named Bill Kilgore, a man who loves the a pom in the mornign and doesnt mind killing his enemies and still loves to surf and have a good time and smoke some weed. The PBR arrives at a Landing Zone (LZ) where Willard and the crew meet up with Lt. Colonel William Kilgore, the eccentric commander of the "First of the Ninth", 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry (Aerial Reconnaissance), following a massive and hectic mopping-up operation of a conquered enemy town. Kilgore, an avid surfer, learns from one of his men that the beach which marks the opening to the Nung River is perfect for surfing, and thus orders his men to capture the village and the beach.They begin to destory the base, after this they are on a beach sining song and surfing. Willard also arrives at another base along the river where two playboy playmates are dancing and taking off their clothes for the soldiers. Afterwards willard and his men continue down the river and some are killed. In the end Willard arrives to his destination and is greeted by a bunch of indians (cambodian people) and is knocked out. He wakesd up and is greeted by a famed photographer played by denis hopper who tries to convince Willard that Kurtz is a god to the peopel and one of most courageous and respected men he has ever met. Willard is finally brought by Kurtz where comes face to face with the heart of darkness. Kurtz is played by oscar winning actor Marlon Brando who beautifully plays a man who has lost his heart and soul iand has been dead inside for years. He poetically talks to willard as willard just listens to him and realizes that he has to kill Kurtz because Kurtz has lost it but he understands his pain.
In the end Willard must do the what he was set out to do and Kurtz knows and doesnt care if he's killed or no anymore.
With a great soundtrack including the Door brilliant masterpiece "the End", to CCR "Long Tall Sally", with brilliant perofrmances from harrison Ford, Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Laurence Fishburne and the great Rober DuVall, along with an astounding script and very good dialogue and exceptional direction from famed director Francis ford coppola, this is arguebly one of the best or greatest war films ever made.
Apocalypse Now is a View Nam War movie without focusing on the war. Instead it follows a single top secret mission to bring back a wayward general. The path is perilous and filled with surfers.
This was a dark "makes you think" movie. You get the sense of how bad things were over there without ever seeing the horror. There were no carnage scenes like in Saving Private Ryan, but you get the idea that it was worse in some cases.
This movie also covers the idea that war is something that can't be left behind. Soldiers are so into it that they request to be sent back in. The war is bad, but it is better than normal life. I like that idea. The Deer Hunter explored this theme too.
Another Coppola masterpiece! You'd be crazy not to appreciate the techniques he uses to produce the right emotions! Nam's madness is shown perfectly in the film! Amazing performances by everyone!!!
Partly based on novel 'Heart of Darkness'. Novel exposed british exploitation of africa, in the name of industrialisation and imperialism with Kurtz as head bad guy/King of england.
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