Apocalypse Now (1979)

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Apocalypse Now (1979)

8/10

Starring

Marlon Brando

Robert Duvall

Martin Sheen

Frederic Forrest

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

This will stand out as the best Vietnam films that there is, its explicit description of war and its vast effect on the mind of those who are engaged in it are well shown. The movie is exactly the meaning of the Neville Chamberlainquote “In war, whichever side may call itself the victor, there are no winners, but all are losers.”

Not a huge fan of war movies, but some just stand out Saving Private Ryan(1998) is one, and Apocalypse Now is another. The details in the movie, the progression from the point of kill to the execution and “The Horror… the horror” the horror of war, mass killing and the genocide are so well depicted in this movie. Kudos has to go to Francis Ford Coppola who produced and directed this movie.

Boasting of excellent cinematography, as you watch you just have to appreciate the great camera views the movie depletes, the light effects are so well done to make sure you get the feel of being in a jungle.

Apocalypse Now is a 1979 epic war film set during the Vietnam War, its story revolves around two characters U.S. Army special operations officer Captain Benjamin L. Willard (Martin Sheen) and U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (Marlon Brando).

Willard was sent on a special mission to kill Kurtz, who is believed to be insane. The movie is about the journey from where Willard is seen going to the psychological effects of war, to where he was called and sent on the mission. His mission led him to meet more soldiers each having a different mechanism of coping with the war.

Willard’s journey led him to Kurtz who is worshipped by the locals and he sits high as a king among them.

The movie production went on for over 3 years with Coppola thinking he will never finish the movie, with Typhoon Olga ruining the set at one time, the theft of the entire payroll, Marlon Brando showing up over weight… the movie looked like something that was not forth coming but Coppola pulled it off in the end making a masterpiece that will be talked about for years to come

If you are not a fan of animal cruelty the movie's ending is not for you, even I that I can’t seem to care less about animal cruelty was moved by the ritual of the local Ifugao tribe, the ritual involves the butchering of a water buffalo in such a cruel manner.

The last words of Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (Marlon Brando) is one that has been used popularly in the cinematic universe “The Horror…. the horror.” Apocalypse Now stands head above shoulders over any Vietnamese war movie out there, it is a classic among classics and it won Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director for Coppola. It is also won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Sound.

In the AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition) it is rated number 30. There is no reason for you not to see this movie.