APOCALYPSE NOW
The Players:
Martin Sheen
Robert Duvall
Dennis Hopper
Marlon Brando
Harrison Ford
The Story:
The story follows Captain Willard (Sheen), a regular Army assassin who is sent on a second tour of duty in Vietnam. His mission is to take out a Green Beret officer (Brando) who has established himself as a God among a village of American, Cambodian, NVA, and Vietcong renegades. Along the way he enlists the help of a crazy Colonel (Duvall) who likes the thrill of the Vietnam combat experience. Captain Willard also enlists the help of a Coast Guard boat crew to take him up river into Cambodia, where Colonel Kutz, the Green Beret is taking haven.
The Review:
Though this movie is a masterpiece in my opinion, it is the most surreal war movie I have ever seen. It starts out as a normal war movie, with a silent jungle: Then the only sound heard is light Rock 'n' Roll, as a green object quickly shoots past the camera. Then the jungle lights up in a giant blaz, and several helicopters fly past the view in formation.
After that, it gets wierd, I'll be honest. It is a brilliant movie (directed by Francis Ford Coppola) but it is not for people who get easily confused or disoriented.
Let's just say that in the movie, over time people go tribally native.
But the cinematography is excellent. There is the infamous scene where Army Huey Helicopters fly in formation and assault an enemy-held beach as the C.O. (Duvall) plays Wagner's "Rise of the Valkyries." That scene gave rise to the famous quote, "I love the smell of napalm in the morning."
Also, the lighting and angles that are shot in the Cambodian temple really add to the mood of the moment. Even though Col. Kurtz (Brando) is a blooming moron. That is good though, because the film has great actors. The cast is not weak at all.
I recommend owning this film, but only if you can tolerate graphic images of war, and cinematography that mimics the effects of drugs. I give the film 4 stars, and yes, I own it.*
Apocalypse Now is Rated R for disturbing violent images, language, sexual content, and some drug use.
*There are two versions: the original cut released by Zoetrope and the 2001 recut version called "Apocalypse Now Redux."
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