Mundo M
This is a movie that grows with you. Having watched this when I was young and again throughout the years I feel as though I am seeing a new movie every time I see it. Your life experiences allows you to see the movie under a different lense each time you watch. You pick up on things that catch your attention that you have overlooked previously. You learn from it. “ NEVER GET OUT OF THE THE BOAT, ABSOLUTELY G*D-D** N RIGHT - UNLESS YOU ARE GOING ALL THE WAY”
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
11/01/24
Full Review
Milox B
« Apocalypse Now » nous plonge dans la guerre du Vietnam comme si c’était un documentaire, rendant chaque scène poignante et réaliste. La photographie est magistrale, jouant avec les contrastes et les couleurs pour immerger le spectateur dans un clair-obscur envoûtant. La lumière façonne chaque plan avec une précision qui amplifie la tension.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
10/25/24
Full Review
r r
Cinematography as a storyteller: The “Raging Bull” Example.
There are copious movies about war and the intense emotion they bring, but rarely do they tell the whole truth. Mostly, they push the heroic narrative that there is a good side fighting for what's right and a bad sad fighting with evil intent. The truth is much more complicated than that. Although morals may be what brings about a war, right and wrong becomes blurry as people experience so much pain and suffering. Releasing in 1979 “Apocalypse: Now”, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and written by John Milius, does a fantastic job of showing how good people can be corrupted by their experiences in battle. During my watch, at times I was confused, horrified, and even disgusted. Although those are usually not good feelings to associate with a movie, it only proves how realistic and powerful this film was. With cinematography by Vittorio Storaro, this haunting film expertly dives into the real horrors of war that civilians are oblivious to.
Taking place during the Vietnam war, Captain Lillard (Martin Sheen) is tasked with the assassination of the once renowned Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando). As he and his crew travel further upriver they experience more suffering and loss while Captain Lillard begins to understand why Colonel Kurtz fell from glory.
The highlight of this film for me was the cinematography. Vittorio Storaro did an outstanding job in highlighting the brutal nature of war. In most cases when I speak of cinematography, I might use the word “beautiful” to describe it. However, in this case a more proper word would be “horrific”. Believe me, the cinematography was masterfully executed, but its purpose is to highlight the tragedies of war which caused me discomfort. For example, there are copious shots and frames of dead bodies throughout the film that caused no reaction for the characters. The most prominent example is when they find Kurtz’ civilization which is littered with corpses. Although this made the movie difficult to watch, even when nobody was talking, it helped me understand the true nature of war. At first, I was confused why they barely noticed the bodies, but then it became obvious that they just didn't care. After experiencing so much pain and suffering, they became desensitized to violence to the point where seeing piles of mutilated bodies is normal. Although it's incredibly sad, it's an excellent way to show how war can compromise our humanity.
Overall, this movie was challenging, but definitely eye opening. Before you watch you must prepare yourself for some disturbing sights. If you are easily squeamish, this might not be a great movie for you, but I highly reccomend that you push yourself. It's important for us to see movies that expose the reality of situations most people know little about. Citizens think they understand war, but the truth is we have no idea. Although this film helps to shine light on the horrors, I'm sure the truth is even worse. That being said, I would give this movie a 9/10 and highly recommend that you see it.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
10/23/24
Full Review
Miranda L
A story that explores the capacity for darkness within us all.
Apocalypse Now is a psychological war drama directed and produced by Francis Ford Coppola, who also served as co-writer alongside John Milius. The film was loosely inspired by Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, with cinematographer Vittorio Storaro capturing the chaotic backdrop of the Vietnam War rather than the Congo.
The story follows Captain Willard, played by Martin Sheen, as he journeys from South Vietnam to Cambodia on a secret assassination mission. Willard’s target is Colonel Kurtz, a celebrated and heavily decorated Special Forces officer who lost his mind and went rogue. As Willard journeys on his perilous mission toward his quarry, he slowly unravels from the pressure and depravity of war, descending into madness and becoming akin to the man he is hunting.
Apocalypse Now is an exceptional film with remarkable performances that portray the psychological affects of war. Sheen offers an incredible portrayal of Willard, providing a quiet intensity and brooding and obsessive nature that are key to the story and understanding the psychological effects of war. His performance is balanced by Robert Duvall’s portrayal of Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore, who effortlessly juxtaposes Willard as a desensitized, ruthless and carefree soldier. Brando’s portrayal of Kurtz was horrifying, his short performance living up to his character’s looming presence thorough out the film.
The cinematography is visually captivating, capturing the beauty of the landscapes, river and jungle, but also the chaos, tension and atrocities of war. Storaro’s use of light, framing, angles and movement flow with every scene, emphasizing feelings of internal struggle and isolation, of tension, obsession, fear and dread, all while capturing that essential hallucinatory tone that depicts Willard’s descent into madness.
The sound and score in the film are also paramount to the film’s success. The sounds of war, of helicopter, gunfire and shouting, heighten feelings of tension and fear. Natural sounds like the occur on the river provide just as much tension, the sound of these scenes no less tense as characters become disoriented and unravel. The score is often unsettling, with jumpy and out of place music that is both surreal and chaotic, mirroring war, Willard’s obsessive hunt, and his internal conflict. The sound overall aids to the emotional intensity of the film.
Apocalypse Now is a film for anyone who wants to understand not only the phycological effects of war, but also the psychological nature of being human. This story captures the true nature of war; it does glorify it, but instead highlights the chaos, immorality and senselessness of it. It probes into the costs of war that go beyond loss of life, causing people to lose their sense of self, or right and wrong all in the pursuit of an enemy who is not so very different. Beyond war, this film captures the morality of humans in general, exploring how each of us, no matter how moral to begin with, have the capacity for violence and corruption. This movie is a pillar of cinematic excellence and sets the bar for its profound exploration of the human condition.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
10/22/24
Full Review
Evan H
"Apocalypse Now," directed by Francis Ford Coppola was released in 1979, and is one of the best films that almost wasn’t completed. Loosely based on the book “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad, the film focuses on the Vietnam War, exploring themes of PTSD, morality, and the darkness in humanity. Writers John Millis and George Lucas created a storyline of madness with deep character development that helps make the film a masterpiece.
The film follows Captain Benjamin Willard, played by Martin Sheen, as he is given a mission to assassinate Colonel Kurtz, played by the eccentric Marlon Brando. Kurtz, who was once a celebrated Green Beret, descended into madness becoming a god-like figure among a local tribe during the Vietnam War. Willard’s journey up the river becomes an exploration of the human psyche, revealing the craziness and sick behavior that war can create.
Coppola's direction is nothing short of masterful. The films cinematography is stunning, being filmed in the lush landscapes of Vietnam. Coppola’s use of light and shadow creates a nightmare-like quality, enhancing the surreal nature of Willard’s journey. The iconic scenes, such as the helicopter assault set to Wagner’s "Ride of the Valkyries," is just perfect. The intense classical music set to the brutality of killing during warfare makes for an unforgettable scene.
The performances are exceptional, with Martin Sheen delivering a portrayal of a man grappling with his own sanity and alcoholism because of the horrors of war. Brando’s performance as Kurtz is both enigmatic and chilling, encapsulating the complexities of a man who has completely lost his mind and in the most dangerous way. The supporting cast, including Robert Duvall as Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore, a man who seems to absolutely love war and is unaffected by the horrors of violence and murder.
"Apocalypse Now" is notoriously known for being a film that was almost impossible to complete. The process of making the film sent the filmmakers and cast into madness. However, thank goodness for Coppola’s relentless pursuit to complete it. The film is a masterclass in filmmaking, blending stunning visuals, powerful performances, and profound thematic depth. It is truly a fantastic film that will put you into a weird psychological space. As one of my top 100 films of all time I give “Apocalypse Now” an 8.7/10. To me this is more than just a “war film” but a psychological thriller that explores human emotions and actions when all hell is loose.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
10/23/24
Full Review
Veronica T
Apocalypse Now is an adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness showing the violence of war, descent into insanity, and the idea of imperialism with the dark backdrop of the Vietnam War. The movie follows Martin Sheen’s character Captain Benjamin Willard out on a mission to assassinate and kill Marlon Brando’s character Colonel Kurtz.
The film is known for its outstanding production and set. Directed by Frank Coppola, he was able to really execute his vision for this film and how to immerse the audience in the story by showing the dark grittiness of war set in a rough jungle of Vietnam. He used natural light and authentic jungle settings to really bring his vision to life and leave an impression. Most would know this film from the well-known helicopter scene set to Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner. The scene shows such intense violence set to such beautiful classical music and allows the audience to feel that juxtaposition.
Even though Apocalypse Now is a popular and well known film, I can see how some people would struggle with the pacing of the film and how it could feel slow at some points. Typically the last act of the movie is where all the intense pacing is, but for this film it feels slow in a way. But I think the slow pacing helps the viewer sit in a feeling of discomfort, a way to amp up the feeling of insanity.
Overall, it was a great war film. I think when most think of war films we think of World War II, but this was a visually impressive showing of the Vietnam war, which we forget how brutal it was and the deep physical and psychological scars it left on the land and the people involved.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
10/22/24
Full Review
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