This movie is good, but for the love of god, it was necessary that the film lasted more than three hours? no, it was not necessary, some scenes do not need to appear in the film.
3.5/5
definitely one of the best war films i have ever seen (together with full metal jacket). i felt - like a few others here - a bit let down by the ending, but the 140 minutes before that are pure genius and a cinematic masterpiece if there ever was one.
but please avoid the redux version. the original has a better pace and need no addition.
Capt. Willard (Martin Sheen), already on the edge, is assigned to find and deal with AWOL Col. Kurtz (Marlon Brando), rumored to have set himself up in the Cambodian jungle as a local, lethal godhead. Along the way Willard encounters napalm and Wagner fan Col. Kilgore (Robert Duvall), draftees who prefer to surf and do drugs, a USO Playboy Bunny show turned into a riot by the raucous soldiers, and a jumpy photographer (Dennis Hopper) telling wild, reverent tales about Kurtz. By the time Willard sees the heads mounted on stakes near Kurtz's compound, he knows Kurtz has gone over the deep end, but it is uncertain whether Willard himself now agrees with Kurtz's insane dictum to "Drop the Bomb. Exterminate them all."
After setting an honorable standard in the cinematic world with his genuine classic The Godfather trio, Coppola spends the next years filming this nightmarish classic Vietnam war film. The production of this film was quite tough. The film was shot under harsh conditions and the storms destroyed the sets at times. Still, Coppola achieved in completing the film and garnered a more higher respectable position in the cinematic world. My Father recalls this film from his teenage: "I never fully understood what was going on. But I guess it captures the confusion of war perfectly, you know, the duality of human nature? I was horrified by the violence and shocked by the harsh reality of life. But that's the point..." It's hard to decide whether this film is a war film, an anti-war film, both or none of them. This film goes deeply in each and every character with a very smart direction and a cunning screenplay. Col. Kurtz is the most mysterious, complex character, showing how war drives people crazy. Apocalypse Now is the most unique war film I have never seen. The journey part where Willard with his team travel to Kurtz's hideout is the highlight of the entire 3-hour film. Coppola puts us directly in the shoes of the soldiers, an experience so weird but all-in-all completely realistic. This film isn't comfortable to watch but that's the point of the whole film... War isn't comfortable is it? Apocalypse Now also has a stunning cinematography by Vittorio Storaro (Won an Academy Award for this film) that brings out the vivid beauty, the strange feeling of being in the wrong place and bleak (Cold and piercing) poetry. And the stunning, infamous ending still amuses me to this date. Truly a genuine classic that future film-makers can take inspiration from.
The only complain I personally have is that in the end there is animal cruelty involved. I know that this element was added intentionally to increase shock (And for artistic presentation of the brutal final conclusion) and I also know that the film-makers were not involved in this as it was a local ritual. Still, using this element was inappropriate for me. So I will rate this film personally 4/5 otherwise it would have been a perfect score from me.
Really enjoyed the last half hour and everything with Brando. There's a lot of meandering about with quite a straight forward plot that could have been condensed.
How did the mail get to them? Did the postman get up the river quicker than Willard did?
So, i'm finally watching this film (redux version mind you), an hour in, loving every second of it, and then.. The disc refuses to work any further. Gah, bloody rental.
Watched the original version on blu ray last night. Stunning film looks and sounds TERRIFIC on BR. Powerful movie only let down is the murky ending. But still GREAT GREAT movie!!!!
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Comments 1 - 15 of 41
saydin7
Boring,annoying,disturbing. 25 top lists entries,you gotta be kidding me.Skyscore
http://www.afisha.ru/movie/166078/review/146371/ClassicLady
Very strange...Olli
one of the greatest beginnings ever. rest of the film... hm couldn't thrill me that much.marlon brando was great though!
Joker of Gotham
This movie is good, but for the love of god, it was necessary that the film lasted more than three hours? no, it was not necessary, some scenes do not need to appear in the film.3.5/5
sinazal
I think this movie is overrated. It is good but not one of the greatest.nicolaskrizan
almost mythologicalhttps://beyond1001movies.wordpress.com/2015/06/09/backtrack-apocalypse-now-1979/
fraukamera
definitely one of the best war films i have ever seen (together with full metal jacket). i felt - like a few others here - a bit let down by the ending, but the 140 minutes before that are pure genius and a cinematic masterpiece if there ever was one.but please avoid the redux version. the original has a better pace and need no addition.
Filmsthemostbeautifulart
Capt. Willard (Martin Sheen), already on the edge, is assigned to find and deal with AWOL Col. Kurtz (Marlon Brando), rumored to have set himself up in the Cambodian jungle as a local, lethal godhead. Along the way Willard encounters napalm and Wagner fan Col. Kilgore (Robert Duvall), draftees who prefer to surf and do drugs, a USO Playboy Bunny show turned into a riot by the raucous soldiers, and a jumpy photographer (Dennis Hopper) telling wild, reverent tales about Kurtz. By the time Willard sees the heads mounted on stakes near Kurtz's compound, he knows Kurtz has gone over the deep end, but it is uncertain whether Willard himself now agrees with Kurtz's insane dictum to "Drop the Bomb. Exterminate them all."After setting an honorable standard in the cinematic world with his genuine classic The Godfather trio, Coppola spends the next years filming this nightmarish classic Vietnam war film. The production of this film was quite tough. The film was shot under harsh conditions and the storms destroyed the sets at times. Still, Coppola achieved in completing the film and garnered a more higher respectable position in the cinematic world. My Father recalls this film from his teenage: "I never fully understood what was going on. But I guess it captures the confusion of war perfectly, you know, the duality of human nature? I was horrified by the violence and shocked by the harsh reality of life. But that's the point..." It's hard to decide whether this film is a war film, an anti-war film, both or none of them. This film goes deeply in each and every character with a very smart direction and a cunning screenplay. Col. Kurtz is the most mysterious, complex character, showing how war drives people crazy. Apocalypse Now is the most unique war film I have never seen. The journey part where Willard with his team travel to Kurtz's hideout is the highlight of the entire 3-hour film. Coppola puts us directly in the shoes of the soldiers, an experience so weird but all-in-all completely realistic. This film isn't comfortable to watch but that's the point of the whole film... War isn't comfortable is it? Apocalypse Now also has a stunning cinematography by Vittorio Storaro (Won an Academy Award for this film) that brings out the vivid beauty, the strange feeling of being in the wrong place and bleak (Cold and piercing) poetry. And the stunning, infamous ending still amuses me to this date. Truly a genuine classic that future film-makers can take inspiration from.
The only complain I personally have is that in the end there is animal cruelty involved. I know that this element was added intentionally to increase shock (And for artistic presentation of the brutal final conclusion) and I also know that the film-makers were not involved in this as it was a local ritual. Still, using this element was inappropriate for me. So I will rate this film personally 4/5 otherwise it would have been a perfect score from me.
BasakP
''The crew claims that Coppola gave directions to the Ifugao people and brought them many buffalo to slaughter but only used one of the takes.''Still... The water buffalo was killed, and I sobbed for a few minutes...
pixieblood
amazing, so unbeliably fantastic, a must watch for all,BigAwesomeBLT
Really enjoyed the last half hour and everything with Brando. There's a lot of meandering about with quite a straight forward plot that could have been condensed.How did the mail get to them? Did the postman get up the river quicker than Willard did?
Michael12
The ending was absolutely creepy. Beautiful cinematography, Fordcopala did a great job. John Milius's dialogue was masterful.Fester the Sloth
So, i'm finally watching this film (redux version mind you), an hour in, loving every second of it, and then.. The disc refuses to work any further. Gah, bloody rental.Earring72
Watched the original version on blu ray last night. Stunning film looks and sounds TERRIFIC on BR. Powerful movie only let down is the murky ending. But still GREAT GREAT movie!!!!Showing items 1 – 15 of 41