Apocalypse Now

[Dre]

http://www.bizlevity.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/2-apocalypse-now-poste.jpeg

I watched this film for the first time in a long time over the weekend, and boy, after all these years since it's released, it still stands up as a really well done, and generally disturbing and affecting film. I've come to realize through watching it that I really just like everything about it. The acting, the camerawork, the dialogue, etc., etc. It's an imperfect film, as all the great ones are, but it's just amazingly well done, and a classic in my mind.

Some call it "The Best Vietnam Film Ever Made", but personally I don't find it to be that. I mean, it certainly isn't the most realistic Vietnam film ever, not one many can identify with, aside from a few niche side things, and minute aspects. I think it's just a great study of the character Martin Sheen portrays, as well as the one Brando portrays, (also, to add, any time Brando is on the screen, he is goddamn electrifying and brilliant), and the decline of one main's faith in the human race, along with a lot of other complex themes.

But, just generally one of the greatest films ever made. So many classic scenes and quotes, (Duvall's character, "Charlie don't surf", "I love the smell of napalm in the morning", the scene with the tiger, the bridge, anything with Kurtz).

I was just wondering you Baggers's opinions on it. Classic? Garbage?

[N.Y. Johnny]

I love the damn film. Its great of course everyone loves the helicopter attack on the village, but you're right this film has alot of great quotes and scenes in it.

Is it the greatest Vietnam movie ever? I don't think so, but some people do. Definitely a great war flick.

[sd187]

definitely in my top 3 or 4 movies. The best cinematography I've ever seen in a film. Great sound design, editing. If you haven't seen Apocalypse Now Redux, done bother. I found it embarrassingly bad, but the original still holds up completely.

[Budyzir]

Is it the greatest Vietnam war movie? No, it's brilliance cant be bound to genre. It one of the all time greatest movies Hollywood has ever conceived.

Yeah, I kinda like it.

[Ballbuster1]

Love it.

[FAngel]

I'm in an odd spot, because the only version I've seen was the Redux cut, and some people have actually said the added material was unnecessary and detracted from the rest of what was a masterpiece. Does anyone agree/disagree with that? Regardless, I loved the film.

[Dre]

The best cinematography I've ever seen in a film.

QFT. Top notch camerawork. The best I've seen in any film in a while.

I'm in an odd spot, because the only version I've seen was the Redux cut, and some people have actually said the added material was unnecessary and detracted from the rest of what was a masterpiece. Does anyone agree/disagree with that? Regardless, I loved the film.

Watch the original. Far better, and more affecting than the Redux version. Although, I don't think Redux is as bad as some will lead you to believe, I think the length, and added content detracts from the drama and other such devices of the central plot. Watching the original is far more interesting, disturbing, and all around better than the Redux version. It's best, if you own the film to own the "Complete Dossier" version with both copies of the film. That way, you can do your own side by side comparisons, and just understand what Coppola was trying to fully convey to the audience. Yet, in the end, the original still wins out in my mind, and is the better film.

[Ballbuster1]

I'm in an odd spot, because the only version I've seen was the Redux cut, and some people have actually said the added material was unnecessary and detracted from the rest of what was a masterpiece. Does anyone agree/disagree with that? Regardless, I loved the film.
I have both versions. The Redux does get tedious at times.
I'll still watch it but I prefer the original myself.

[kloraferm]

Great, classic movie (I haven't watched it in a few years, gonna have to), but not the best 'Nam movie. I don't know if there is a "best Vietnam movie", but there have definitely been some great ones.

[Snake2k9]

That stupid french plantation scene is what pisses me off the most in the redux version.

[DoucheMeister]

I just threw this on last weekend as well. One of my all time favorites, and I watch it at least once a year.

And yah, I think Duvall got all the best lines.

[nitron]

i haven't seen the "redux" version but i like the "original"

[SuperGolfer]

The "redux" version is interesting to watch maybe once, but the original is the shit (I feel the same way with the Exorcist).

I also agree that Apocalypse Now can't really be called a Vietnam movie, or even a "war" movie. It's this human drama that just happens to be set in Vietnam during the war.

And yes, I know it's based on Conrad's "Heart of Darkness," and I haven't read it (I know, I need to...).

Fun Facts:

Orson Welles was planning to make a HOD movie but for some reason or another it fell apart.

and

George Lucas was originally supposed to direct AN but was too caught up with Star Wars. Coppola didn't want to direct it at all, but wound up having to just to get it made.

[Earth2murf]

i saw it in the theather when i was 12 or 13.Smoked 2 joints in the theather and split a 6 pack with my older brother...oh to be young again....I'm still a fan of the Boys in company C...http://moviegoods.com/Assets/product_images/1020/233710.1020.A.jpg

[silentbob8201]

.
George Lucas was originally supposed to direct AN but was too caught up with Star Wars. Coppola didn't want to direct it at all, but wound up having to just to get it made.

Actually Lucas' film THX 1138 flopped a big donkey dick and Lucas and Coppola's production company had to pay Warners back. So Francis was forced to make the Godfather and Lucas made American Graffiti. Originally Lucas was going to make Apocalypse Now in Vietnam "does the idea sound familiar?" after THX 1138.

[MilkmanDan]

Hard to turn the channel for me if this is on and I'm by myself.
Isolation on both the main chars hits me on a certain chord. Just a great movie.
Dont really look at it as a Vietnam movie.

[dolemyte]

QFT. Top notch camerawork. The best I've seen in any film in a while.



Watch the original. Far better, and more affecting than the Redux version. Although, I don't think Redux is as bad as some will lead you to believe, I think the length, and added content detracts from the drama and other such devices of the central plot. Watching the original is far more interesting, disturbing, and all around better than the Redux version. It's best, if you own the film to own the "Complete Dossier" version with both copies of the film. That way, you can do your own side by side comparisons, and just understand what Coppola was trying to fully convey to the audience. Yet, in the end, the original still wins out in my mind, and is the better film.


x2

The original is a case of less being more. the story is more concentrated which help builds up the tension...

Both are better than the book Heart of Darkness. i tried reading that as an adult (i last read it in school and liked it), god i was bored to tears

[THE FEZ MAN]

love it, i just had the "redux" debate the other day, im split on it, i liked the french plantation scene, but wasn't a big fan of the "mash" scene with the whores. i do like the redux version better than the original because of some of the plot holes in the the original because the "redux" scenes were cut out, it is one of my top 5 films of all time, i think its a dead tie with "blade runner"

[DR. Jimcy M.E.]

I was about to fly into a rage because I thought this was going to be a remake thread.


Good film.

[Cunt Smasher]

Love it. Just fucking surreal in parts. I "found" somewheres a documentary Coppolas wife made,she filmed a shitload of stuff as they were making the movie.

[ruckstande]

My fitness trainer is a Vietnam Vet and I finally asked him on Tuesday, because I never knew a vet, what in his opinion is the best Vietnam flick. He enjoyed "Apocalypse Now" as a film but he thought the best depiction of Vietnam was "We Were Soldiers" followed by "Hamburger Hill". I agree on both of them.

[Beeman99]

The movie is fucking great, but read the book it's based off of. "Heart of Darkness", by Joseph Conrad, is the book the movie is based off of. For as great as the movie is, the book kills it. It's not an easy read though in parts, so if you don't like reading, you won't enjoy. Yes, basically I'm saying if you're stupid, don't read it.


wavey hand

[lockjaaaaww]

Probly my all time favorite movie,One word Classic. I only have the redux version.

[Floyd1977]

The best cinematography I've ever seen in a film.

Too bad every home video release crops the image down from the theatrical aspect ratio.

As for Redux, I with what most people seem to think. It's good as a curiosity, but mostly slows the film down (the Plantation scene brings it to a dead halt). And there's one extra scene that makes Kilgore look douchy, which should have made the universe collape on itself. I will say that some of the extra scenes have some good female nudity (the French chick was pretty hot)

[wyattj]

I had a high school teacher pull me out of normal English class and gave the assignment of watching the film. He had about 10 of us around the school, in different classrooms watching it. the school put in on one of their channels.
We later got together to discuss the movie, what we thought of Viet Nam, what it meant to us. This was my junior year of high school, 1984.

I loved that teacher for showing me this film, explaining what the movie was trying to say (Marine, ground pounder who was there, came back, taught phys ed, became vice principal). I learned how to watch a movie for what was there and to appreciate how it was made. Not just for Ghostbusters special effects. Why shading. Why present Kurtz as he was. Fantastic movie.

[Hudson]

Only movie I ever saw my Dad get furious about that had something to do with Vietnam.
He called CBS when it aired unedited in the 80's..that said..best lines:

"Who're you?"
"I'm Next."

[lockjaaaaww]

I had a high school teacher pull me out of normal English class and gave the assignment of watching the film. He had about 10 of us around the school, in different classrooms watching it. the school put in on one of their channels.
We later got together to discuss the movie, what we thought of Viet Nam, what it meant to us. This was my junior year of high school, 1984.

I loved that teacher for showing me this film, explaining what the movie was trying to say (Marine, ground pounder who was there, came back, taught phys ed, became vice principal). I learned how to watch a movie for what was there and to appreciate how it was made. Not just for Ghostbusters special effects. Why shading. Why present Kurtz as he was. Fantastic movie.

When I was a senior one of my tech teachers showed us full metal jacket,not in the same sence as how you watched apocalypse now but simply because my class was full of trublemakers and it was saposta teach us discipline.