A Great War Film That Transforms Into A Symbolistic Thriller

Rating: 8/10 (2 January 2015)

There were long periods of the film in which I was wowed by the brilliance of the cinematography and the spur-of-the-moment decisions from Coppola. When the movie finished, I felt as if the final half-hour let the film down. However it is the final half hour that, for the past seven hours since finishing, I can't stop thinking about. There is so much symbolism and hidden layers to everything that happens that I'm both excited to watch it again and terrified. All I can say to you is that Apocalypse Now is for two hours an extraordinary film that jumps from a fast- paced, balls-to-the-wall action film to a slow-moving war drama faster than it jumps scenes. The final act, however, will leave you twisted, confused and unsure of how you feel about the film as a whole. Ultimately, I think that Apocalypse Now is an iconic film that everyone should experience.