Metaphorically, a better adaptation of Conrad than most give it credit for

Rating: Null/10 (5 January 2000)

And metaphorically is how one must approach this movie. Just as imperial European powers confronted their "hearts of darkness" deep in the African continent, the United States finally had to confront its own in the jungles of Vietnam.
But if moral judgement was all Coppola had been trying to do, this would be remembered only as a pretty good film. What makes it a great one is that Coppola, following his character Kurtz's advise, does not judge, either the individuals in the film (including Kurtz) or the U.S. as a whole. I do not see this film as an overt condemnation of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, just a brilliant look at the ramifications of that involvement. Nor is it an anti-war picture in any blatant way -- the attack on the Vietnamese village led by Kilgore and his choppers can be viewed several ways, depending upon what one's own feelings are. War is glorious, futile, exhilarating, chaotic, and savage all at the same time, and that sequence, the best shot sequence ever put on film, is all of it at once.
Finally, the use of music and sound in the film was incredible! From Wagner and the "superman-esque" scene we gradually evolve into a haunting almost new age sound before ending up with, fittingly, "The End" by the Doors. Along the way, Coppola builds up the appearance of Kurtz to an almost unbearable level; then Brando's off-beat, off-rhythm performance fits the almost un-earthly landscape Sheen and crew find themselves in.

I don't know if this is the best film ever made, but its damned close!