Apocalypse Now--Important Vietnam War Movie

Rating: 9/10 (20 March 2011)

Apocalypse Now (1979) chronicles a decorated and respected Captain who is sent on a mission to locate and terminate a fellow green beret who has "gone rogue." Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) learns of his mission and is instantly mesmerized by the eccentric Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando) who appears to have established a camp in Cambodia and has effectively gone AWOL from his military duties in the Vietnam War. During his trip up the Nung River, Willard encounters many conflicts and loses half of the Navy crew who is escorting him upriver. Upon reaching Colonel Kurtz's camp, Willard quickly realizes that those who have remained at the compound are under the spell of their charismatic leader. They firmly believe in his cause and regard him as a hero. Among those living at the compound are numerous dead bodies and severed heads lying around—presumably to warn anyone who is considering removing Colonel Kurtz from his post.
This film is primarily plot-driven and uses period-specific music to convey emotion and stress. The Vietnam War, having only just ended a few years prior to the filming of this movie, was the underlying theme of this film. All of the struggles faced by soldiers—political, emotional, physical, and psychological—are documented in this picture. The beginning of the movie starts with Willard reminiscing about his previous tour in Vietnam, and we know from the voice over that he wants to return to Vietnam. He states that he is waiting for his next mission. However, when the two soldiers come to give him orders, he is visibly shaken and seems to be reluctant to return to war. He finally receives his orders, only to learn that his mission is to terminate one of his own—a highly regarded Colonel no less. Following the trials of young soldiers sent to Vietnam to fight a long and difficult war and the aftermath of psychological issues is a theme present in many movies, like Platoon for example.
Sound effects were very important to this movie. Most of what we learn about Willard is conveyed via voice-over, and he shows little to no emotion in this film. He speaks to the viewer matter-of-factly, and the music or sound effects in the background assist in conveying emotion and stress or creating anticipation. Also important to the film was the use of natural lighting. Since this movie was shot on location, the director took advantage of the natural beauty of the surroundings as well as using the natural light to create the proper atmosphere for the various scenes. For example, while filming the scene where the soldiers are sitting around a campfire, the only light in the scene is the glow from the campfire. This makes the viewer feel as if he or she is actually there on that beach with the rest of the unit.
Movies about war serve to remind us that we should never take the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families for granted.