Cinematic Masterpiece!

Rating: 10/10 (27 June 1999)

This brilliant war epic is a testament to the turmoil Francis Ford Coppola and his family went through in making this film. Along with Martin Sheen's heart attack, Marlon Brando's ego and Dennis Hopper forgetting his lines, Coppola had to deal with budgeting problems, the weather and the antics of the Phillipines government. The journey which Martin Sheen takes is not only down the river, but a journey within himself. The movie deals with a number of issues and is lifted by the supperb cast. It was a stroke of genius to drop Harvey Keitel as Captain Willard and put Sheen in his place. This is definitely one of the great films of all time. The film was Beautifully shot and duly one an Academy award for cinematography.The highlight of this was illustrated in the helicopter scene which was set to the tune of Ride of the Valkyries. The most remembable line of the film would have to be "I Love the smell of Napalm in the morning" which was uttered by Robert Duvall. Another notable line was said right at the end of the film by Marlon Brando, "the horror. the horror". This film is very deep and is best watched late at night in complete darkness for full effect.This film is a long journey into oneself that turns into something that defies belief and stretches the imagination. The movie's ending lets the rest of the story down, but it still is a cinematic masterpiece.