A film for the ages, this haunting venture into the darkness of war and mankind is one of Coppola's best works.

Rating: 10/10 (8 February 2015)

Francis Ford Coppola delivers the unexpected with 'Apocalypse Now', revolutionising the 'war genre' and allows the true ugly face of war to rear its head on screen. Based on the novella 'Heart of Darkness' by Joseph Conrad, Coppola takes Conrad's tale of insanity, savagery and the darkness of man's heart, and brings it into moving life within the harsh reality of the Vietnam war. As I mentioned, Coppola delivers the unexpected. When the film begins, there is no John Wayne figure fighting a romanticised war, with the sun shining at his back. Instead we witness the breakdown of Captain Willard, a broken man, stumbling through the darkness of his hotel room, caught up in a traumatised delirium as he awaits the 'mission' that he longs for; setting the tone for the rest of the film, and Captain Willard himself.
From these first few moments, we are sent into a downward spiral, along with Willard, into the heart of darkness. Every step of this journey, both physically and metaphorically is masterfully crafted by Coppola, through the haunting soundtrack and cinematography, to the harrowing performances from the cast. To watch 'Apocalypse Now' is to truly be immersed in the Vietnam war, and all its darkest horrors, making the film feel completely separated from the 'war genre'. Instead, it very quickly begins to feel like a psychological thriller, or even horror. This becomes all the more apparent towards the climax of the film with the dying words "The horror...the horror" uttered by the mad Colonel Kurtz. A true summation I believe, of Coppola's vision for the film.
I could not recommend this film enough, especially if you're a lover of film, as for me, 'Apocalypse Now' is part of the fabric of masterful cinema. Its imagery will stay in your mind's eye, its sounds will linger in your ears, and its message will remain in your thoughts.