Thank goodness for the fast forward button on the remote

Rating: 7/10 (16 July 2002)

This movie has many powerful scenes. It deserves it's status as an American film classic. However, I found the redux version way too long. I felt some of the restored scenes in the movie took away from the flow. Especially out of place was the scene where they arrive at the French plantation. I think the picture does a good job of conveying the hopelessness and confusion that probably existed in the battlefield. Duval's character was my favorite of the film. His character's willingness to attack a difficult target was more inspired by his desire to surf on the beach than to accomplish a military goal. I think that conveyed a sense of the way that some military decisions were made. However, I didn't buy the Kurtz character. I thought Brando's acting was great, but the situation of him forming his own little army to fight the war was too outlandish. Oh well, certainly a classic, I think I'll take the original over the Redux, and I think I would have prefered a more believable conclusion.