The Greatest Film of All Time

Rating: 10/10 (24 March 1999)

This is not only the greatest WAR film of all time, but it is (in MY opinion) the greatest film EVER made. So monumentally gargantuan in scope, this picture effortlessly handles the taboo topic of the hidden, dark side of mankind. Each character is a pleasure to watch from Duvall's over-the-top "Col. Kilgore", to Brando's broken, life-weary "Col. Kurtz". They all demonstrate a facet of humanity that sometimes brutally displays the utter beast that lies deep inside of all of us. As far as a "War" film goes, it is TOTALLY untouchable. Films like "Deer Hunter", "Full Metal Jacket", and "Platoon" are all great, but fall short of the greatness that "Apocalypse Now" has acheived. "Full Metal Jacket"'s first half (the Marine training at Parris Island) is stunning and flawless. Soon after though, it treads into territory that damn near noone can relate to. Not everyone is a killing machine like "Joker". You may say that noone can relate to "Kurtz" but I seriously doubt that given the same circumstances, you would not be questioning the very fabric of humanity the way he does. In "Platoon" we are faced with incredible force, and great story, but muddled dialoge, and a sense of aloofness in our main character leave us at bay.
You would also be hard-pressed to find a motion picture more beautifully filmed than "Apocalypse Now". I've seen the cream of the crop as far as cinematography is concerned, and nothing comes close to Vittorio Stararo's breath-taking view of warfare. This film is just candy to the eye for those who can appreciate quality filmmaking. Many say that the film was "incredible... ...up until Brando came in". To be honest, that is when the film came to its hightest point. This is when the film REALLY challenged your REAL views on mankind. I'm no pyscho, but I felt as though many of the declarations Col. Kurtz was making on humanity were right on. Also, Dennis Hopper's eccentric, burnt-out photo journalist is a real treat to witness as slowly, Martin Sheen's "Cpt. Willard" realizes he isn't all that different from them.
Coppola declares himself that he didn't care for the ending very much. It was the ending that will stay in my memory forever. Talk about true power in cinema, NOW you have it. I've never seen anything like it. Even the breath-taking introduction of "Saving Private Ryan" can't come close to the ending that Coppola didn't even intend to make. Amazing.
There are plenty of classic moments in this picture (the helicopter invasion to "Flight of the Valkiries"; the "mini May Li massacre" aboard the PBR; Willard's spiritual darkside in the hotel room at the beginning...) the list goes on and on. Only in a film this great can people truly see themselves and the dark, remorse-less nature that we embody. There is nothing that I have ever seen that will come close to this spellbinding movie experience.