Five out of Five

Rating: 10/10 (25 September 2017)

Apocalypse Now (1979) is a film that takes place during the Vietnam War, following the quest by a Captain Willard, the protagonist, to find and kill a rogue United States' Colonel that has allegedly gone insane. Captain Willard travels with a band of soldier in the Navy, and along the way, they encounter the Vietcong, native people, other United States troops, and even a wild tiger.
At the start of the film, Captain Willard is tormented by the confines of civilization after having completed one tour in Vietnam already. The effects of PTSD are evident in his struggles, and the detrimental effects of war on a person's mental health are commonly displayed throughout the movie. Several soldiers demonstrate various effects of PTSD, ranging from nervous breakdowns, panic attacks, and warped views on what is moral.
As the plot progresses, the group travels into increasingly hostile territory. At the first encounter of the enemy, the group is escorted to a drop point by an attack squad of helicopters that decimates a small beachfront village. This is the first example of many of the theme of American disregard for the people of Vietnam and the perceived power that Americans had abroad. The theme itself provided social commentary on the immorality of American actions throughout the war; one such example is how, after destroying a village, a band of American soldiers are only concerned with surfing.
As the band of soldiers moves down the fictional Nung River, they are constantly on edge and weary of what lies ahead. A thread throughout the movie is a hazy atmosphere, originating from either fog or smoke from fire/weapons. The hazy atmosphere is symbolic of the uncertainty and indecision the soldiers face as they move through the terrain; for many of the soldiers, there is no clear understanding of why they are fighting, or when they will be able to go home.
In addition to a hazy atmosphere, darkness is another common aspect of the cinematography. Particularly in close shots on the faces of Captain Willard and Colonel Kurtz, shadows and limited light are used to symbolize the pain and conflict the men are feeling from what they see while they are abroad.
The film Apocalypse Now is a thought-provoking movie regarding American involvement in the Vietnam War. The questions the film raises regarding the morality of war and the duties of soldiers are reinforced by showing a number of internal struggles throughout the film. In the context of many archetypal patterns, I would recommend this movie to anyone for a more serious, engaging war movie. Five out of five stars.