Impressive & powerful after all these years

Rating: 9/10 (23 November 2001)

*May Contain Spoilers* *May Contain Spoilers*
This year see the re-release of one of all time classic, Apocalypse Now. The film Francis Ford Coppola directed in 1979 and has received the Palm D'Or in Cannes the same year. The film which is loosely based on Joseph Conrad's novel:Heart of Darkness, has been digitally re-mastered, had an extra 50 minutes added to it and at length of 195 minutes is worth every minute and every effort to see it. With some striking images and a story which takes it time to fold the movie remains as powerful as it was 22 years ago.
Some of the movie's power lies in the fact that Coppola wasn't afraid to show what he think about the war in Vietnam. You can guess that he was not in favor of it and he also show the effect it had on the simple soldiers that have to fight in an impossible situation. The story follows Cap. Willard (Martin Sheen) in his mission to find a execute one Col. Kurtz (Marlon Brando) who according to the army's chiefs has gone astray, building his own army and not following orders any more. While the story centered on this premise, one should take note to the character of Lance B. Johnson (Sam Bottoms) because he seems to represent America. Lance is America, America is Lance. His image of the clean all American boy in the beginning of the film, is the image of America when it got involved in the war. His image at the end of the film is how America ended this war, spirit broken, confused and wounded.
As for the extra 50 minutes there are 2 important extra sequences each one serve for another purpose. Of the 2, the one which involve Willard's encounter with the French is one of importance because it gives the historical context to the war which was missing from the original version. It also show that The American seems to make the same mistakes(USA has created the Vietcong and now fighting it) all over again.
Since it first release, I have watched this film more than once and every time I have found a new angle to look at it a new thing I haven't notice before. And yet though I think that it is film everyone should see, and more than once will be better, I do not think that this is a film with no flaws. The whole last part, which takes place in Col. Kurtz' camp remains a little un-clear. At the end of the movie I didn't feel that I know about Kurtz more than I knew about him in the beginning of the film, nor did I have more knowledge to his motives and action. The ending is open to interpretation and my guess about it is as good anyone else guess.
Nevertheless, this is a must see movie. Relevant today as it was 22 years ago. The combination of all the elements (excellent photography by Vittorio Storaro) makes a film which is still disturbing and powerful after all these years.