Epic about Vietnam

Rating: 8/10 (15 September 2001)

This is a ground breaking visionary film. The acting is excellent. I do have some problems with it, however. Martin Sheen's character does not desend into madness as I think was intended - he is already there from the beginning. I think the film would much more powerful if we saw this change in him as he got sucked deeper and deeper into the Heart of Darkness as the film progresses. As it is, it is hard to identify with or relate to any of the characters. I think some people like the ambiguity of the film, but I suspect that ambiguity stems from the divergent political viewpoints of the writers, Milius and Coppola, as opposed to it being carefully and purposely structured into the story. Having said all that, it is quite an impressive piece of work.