Apocalypse Now

[Billy Cox]

I was 8 years old when this movie came out in 1979, so I had never seen it before. The best way for me to describe the film is to note that I laughed alot during the first half (the funny side of insanity) and did not laugh at all during the latter half. (the disturbing side of insanity)

The overall theme of the movie is that war makes people lose their grip on reality. The main character is sent on a mission to kill an American colonel who has gone crazy, ventured into Cambodia and is operating on his own authority.

The memorable lines come mostly from the 'funny' part of the film. "I love the smell of napalm in the morning." "Charlie don't surf!!" The helicopter attack on a VC base is also (darkly) humorous because of the musical score, 'Ride of the Valkyries' and because Sergeant Kilgore's men take advantage of the prime surfing conditions while the battle is still wrapping up.


Since the entire plot moves toward finding and killing the rogue American colonel, the monologues by the colonel are vehicles for the central messages of the movie - namely that America could not win a war against savages because it was not willing to adopt savage methods.

One of the darker quotes:
"...charging a man with murder in this place was like handing out speeding tickets in the Indy 500."

[Ian Gentles]

Seen it a few times, yea its a disturbing movie, but true regaurds people removed from civilised reality. What we do best to folks in war.

[Ryan Scott]

Did you see the original cut or the Redux that came out a few years ago?

[Billy Cox]

Original...but from what I have read about the movie I know that there is some controversy about an alternate ending. Coppola insists that there is not an alternate ending and since it's his movie, I'll take his word for it.

I have not seen Redux.

[Ryan Scott]

I was just wondering. I haven't actually seen either one, but the Redux is significantly longer and all my movie snob friends say "it's a totally different movie." I think they mean in a good way. Maybe some day I'll have time to compare them myself.

[Billy Cox]

Well of course Redux is a different movie. One would expect that a movie made 30+ years after Vietnam would have something to say that was not possible in 1979.

I suppose I will have to watch it and find out.

[Ryan Scott]

Redux used all the same film. It was essentially a director's cut of the original film that the studios nixed at the time. I'm sure it was little different than it would have been in 1979, but the same film was used.