Rent Apocalypse Now (1979)

One of the finest films on the Vietnam war - Apocalypse Now review by RP

'Apocalypse Now' is widely regarded as one of the finest films on the Vietnam war – but having seen it several times now, I am uncertain whether it is a pro- or anti-war film. This is the so-called 'redux' version released in 2001 which includes several scenes cut from the original 1979 version, principally a lengthy scene among a French-colonial plantation owning family. As far as the storyline goes, it is this: Captain Willard (played by Martin Sheen) is tasked with venturing far inland and across the Cambodian border to kill a mysterious Colonel Kurtz (played by an overweight Marlon Brando), a much decorated Special Forces officer who has gone rogue and is operating his own forces outside of any US control. He sails far up the Nung river in a small river patrol boat and on the way encounters a series of bizarre incidents and characters – random senseless killing of innocent civilians, airborne attacks to the music of Wagner, napalm attacks, surfing while under fire, water skiing behind the patrol boat, entertainment by Playboy Playmates etc. And at the end he accomplishes his mission, with Brando echoing the ending of Joseph Conrad's novella 'The Heart Of Darkness', his final words being 'The horror! The horror!'. Be advised that the film is *very* long at 3 hours 14 minutes (PAL DVD) - but it's definitely worth it. Highly recommended - 5/5 stars.

Great... except for *that* scene. - Apocalypse Now review by MN

On the whole I'm a big fan of the redux. Adding a good hour of footage gives it an even more languid and meandering feel as it slowly edges its way up the Nung river and towards its inevitable conclusion, but the plantation scene, as numerous others have noticed proves a big exception. It's too long, boring and heavy-handed, and just feels completely superfluous, especially coming so late in the film when you feel it really ought to be moving towards the main event.

Otherwise, the bluray looks and sounds fantastic - stunning even, and without that one scene, I think this version could be near-as-damnit perfect.

True Masterpiece - Apocalypse Now review by GI

Apocalypse Now remains one of the finest motion pictures I've ever seen. It provides an experience that is rare in film watching, a sense that you are watching something very special and a film that is much much more than what is on the surface. Set during the Vietnam War this is not really a war film although it has combat scenes, for example the helicopter attack on a small village which has reached iconic status in cinema annals, this is a a story that skirts along the edges of fantasy and mysticism questioning along the way humanity's need for war and conflict and the role of a man's soul. Based on Joseph Conrad's novella 'Heart of Darkness', which is set in Africa and not a war story, this is a story of a journey and concerns burned out special forces Captain Willard (Martin Sheen). Desperate for a mission he is sent on a small river patrol boat, with the four man crew, up a river through hostile territory illegally into Cambodia where he has to find and assassinate the rogue American Army Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando). The journey is hazardous in ways unexpected as the men involved have to deal with their inner demons as well as the enemy and the land. There are basically three distinct cuts of this film available, the original Theatrical release, a fuller cut called the Redux version in which all scenes removed for the former cut were reinserted and the Final Cut. It is this last one that is the one to watch. Director Francis Ford Coppola carefully re-edited the film into this cut and in doing so created the film he always intended. It is truly remarkable. As the boat journeys deeper up the river the film takes on elements of a surreal, fantastical story culminating in arriving at Kurtz' 'kingdom'. Coppola's use of light and shadow, colour and mood shakes you into not really knowing what sort of film you're watching. As a consequence it's highly rewarding as it challenges you to understand the themes going on here. In so many ways this is a masterpiece and leaves a deep impression. It's exciting, haunting, enigmatic and quite beautiful. The cast are impeccable. Sheen carries the film, it's his best performance and he's aided by Harrison Ford (in a small role), Albert Hall, Frederic Forrest, Sam Bottoms and a young Laurence Fishburne. But the stand outs are Robert Duvall as the crazy Colonel Kilgore, who leads the attack helicopters, with his love of Wagner, surfing and the smell of napalm; and Marlon Brando as Kurtz, a mesmerising performance and one that you'll not forget - "the horror, the horror". A cinematic masterpiece unequalled since it was first made. A film to savour time and time again and, if it affects you like it has me, a film you'll want to see again and again. It is truly a work of art.