[fporretto]

Though much here is true, I must dispute the characterization of Apocalypse Now as an anti-war movie.

Apocalypse Now was about contradictions and what they do to men's minds.

Kurtz was driven insane by the contradictions of the war, a war in which America tried to create a viable, defensible South Vietnamese nation without any support from the South Vietnamese themselves, a war in which Vietcong monsters willing to hack off children's arms sheltered among the very people America was trying to defend, a war which the commanders above him would not permit him to fight effectively, even though he could prove that his methods would work. Willard was at the edge of insanity, remaining functional only because he had a mission to focus on. The Dennis Hopper character was perhaps the best give-away that the movie's focus was on the personal deterioration that accompanied sustained immersion in contradictions that enveloping and savage.

In interpreting this masterpiece of a movie, remember that Kurtz himself agrees with the decision to have him killed, and facilitates his own execution. Compare his bludgeoning to death with the exactly parallel sacrifice of the ox by the Montagnards whom Kurtz had gathered around him, while befuddled American soldier Lance Johnson looks on. And regard the exit scene, in which Willard the executioner presents himself to the Montagnards immediately after killing Kurtz, and, instead of taking his life in payment, they disperse.

When rationality fails, all that remains is the Leader's will. When the Leader falls, nothing remains at all.

Apocalypse Now is a fitting cinematic epitaph to the War in Vietnam and the 56,000 brave Americans who died there, vainly trying to defend a country that was not a country, with one hand tied behind their backs and their legs hobbled by commanders that would not permit them to win.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit the Palace Of Reason:
http://palaceofreason.com

[weikel]

I agree Apocalypse Now was more an indictment of the incompetence of the top leaders as far as Vietnam. The main character was sent to kill one of the few commanders who had been consistently effective.

[The Other Harry]

Though much here is true, I must dispute the characterization of Apocalypse Now as an anti-war movie...

Excellent post. You obviously have a much better understanding of the movie than does the author of the original article.

[uncbob]

Apocalypse Now is a fitting cinematic epitaph

Tried to watch it once and couldn't
Same goes for all the other Vietnam movies

[Lunatic Fringe]

Apocalypse Now had the greatest battle scene of all time, "The Flight of the Valkyries."

"Turn on psych-war ops... make it LOUD!"

[JohnGalt]

Clearly, the author is not fit to be commenting on 'the movies' or the multiple attempts to bring Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness to film.

Funny how the author fails to mention that Frank Capra was investigated by the FBI in the late 40s for putting Communists propoganda in his films. Why again did the Hollywood Pacificsts become Hollywood internationalists circa June 1941?

[Jonah Hex]

You may be reading too much into Apocalypse Now. Remember, the movie is just Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" moved from the Congo to Vietnam. Conrad wrote about the contridictions of Kurtz, a "civilized" European, dealing with uncivilized African realities. The message was the same, irregardless whether the setting was the Belgium Congo or Indochina.

The credit for the Apocalypse Now message belongs to Conrad. Now, back to "Nostromo"....

[nfldgirl]

Apocalypse Now is a fitting cinematic epitaph to the War in Vietnam and the 56,000 brave Americans who died there, vainly trying to defend a country that was not a country, with one hand tied behind their backs and their legs hobbled by commanders that would not permit them to win.

I can't tell you enough of how this sickens me...every time I think about it...that 56,000+ AMERICANS-- BRAVE AMERICANS--died because of our government. My hope and prayer is that this never happens again.

[AD from SpringBay]

Apocalypse Now was about contradictions and what they do to men's minds.

Isn't Apocalypse Now based on The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.