Opinons on Apocalypse Now (films, history, war, Saving Private Ryan)
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I loved Apocalypse Now, and would indeed list it as one of my favorite War Movies of all time.
I do not think, however, that I could say it is the "best" war flick ever.
That would be a difficult choice, since there are movies on different wars and of different types, or philosophies.
For example: how can you compare Apocalypse with, say, Platoon? The former was done is a very surrealistic manner, with a lot of metaphor and allegory in it. (It was also based on the novel "The Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad, which was not even set in the Vietnam war, but rather in the Belgian Congo several decades ago.
And the main theme of that book was not really even war, per se, but rather the philosophy the a "heart of darkness" (an evil twin, if you will) lies in every man.
While Platoon was done in a very realistic style, and meant not really to make a philosophical statement like Apocalypse was. I work with veterans and have been told by many Vietnam vets that they feel Platoon is the most realistic of all Nam movies, insofar as depicting the everyday life of the common soldier.
So it is almost like apples and oranges to compare the two. I love them both.
I also think you almost have to put Vietnam movies in their own category. It was such a different war than from WWII, or WWI or even Iraq. And the mindset and feelings surrounding it were also very unique.
APOCALYPSE NOW is a great movie. A classic. But is it a great Vietnam War movie? No. Because it really isn't about Vietnam. It's Heart of Darkness. It's about war in general -- and evil and violence. It is set in the Vietnam War, but only in a very operatic fashion. It's more myth than any attempt at history.
As far as which movie is the best depiction of Vietnam, I can only go by what my dad tells me, who loves movies and served in Vietnam. He loves APOCALYPSE NOW, though he'll be the first to tell you it's pure fiction. He says the most accurate movie he's ever seen that reminded him of the war was PLATOON. The worst is easily THE GREEN BERETS, which was just propaganda, and Kubrick's FULL METAL JACKET, which was just a rant -- and not a good one.
APOCALYPSE NOW is a great movie. A classic. But is it a great Vietnam War movie? No. Because it really isn't about Vietnam. It's Heart of Darkness. It's about war in general -- and evil and violence. It is set in the Vietnam War, but only in a very operatic fashion. It's more myth than any attempt at history.
As far as which movie is the best depiction of Vietnam, I can only go by what my dad tells me, who loves movies and served in Vietnam. He loves APOCALYPSE NOW, though he'll be the first to tell you it's pure fiction. He says the most accurate movie he's ever seen that reminded him of the war was PLATOON. The worst is easily THE GREEN BERETS, which was just propaganda, and Kubrick's FULL METAL JACKET, which was just a rant -- and not a good one.
You need to read my post on the origin of Apocalypse Now and what book it was based on. As I said,the novel was not really about war at all.
You need to read my post on the origin of Apocalypse Now and what book it was based on. As I said,the novel was not really about war at all.
Yep. I agree with you for the most part. Conrad's novel wasn't about war. But Coppola's movie was. Not Vietnam specifically so much as war itself, the seduction of violence, the inhumanity of organized killing, etc.
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