It’s a trippy movie that I like but it’s not a watch anytime I can sort of flick.

If you want trippy video game with some Apocalypse Now elements give Spec Ops The Line a play through, to the end. I don’t think it got the praise it deserved.

Excellent film. To understand might wish to read Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Lots of similarites besides the obvious Imperialism.

I was waiting for someone to chime in with that. Redux is almost a perfect companion piece for "Heart of Darkness".

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Excellent film. To understand might wish to read Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Lots of similarites besides the obvious Imperialism.

I’ve never read Heart of Darkness, but I’m curious about the “obvious Imperialism.” What do you mean?

Colonialism might be more appropriate. I have read Heart of Darkness and other Joseph Conrad books. Maritime commerce and Colonial outposts are common themes.

OK, now make the connection to he United States in Vietnam

I wasn't trying to establish any kind of connection to begin with. Just clarifying something about part of the source material for you, based on your quote of ZSMICHAEL.

Coppola apparently took the Conrad story and put it in a Vietnam setting.

Chef was right- never get out of the boat.


"Hey, soldier. Do you know who's in command here?"

"Yeah"



From time to time, I've talked about movies-as-meditation; films you can watch in sort of a trance. Any meaning the film may have is suspended, and you watch it as if you were sitting in a corner at a party, half-buzzed, just enjoying the interactions you see before your eyes, passing no judgements.

The Redux version of this film is like that for me.

Here's scene which appears only in that version. Love it. This clip is dubbed in French, but as I said, it doesn't matter.

Thanks, KSGM, I guess ZSMICHAEL is up.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Excellent film. To understand might wish to read Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Lots of similarites besides the obvious Imperialism.

Wasn’t it directly based on or inspired by that book?

I seem to recall hearing that from a Vietnam vet professor I had in a Vietnam war history class.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PASig,

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
From time to time, I've talked about movies-as-meditation; films you can watch in sort of a trance. Any meaning the film may have is suspended, and you watch it as if you were sitting in a corner at a party, half-buzzed, just enjoying the interactions you see before your eyes, passing no judgements.

The Redux version of this film is like that for me.

I can see the appeal of the extended cut, in that context. Otherwise, I prefer the shorter one. The Redux does draw more from some of the Conrad source material too; especially the French outpost scene.

"There's no fucking CO here."

Bought the cassette tape soundtrack back in the day. A time or two I enjoyed sitting in the dark stoned while listening to it from start to finish.

Yeah, I dig this movie.

quote:

Wasn’t it directly based on or inspired by that book?

^^^^^^^^^^^
Yes, It served as inspiration.

Wow. I have not seen this movie in decades. Probably on a shitty worn out VHS tape; might be time for a rewatch.

“Never get out of the boat. Absolutely goddamn right. Unless you were goin' all the way. Kurtz got off the boat. He split from the whole fuckin' program.” Cpt. Willard

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
This movie is available on Netflix. I distinctly remember that I saw the movie in the theater by myself. I’ve never really solidified my view of this movie. I’ve seen it a few times and it seems like every time I do my take on it is different.

I haven’t decided if I’m going to watch the movie, yet again. I’m about 30 minutes into it.

I DID watch the entire movie and this time I liked it. I did some research, the movie was nominated for Best Picture and Best Director, but Kramer vs. Kramer was the big winner that year. Duvall was nominated for Best Actor, Supporting Role for his portrayal of Kilgore, but Melvyn Douglas won (he did win that award in one or two other places). Apocalypse Now won an AA for Cinematography and Sound. I was surprised Sheen wasn’t nominated.

I thought the colored smoke grenades throughout the movie was kind of weird. Fog and mist and smoke were, I’ll guess, a metaphor for the ambiguity of Kurtz and Willard and the War. Still the many scenes with unexplained colored smoke drifting through the 3C was strange.

One reviewer said, “Some call it a war movie which it isn't at all, really it is more of a personal study of man.” He might be right.

I watched AN in a theater when it first came out. It was nearly the end of its run. I had an afternoon off and went to a midweek matinee. I was the only one in the theater! Talk about intense.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
OK, now make the connection to he United States in Vietnam

Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad, book from 1899) and Things Fall Apart (Chenua Achebe, book from 1958) are both super famous and lauded novels that are decidedly dark and are generally agreed to be about the effects of colonialism, and the darkness of man/humanity, though from differing perspectives...

Conrad the author is a white Englishman, Achebe the author a Nigerian; this difference and a few others exist between the novels, but both are university level case studies (figuratively) regarding "the darkness of man", told through an anti colonialism context, however obvious or not in the storytelling - page by page...

Whatever connection (real or perceived) all that has to America and/in Vietnam is definitely coming from the filmmaker (Coppola) and whatever biases he had at the time, though one can reasonably assume he was taking a shot at English/American colonialism/imperialism from a liberal perspective, which makes sense given that Coppola is a lifelong Democrat and an "Artist" / filmmaker.

He makes great films, regardless, including Apocalypse Now, but that's what all that's about - basically. It's been years since I've thought about these things, but that's the gist.

Acknowledged, 46and2

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Excellent film. To understand might wish to read Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Lots of similarites besides the obvious Imperialism.

Wasn’t it directly based on or inspired by that book?

I seem to recall hearing that from a Vietnam vet professor I had in a Vietnam war history class.

Yes, it is based on "Heart of Darkness." Obviously, the movie is loosely based on the novella, but some events and many of the themes of the stories are common to both.