padam
Well-Known Member
Apocalypse Now Redux is currently on Netflix, and I have been watching it in bits over the last few weeks, as it is over 3 hours long. It got me to thinking: is this the most overrated war film ever made?
I have seen this movie (original and this version) probably a dozen times over the years. As a matter of fact, my father took me to see it in the theater when it was originally there. This was a thing he did that was uncharacteristic of my childhood, as my mother was very religious and would not let us go to R rated movies.
My father passed away on October 29th. He had a lot of war movies on VHS. One of them was the original "All Quiet on the Western Front." I told my son that it was probably the greatest war film ever made. My father told me he saw it in the early 50's and that he delayed enlisting because of it. (He did eventually enlist in the Air Force.) So in honor of my father's recent passing, we sat down and watched it. I still rate it as the greatest war film I've seen. I'm not too sure what my son thought, as he is not a big fan of the genre.
But back to Apocalypse Now and its flaws. SPOILER ALERT!
Plot holes, off the top of my head:
-If it was so tough to get into the Nung River (necessitating the costly assault by Kilgore’s Air Cav), why were there already other bases, patrol boats, and USO shows up there. Why not fly him up to the last outpost?
-When they meet the other patrol boats, you would think they would exchange info of some sort.
-In the attack where Clean gets killed, it looks like they are moving through some kind of communist family picnic, but no one is on alert.
-Once in Kurtz's camp, why didn't any of his people (especially Green Beret Colby) just waste Willard?
Technical issues, from a civilian with no military background, again off the top of my head:
-The one that jumps out at me most is again the scene where Clean gets killed. The rounds coming from the shore line are obviously some type of fireworks, they look like roman candles to me.
-The initial battle where they met the Air Cav, just does not seem realistic from the standpoint of how heavy the fighting was, as to how soon they were cooking steaks.
-When they stop the sampan, you would think with as many rounds they put into it, it would have sunk in about 10 seconds.
-The Redux version has some sillynous added, such as when Willard (a Captain) steals Kilgore's surfboard. Later he is smoking opium with the French woman.
The movie was visually stunning at the time it came out, and put on display many of the stereotypes we have of the Vietnam War. The soundtrack also adds to the effect. So as a film, it is entertaining.
But to contrast it with the understated reality of All Quiet on the Western Front, I do believe it is overrated.
I have seen this movie (original and this version) probably a dozen times over the years. As a matter of fact, my father took me to see it in the theater when it was originally there. This was a thing he did that was uncharacteristic of my childhood, as my mother was very religious and would not let us go to R rated movies.
My father passed away on October 29th. He had a lot of war movies on VHS. One of them was the original "All Quiet on the Western Front." I told my son that it was probably the greatest war film ever made. My father told me he saw it in the early 50's and that he delayed enlisting because of it. (He did eventually enlist in the Air Force.) So in honor of my father's recent passing, we sat down and watched it. I still rate it as the greatest war film I've seen. I'm not too sure what my son thought, as he is not a big fan of the genre.
But back to Apocalypse Now and its flaws. SPOILER ALERT!
Plot holes, off the top of my head:
-If it was so tough to get into the Nung River (necessitating the costly assault by Kilgore’s Air Cav), why were there already other bases, patrol boats, and USO shows up there. Why not fly him up to the last outpost?
-When they meet the other patrol boats, you would think they would exchange info of some sort.
-In the attack where Clean gets killed, it looks like they are moving through some kind of communist family picnic, but no one is on alert.
-Once in Kurtz's camp, why didn't any of his people (especially Green Beret Colby) just waste Willard?
Technical issues, from a civilian with no military background, again off the top of my head:
-The one that jumps out at me most is again the scene where Clean gets killed. The rounds coming from the shore line are obviously some type of fireworks, they look like roman candles to me.
-The initial battle where they met the Air Cav, just does not seem realistic from the standpoint of how heavy the fighting was, as to how soon they were cooking steaks.
-When they stop the sampan, you would think with as many rounds they put into it, it would have sunk in about 10 seconds.
-The Redux version has some sillynous added, such as when Willard (a Captain) steals Kilgore's surfboard. Later he is smoking opium with the French woman.
The movie was visually stunning at the time it came out, and put on display many of the stereotypes we have of the Vietnam War. The soundtrack also adds to the effect. So as a film, it is entertaining.
But to contrast it with the understated reality of All Quiet on the Western Front, I do believe it is overrated.