Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Apocalypse Now #atozchallenge




         Apocalypse Now is a film that is often misunderstood.   War vets with whom I've discussed this film say that it is unrealistic.  Historians will claim that it is an inaccurate depiction of the Vietnam War.  They are correct in both cases.   Inspired by the Joseph Conrad novel Heart of Darkness, the film is actually a surrealistic metaphor about the nature of evil and the corruption of the human spirit.   Apocalypse Now is a dream film that I liken in many ways to The Wizard of Oz.   In both films the main characters are on a journey to reconnect to their inner selves.  They meet unusual characters along the way and have strange adventures.

         If you don't like movies that depict war and violence then you might be put off by this film.  Keep in mind though that this film is essentially a dream, a nightmare.    There are memorable scenes in the film that will stay with you long after you've seen this film.  For greater insight about the making of Apocalypse Now you might also enjoy watching the documentary Hearts of Darkness which describes the ordeals that the cast and crew went through.

          Have you seen Apocalypse Now?   Do you see it as being more of a fantasy than a realistic war film?  Are you familiar with Conrad's Heart of Darkness?

Enhanced by Zemanta

9 comments:

  1. i have seen bits and pieces of it but I find it just way too graphic and a subject that I have zero interest in.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love that comparison to The Wizard of Oz. I know everyone seems to only remember the beach scene and the famous line, but the movie is deep and well written. Not typical from a war movie.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nope, never seen it - don't plan to! I hate war movies, and honestly anything violent - says the girl who writes murder mysteries. Yeah, I make sense! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  4. I haven't seen it, but I should. Your comments make it even more intriguing to me, because I thought it was another war movie in the company of The Deer Hunter (which I have seen).

    ReplyDelete
  5. JoJo -- It's not a film for everyone.

    Sydney -- I agree about the writing and the depth. The bridge/LSD trip scene stands out for me.

    Yolanda -- You're missing a great film!

    Tamara -- I think The Deer Hunter is also an excellent film but with a very different approach than Apocalypse Now. I like the surrealism.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  6. I never would have linked the movie to The Wizard of Oz on my own, but yes, I see the connection.

    I saw the movie when it was first released...now I want to watch it again!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I thought it was really weird when I first saw it. in subsequent viewings, definitely liked it better. The comparison to the Wizard of Oz is interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Since it's a journey movie where a group of characters are on a quest to find a mysterious person--the Wizard and Kurtz--I think they're very similar. In both the characters encounter very strange situations along there journeys.

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've never seen this movie. I just watched the trailer and it only confirmed why I've never seen it! I'm not a great war movie fan, but your description of it makes it sound a lot more interesting. I though it was your typical, but talking about it as a dream movie, a finding your way back to yourself movie, that makes it more attractive to me.

    ReplyDelete

I'd love to hear your comments or to just know that you were here. Please let me know what you think. And if you'd be so kind, please click on the Friend Connect button. It's nice to be joined on my dream journey with others who want to explore the mysterious world of the subconscious mind.
Sorry, due to too much spam I no longer allow anonymous comments on this site. If you want to comment and aren't registered yet then please sign up. It's not all that difficult and I'd really like to hear what you have to say. Comment away!

The Dreamer