For two decades now, Apocalypse Now has been my favorite film. And I owe that designation to my high school English teacher, Mrs. McGuffey, who passed away earlier this summer.
I prefer the cut version, but I fully understand why people like the Redux as it extends the madness their going towards, the idea that civilisation is slowly slipping away the farther they go up river and there's nothing they can do to stop it and in some cases, Willard's, want to stop it. He wants to see what's at the end, to face it and see who comes out the victor. The two scenes that stick out for me are Lt. Col. Kilgore saying 'Some day this wars gonna end.' The contrasting look on his face, resignation and Willard's face, your insane, was an epic moment of film making and the edit of the scene ending right there was genius. The other, the bridge a Do Lung when Willard asks 'Hey solder, who's in charge here?' 'Ain't you!' Those two lines encapsulate the entire war from the macro perspective. A damming indictment of Washington and the generals running that disaster.
That second moment you mentioned might be by favorite scene in the whole film. Pretty stunning distillation of the Vietnam War in just a handful of words.
I think I'll be seeing the Final Cut this fall! Curious to see how it works with some extra scenes but not all of them.
The documentary "Hearts of Darkness" that Coppola's wife made about the production is incredible. Also, I remember having to read three novels by the same author for McGuffey's AP English class and then write a term paper examining common themes threaded throughout each book. She was tough, but I really enjoyed her class.
Ooh, good pick. I've never read any Achebe but always meant to read Things Fall Apart.
I remember wanting to pick George Orwell, but my friend David raised his hand and took him off the board. I was happy with Hemingway as the second overall pick though!
Mrs. McGuffey once shared with my class, “Did I ever tell you how I used to be a hooker?” And as we processed the shock, she went on to explain her job hanging clothes on a rack.
I prefer the cut version, but I fully understand why people like the Redux as it extends the madness their going towards, the idea that civilisation is slowly slipping away the farther they go up river and there's nothing they can do to stop it and in some cases, Willard's, want to stop it. He wants to see what's at the end, to face it and see who comes out the victor. The two scenes that stick out for me are Lt. Col. Kilgore saying 'Some day this wars gonna end.' The contrasting look on his face, resignation and Willard's face, your insane, was an epic moment of film making and the edit of the scene ending right there was genius. The other, the bridge a Do Lung when Willard asks 'Hey solder, who's in charge here?' 'Ain't you!' Those two lines encapsulate the entire war from the macro perspective. A damming indictment of Washington and the generals running that disaster.
That second moment you mentioned might be by favorite scene in the whole film. Pretty stunning distillation of the Vietnam War in just a handful of words.
I think I'll be seeing the Final Cut this fall! Curious to see how it works with some extra scenes but not all of them.
The documentary "Hearts of Darkness" that Coppola's wife made about the production is incredible. Also, I remember having to read three novels by the same author for McGuffey's AP English class and then write a term paper examining common themes threaded throughout each book. She was tough, but I really enjoyed her class.
I haven't seen Hearts of Darkness in a good 15 years! I'm due for a rewatch.
What author did you pick for your final research paper?
Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. Unfortunately I can’t remember why I picked him specifically but I’m pretty sure McGuffey introduced me to him.
Ooh, good pick. I've never read any Achebe but always meant to read Things Fall Apart.
I remember wanting to pick George Orwell, but my friend David raised his hand and took him off the board. I was happy with Hemingway as the second overall pick though!
I love this movie, and prefer the redux version (though I feel the French plantation section dragged it down).
I prefer the Redux too! My last watch was the theatrical version and I really missed the "extra" scenes. Haven't seen the Final Cut yet.
Mrs. McGuffey once shared with my class, “Did I ever tell you how I used to be a hooker?” And as we processed the shock, she went on to explain her job hanging clothes on a rack.
😂 She was the best, man.