The last time I saw “Apocalypse Now” was probably back in high-school, and it was with the Russian translation. So I think it’s fair to say that I haven’t seen this movie until now. I saw parodies, some scenes, and heard a lot, but I never actually sat down and watched it from beginning to end. Until yesterday.
What can I say? There’s probably nothing that I can say that haven’t been said about this movie already. It is, after all, a classic. And it’s even better in the version that I watched – digitally remastered director’s cut, lasting 3 hours and 22 minutes.
Two things that I liked about watching old films are actors and music. Who even remembers any actors from this film, except for the Martin Sheen, who plays the main character? He wasn’t alone there, was he? Of course not. Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Harrison Ford, and even a very young Laurence Fishburne are there as well.
As for the music, it was an interesting contrast. Some pieces sound as good now as they did back then. These include tracks by The Doors and The Rolling Stones. Others, mostly background loops and orchestrated pieces, stand out and awake you from the view, reminding that many years passed since it was released, and that things are done differently now.
Surprisingly, the special effects, costumes, and the make-up stuff still looks nice. There is not much action in this film, so maybe that’s why those background explosions and shooting don’t attract too much attention.
Overall, as I said, the film is a classic and a must see for anyone interested in great actors and directors, movie history, or the genre of war drama. 5 out of 5.