APOCALYPSE NOW REDUX (2001) - THE DEFINITION OF CINEMA
The last time I watch this movie was from a CD copy back in the mid 90s and I think that was before this Redux version. I didn't really understand the message it was trying to say accept that war is not good. But the dark image of MARLON BRANDO encounter in the end of the movie stuck with me and it has been stopping me to pick it up again and watch it until I found it in Netflix recently and build the courage to journey with CAPTAIN WILLARD up the dark river again.
Like when I picked up TAXI DRIVER for the first time (also in Netflix) few months ago, I drove me into its dark premise and I ended up watching it 3 times in 2 days. APOCALYPSE NOW has done the same to me. I've watched it twice in one day and constant rewind of some part to reaffirm my understanding of the film. It is one of the film where after you finish watching, and then you go back to the beginning of the movie and you understand why. Like a black curtain being lifted and a bit of the sunlight got into your room.
MY REVIEW
I'm writing this in the style of how Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) narrated the story of his journey to find Colonel Walter Kurtz (Marlon Brando).
(And with Rolling Stones - Satisfaction playing in the background).
And trully, the sloth and greed for blood is never ending. The terror of Napalm, merciless aerial strike on a village defended with only some ground troops on the rifles and an automatic 50 calibers on the AA.
The show of arrogance and genocide and it is all justified by a self-made cause. The menacing fashion of the bombardment is almost like the US soldiers banging on the ground showing to their leaders 'Is this enough for us to go home?' None of them wanted to stay there. 17 year old, a surfer and a cook were drawn away from home and turned soldiers, and accompanies Captain Willard on his journey
Except Colonel Walter Kurtz. Why? That is what Captain Willard wants to know.
"...UP A RIVER THAT SNAKED THROUGH THE WAR LIKE THE MAIN CABLE PLUGGED STRAIGHT INTO KURTZ..."
He is there to accomplish the mission to assasinate Colonel Walter Kurtz and with the with the dossier given to him, and as he venture deeper along the river and closer to Kurtz, the more question he have about him.
The final reveal of Kurtz is just one of those enigmatic moment in a history of cinema, even after 40 years.
Willard then affirmed his darkest fear, that Kurtz is mirror reflection of himself and there is nothing else to do than to finish what he is there to accomplish - to kill Kurtz.
THE MAGIC OF FRANCIS FORD COPOLLA
The movie looped to the start and I caught the shot of the statue in Kurtz place and I straight away thought that the Willard in the beginning of the movie is the Willard after accomplishing his mission on Kurtz.
And what Ive said earlier about 'the show of arrogance and massacre for blood is never ending'
Francis Ford Copolla have done it with his movie.
There will be always the return of the thirst for blood and conflict in mankind, just in a different location and time.
plays The Doors - The End - which is also a beginning of another cycle.
