Written by: Caleb Tiedemann (’25)
Apocalypse Now is one of those movies that I’ve been meaning to watch for a while but haven’t gotten around to. I finally did and I have no reason to regret it. Apocalypse Now is a deep thought-provoking exploration of the philosophy of war and morality. It balances multiple metatextual themes and implements them excellently. Through its portrayal of demented anarchy, one can witness (somewhat) firsthand the decay of the human mind through the horrors of war. The cast is incredibly stacked- Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall- all of them drive this movie and elevate it with their nuanced performances. The cinematography and score are also incredibly helpful. The movie is filled with potent and unforgettable images that fill the mind and chill the soul. The score, a combination of vintage rock songs and eerie electronic music, creates an unforgettable experience. In the end, I really enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it. A three-and-a-half-hour cut is no easy thing to sit through, and I got kind of muddled by its philosophy. Don’t get me wrong though, this is a phenomenal film.
