Apocalypse Now, a Vietnam War film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, bears a strong impact on American film and society as a whole even thirty-seven years later. The movie itself presents horrific, yet truthful images of war through its brutal depiction of life and death in Vietnam.

Set during the year 1969 in the midst of the Vietnam War, Apocalypse Now stars Martin Sheen as Captain Benjamin Willard, who is assigned a top-secret mission to assassinate renegade Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (Marlon Brando) who has set himself up as a demi-god amongst the uncontacted tribes of Cambodia. However, Willard’s mission is not as easy as it would seem, as tensions begin to erupt between him and the Navy Patrol group assigned to escort him down the Nung River, which is the route needed to get to Kurtz. While dealing with tension from inside the group, they must also deal with the harsh and unstable environment of the Vietnam jungle.

Though Apocalypse Now was released in 1979, the film still bears an awe-inspiring plot with a talented and spectacular all-star cast. Brando gives a raw and disturbingly good performance as Colonel Kurtz, keeping those who watch on the edge of their seat through his memorable quotes and memoirs of violence and despair. The rest of Coppola’s ensemble cast (which includes Sheen and Robert Duvall) present bold characters who never leave much to be desired. Duvall’s Colonel Kilgore was a farce of hate and torment, but was a complex and outstanding nonetheless. Sheen’s Captain Willard was an outspoken and unique protagonist, who embodied the horrible fallouts of fighting in the jungle of Vietnam, all the while giving the audience something to root for.

After Apocalypse Now’s release in 1979, the film was met by much criticism from audiences around the world, mainly due to it’s dark and violent nature. Looking back, it is quite obvious that Coppola’s Vietnam War epic was the kickstarter and the pioneer for many war films such as Full Metal Jacket and Platoon, as it was one of the first to depict war as gruesomely morbid as it truly is.

As much as war is to be hated and protested against, Apocalypse Now delivers a undeniably beautiful depiction of war. Receiving a 97 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, Coppola’s masterpiece, although met with controversy and mixed reviews, is recognized by film society today as one of the best if not the best war movies ever made. Coppola’s writing, style of directing and cinematography blend well with an ensemble cast to create a film with a stark and solemn beauty. I would recommend this movie to anyone any day, as it has changed my perception of war both inside and outside of film.