Apocalypse Now - authentic

The movie Apocalypse Now, is quoted as “pretentious” (p 422) by Davidson and Lytle. The movie does not explain what is going on, but rather makes the watcher guess. This film is considered authentic according to Davidson and Lytle. This movie does not have any war stereotypes. It gives you war for what it really was. It makes war seem ambiguous. This movie has accuracy, which is needed in order for a movie to be considered authentic.

This movie is not pro Vietnam. The director of this movie wants you to think that war is addictive, that it in reality it drives you nuts. It wants you to understand that when your fighting, you want to be home, and when your home, you want to be fighting.

The movie opens up with the forest being bombed. You then see a quiet, but dark room. The only source of light entering that room is from a half opened blinds on the window. Outside of the room, it is very light. In the background nothing is heard, except a helicopter flying is heard in his head. He is at home, but wants nothing more than to be back in the forest, fighting. The music in the beginning of the movie is very peaceful. This movie makes you conclude that people at war do pointless things. It makes war seem absurd. The people fighting make a battle that has no actual gain it, other than a personal gain, which in this case would be surfing with the good tides.