I
suspect that voice overs aren't as common as they used to be. In film
noir, great emphasis was placed on them, but they haven't been used
that frequently since. If we take a closer look at the benefits they
provide, it becomes clear that they have a lot of applications.
Unfortunately, if we want to know why "Apocalypse Now" is
so beloved, they can't provide us with a definitive answer.
Classic
Movie Trailers - Apocalypse Now (1979)
Often,
the motto for movies is "show, don't tell" and as far as
I'm concerned, that's good policy. Films are at their best when they
show some sort of action taking place. It's much more common to see a
plot point unfold, than it is to hear about it through character
dialogue. This is because actually seeing an incident occur, is much
more immediate and easier to grasp, than a description of what
happened after the fact.
Spoken
words are very important in movies, but film is a visual medium and
as such, it has certain strengths and weaknesses. For example, movies
are great at showing a short period of time. They are good for
displaying the beauty of sets, locations and artful lighting. They
can also travel thousands of miles in less than a second, with a
single cut.
If
you have a story that continues to go back and forth in time, film is
going to struggle with it. Flashbacks can be confusing, and they are
especially so when they are used frequently. I also wouldn't suggest,
showing more than two different time periods in one film. Any more
than that and you risk losing your audience.
Additionally,
films aren't so good at conveying a character's history. They have
difficulty explaining an exact frame of mind, specific thoughts and
anything left unsaid. Letters are also tough to cover, even when
they're typed legibly. Showing them onscreen is awkward and you can
never be sure that the audience is done reading, before you cut away.
"Apocalypse
Now" uses voice overs to shore up these weaknesses, and it does
so better than any movie I've ever seen. With Martin Sheen's gruff
voice as a constant source of information, we're able to get the
details that we would otherwise miss. We can read all the letters and
documents and briefs, and we become privy to all the personal history
and important past events, that would otherwise bog the film down.
Also, we gain an insight into Willard's mind and by understanding
him, we can appreciate Kurtz as well..
Having
said all of that, I don't think this is a great movie, but I will
acknowledge that it is a good one. "Apocalypse Now" has
captivating and unique characters, such as the ones played by Dennis
Hopper and Robert Duvall. It communicates the horrors of war and the
adverse effects it has, on the soldiers that wage it. It also
presents a very entertaining story, that pulls you along to the end.
Unfortunately,
that ending was anti-climatic. Willard explained why the mission was
completed so easily, but he didn't say why he was allowed to escape.
We can speculate about it and come to some satisfying conclusions,
but I thought that was a poor solution, regardless of the reason.
People would have you believe that this is one of the greatest movies
of all time; if it's so perfect in every way, how is it that I have
found fault with it?
Well,
I think that "Apocalypse Now" is a movie, that allows you
to interpret it in your own way. It can be pro war or anti-war. It
might focus on the courage of the Vietnamese, or it may emphasize the
will of the American soldier. What you believe going in, is exactly
what you will take out of it.
I
also think that over the years, harsher critics of this film have
kept silent, or quieted down voluntarily. At rottentomatoes.com,
"Apocalypse Now" has a 99% critic approval rating and the
audience score isn't very far behind. As astounding as that is, it
isn't so surprising after you think about it for a while. When the
initial reaction to a movie is, and then continues to be so positive,
over such a long time, it's hard to stem that tide and defend your
position.
We
each take different things away from entertainment. Though we may
agree that a film is good or bad overall, often it will be for
different reasons. What's even more interesting to me, is how the
conclusions of others affect our own opinions. If we like something,
we might not think it's so great after critics have trashed it. If we
dislike something, we might become insecure about our views and their
merit, if the film receives universal acclaim.
----------------------------
@ChannelSeals
See
"Apocalypse Now" on Netflix!
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