Originally posted by funkedup
Gotta disagree, Apocalypse Now is a turd as any kind of historical document or as some kind of anti-war lesson. It's visually stimulating and has a nice soundtrack and some good acting. But it didn't tell anything like truth. There were so many BS unrealistic things in that movie I lost count. The worst part is the utterly fake depection of how Aircav operated. I can understand why most vets hate that movie.
We Were Soldiers sucked bellybutton even worse though. Great book, awful film.
You are right on the realism, but the message the film tries to portray, and how it delivers, is outstanding, IMO.
That movie really has an eerie aura of pure madness.
And as you said, the acting is good. The briefing scene, where the Captain is explained his mission, is superb, not to mention the begining of the film.
The aircav scene may not be accurate but it does a good job as a parody of men who simply LOVE war. IMO Duvall's character is a good example of what Patton was.
There are very, very few movies who seemed to tell it like it was (Band of Brothers saga is the only one I can recall, and some scenes from SPR) but then again, how can we know? Not even war veterans can tell you what war truly is, because it takes so many diferent forms. WWII is not Vietnam. WWII wasnt even the same kind war to someone in the pacific or eastern front. All we know is war IS hell, and movies like Apocalypse Now and Platoon do a good job in inmersing the viewer in that HELL atmosphere, wether its realistic or not.
/flame suit ON