Ok, I have been on this kick to watch all these classic movies that were controversial in their time and have reached a level of legend in cinema history. With that said I watched Apocalypse Now…WFT! This is a f^cked up movie, I mean these guys were CA-RA-ZEE (crazy). I know the war in Vietnam was a mess and ruined many lives, including the men who served in-theater, but the lunacy in this movie is unbelievable. The cinematic violence was unbelievable and the acting was phenomenal. I personally did not enjoy the film, but I saw what was done by the actors and the film-makers and I understand why this film received so many accolades. For the un-baptized; Apocalypse Now is an epic war drama set during the Vietnam War. The story follows an Army Captain who is a bit co-co from doing assassination missions; he was home in America and wished the entire time he was back in the jungles of Vietnam (Crazy). He is given another mission to find and kill a rogue Army Colonel (Marlon Brando), who has supposedly committed numerous atrocities, to include murdering 4 Vietnamese liaison officers. But believe it or not, that is not the best part of the story.
Apocalypse Now received tons of bad press during production, one issue was the great Marlon Brando showed up on set over-weight and Martin Sheen suffered a heart attack. BTW, Mr. Brando was paid $3.5 million for one months’ worth of shooting, which doesn’t sound like much in today’s standards, but was unbelievable for 1979. Also during production the weather destroyed several sets and there was no ending. In the end the film was recognized with Academy Award nominations and won 2 (Best Cinematography and Best Sound). Apocalypse Now also received the coveted Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and 3 Golden Globes.
Anyway, the film had immediate buzz and opened well in August 1979, pulling in $322,489 in the first 5 days. In total the movie has grossed $78 Million US and $150 Million worldwide. Many critics were blown away by the film due to the realism of the violence and how it was an intimate journey into the jungle with some dark souls. Some said the film was intellectually empty and emotionally obtuse (I think that guy likes using the word Intellectually, it is fun to say, “Intellectually”J). Rotten Tomatoes rated Apocalypse Now as 98% Certified Fresh, that is one of the highest I have seen. And is #28 on the AFI’s (American Film Institute) 100 years… 100 Movie list and #12 on AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movie Quotes list “I love the smell of napalm in the morning” among many others. 
Apocalypse Now deservedly is legendary, the cast, the director and the subject matter all came together and created something moviegoers can never forget. Directed by the great Francis Ford Coppola, the cast included; Marlon Brando (Colonel Walter E. Kurtz), Martin Sheen (Captain Benjamin L. Willard), Robert Duvall (Lt. Colonel Bill Kilgore), Laurence Fishburne (Tyrone “Clean” Miller), Harrison Ford (Colonel Lucas), Scott Glenn (Lt. Richard M. Colby) and Mr. Dennis Hopper to name a few. I would like to add an honorable mention to R. Lee Ermey who played as one of the helicopter pilot during the infamous scene (Eagle Thrust 7) better known for his role in Full Metal Jacket (Gunnery Sergeant Hartman) “Private Pyle! What is your major malfunction!” 
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