- published: 16 Jan 2011
- views: 1371067
Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American epic adventure war film set during the Vietnam War, produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and starring Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, and Martin Sheen. The film follows the central character, Captain Benjamin L. Willard (Sheen), on a secret mission to assassinate the renegade and presumed insane Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (Brando).
The screenplay by John Milius and Coppola updates the setting of Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness to that of the Vietnam War era. It also draws from Michael Herr's Dispatches, the film version of Conrad's Lord Jim, and Werner Herzog's Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972).
The film has been noted for the problems encountered while making it. These problems were chronicled in the documentary Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse, which recounted the stories of Brando arriving on the set overweight and completely unprepared; expensive sets being destroyed by severe weather; and its lead actor (Sheen) having a breakdown and suffering a near-fatal heart attack while on location. Problems continued after production as the release was postponed several times while Coppola edited thousands of feet of footage.
I'm gonna be straight with you
This is the end of the world
You either wake up or you don't
Apocalypse now
Apocalypse now, apocalypse now, apocalypse now
Apocalypse now, apocalypse now, apocalypse now
Air force bomber, come with the quickness
Chemical warfare, a bucket of sickness
Annihilation, written thesis
Bomb and leashes, shrapnel pieces
Political dynasty, vigorous lies
Multi-dead, on the rise
Realize, the demise
It's all over, no surprise
Apocalypse now, apocalypse now, apocalypse now
Apocalypse now, apocalypse now, apocalypse now
Chilling with pipe bombs and fun in the sun
Ain't no, Saving Private Ryan but I've taken his guns
'Cause there's a war outside and it's far from bein' done
I only speak for myself I know, I'm not the only one
Fuckers got us with the planes, set us back on 911
Families endure the pain, got a twisted view of Heaven
Need a rabbi or a reverend, I just follow the ghost
I keep an extra 4 pounds, right up under my coat
Apocalypse now, apocalypse now, apocalypse now
Apocalypse now, apocalypse now, apocalypse now
Cruise missiles are soarin'
Helicopters are whirlin'
Crusty cops are firin'
Bomb shelters are siren
Soldiers are crawlin'
Politicians stallin'
Insurgents prawlin'
Casualties are risin'
Life is a nightmare, I dream it all day
Nothin' as a promise, no, I won't hold I breath
Still talkin' to death, still chokin' the rest
Don't know when no one can be trusted, only once for the left
Steppin' out I'm in the dark, you wanna keep me in the cold
Rippin' out ain't that your heart, I'm-a causin' to explode
'Cause you're screwin' money, law mother fucker '95
You don't know me keep on movin', I'm just tryin' to stay alive
Apocalypse now, apocalypse now, apocalypse now