Apocalypse Now Reflection

Apocalypse Now is a very interesting film and at first glance it can seem very chaotic. Kurtz is a very dynamic character that can be characterized as out of touch with civilization. I do not think he is totally insane, however, because he seems to have reasoning behind all of his decisions. Kurtz consciously decided to turn away from the world and go back to man’s primitive and harsh side. Kurtz goes all in during the war and leaves everything he knows for a new lifestyle. Kilgore is almost Kurtz’s opposite, Kilgore has a very unusual method in handling operations but he still clings on to the things that remind him of home. Kilgore yearns for surfing and barbecues with t-bones and beer. Another aspect of the film that I enjoyed was the imagery. In one of the last scenes a cow was being sacrificed in a very gruesome way while Kurtz was being assassinated. This was the one scene that stood out in my mind and I believe it had the most power. This scene showed how ruthless war can be and it also showed that Kurtz believed that he was dying for a cause just as the sacrificial cow.