I found my image at: http://www.hfg-karlsruhe.de/~jtolk/art-writing/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/apocalypse-now_01.jpgIt is easy to admit that Apocalypse Now is an intense story. Based on the Vietnam War, this movie’s script does a fine job of keeping the viewer interested. However, what makes this film even better is how various elements of cinematography are used to convey messages to keep the audience pulled in. More precisely, the way in which space is used and camera angles are used in this film, I believe, sets this film apart from other movies.
First of all, camera angles seem to be important in this film. The uses of high angled shots are most prevalent in my mind. Many of the fighting/action scenes were introduced by a shot that depicted an island, as if the viewer was flying overhead looking down onto the island. Obviously the scene that most accurately used high angles was the scene in which Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore and his men are flying over a village (so that they can surf of course). The viewer is first introduced through a ‘high’ angle because the scene starts with the helicopters flying overhead, the viewer up in the sky along with them. The scene proceeds with shots from the helicopters looking down, as if the viewer is part of the Lieutenant’s crew. Flying over the village, the viewer can see villagers scattering and fighting back, shots flying down towards the village, etc. My favorite shot of this particular scene in the film, however, is when the jet fighters come into the scene and blow up the village. This is yet another use of high angles in which the viewer watches the village explode from above. In all, I believe that high angles during this scene in particular were accurately used.
Second of all, specific camera shots seemed to play an important role in this film, particularly during the ending moments when Captain Willard finally meets Colonel Kurtz. When the viewer is first introduced to Colonel Kurtz, they are greeted with darkness, but with a little light showing on Kurtz’s face. However, the camera shot is a medium close up shot of Kurtz face and shoulders which allows for the distinct use of light and dark to half hide Kurtz’s face while half bringing his face to light. Had this shot been a medium shot or a medium long shot, I do not believe the same effect would have occurred. It would have been too difficult for the viewer to see the distinction between light and dark areas on Kurtz face. This shot, I believe, really keeps the viewer focused and interested in Kurtz. The fact that they are greeted with a shot of his face, half of his face in clear view, I believe satisfies the viewer’s initial intuitions as to what Kurtz may have looked like. Another important scene which uses a specific camera shot is the scene in which Kurtz is standing in the doorway before Captain Willard assassinates him. The use of darkness and light again is used in this scene but the fact that a long shot is used is more important. Kurtz is almost entirely black in this scene because of the use of light, and the world around him seems to be lighter. His entire body can be seen in this scene standing in the doorway looking out upon what he had created. He turns to return to his room where he awaits death. It is almost as if he is turning his back on what he had been working on for an extremely long amount of time, just so that he can find some sort of solace in the fact that he is going to die soon. Despite this, the camera shot that is used in this scene is particularly effective because had a medium shot or close up been used, one may not have been able to get the entire message during that scene. The viewer would not have been able to see that Kurtz turned his entire body around and the viewer would not have received the message that he was looking on his creation for one last time. In effect, this camera shot was successful in portraying the message that the director was trying to get across to his viewers.
In all, the intensity of the story line of Apocalypse Now was possibly more imperative than anything else used in this film. However, the director uses elements of cinematography effectively as well to keep the viewer interested. Particularly, the use of light and dark but more convincingly the use of camera angles and shots achieve a spectacular job of allowing this film to be influential. Apocalypse Now is a great example of a film in which elements of cinematography are effectively used and which develops a great story.
First of all, camera angles seem to be important in this film. The uses of high angled shots are most prevalent in my mind. Many of the fighting/action scenes were introduced by a shot that depicted an island, as if the viewer was flying overhead looking down onto the island. Obviously the scene that most accurately used high angles was the scene in which Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore and his men are flying over a village (so that they can surf of course). The viewer is first introduced through a ‘high’ angle because the scene starts with the helicopters flying overhead, the viewer up in the sky along with them. The scene proceeds with shots from the helicopters looking down, as if the viewer is part of the Lieutenant’s crew. Flying over the village, the viewer can see villagers scattering and fighting back, shots flying down towards the village, etc. My favorite shot of this particular scene in the film, however, is when the jet fighters come into the scene and blow up the village. This is yet another use of high angles in which the viewer watches the village explode from above. In all, I believe that high angles during this scene in particular were accurately used.
Second of all, specific camera shots seemed to play an important role in this film, particularly during the ending moments when Captain Willard finally meets Colonel Kurtz. When the viewer is first introduced to Colonel Kurtz, they are greeted with darkness, but with a little light showing on Kurtz’s face. However, the camera shot is a medium close up shot of Kurtz face and shoulders which allows for the distinct use of light and dark to half hide Kurtz’s face while half bringing his face to light. Had this shot been a medium shot or a medium long shot, I do not believe the same effect would have occurred. It would have been too difficult for the viewer to see the distinction between light and dark areas on Kurtz face. This shot, I believe, really keeps the viewer focused and interested in Kurtz. The fact that they are greeted with a shot of his face, half of his face in clear view, I believe satisfies the viewer’s initial intuitions as to what Kurtz may have looked like. Another important scene which uses a specific camera shot is the scene in which Kurtz is standing in the doorway before Captain Willard assassinates him. The use of darkness and light again is used in this scene but the fact that a long shot is used is more important. Kurtz is almost entirely black in this scene because of the use of light, and the world around him seems to be lighter. His entire body can be seen in this scene standing in the doorway looking out upon what he had created. He turns to return to his room where he awaits death. It is almost as if he is turning his back on what he had been working on for an extremely long amount of time, just so that he can find some sort of solace in the fact that he is going to die soon. Despite this, the camera shot that is used in this scene is particularly effective because had a medium shot or close up been used, one may not have been able to get the entire message during that scene. The viewer would not have been able to see that Kurtz turned his entire body around and the viewer would not have received the message that he was looking on his creation for one last time. In effect, this camera shot was successful in portraying the message that the director was trying to get across to his viewers.
In all, the intensity of the story line of Apocalypse Now was possibly more imperative than anything else used in this film. However, the director uses elements of cinematography effectively as well to keep the viewer interested. Particularly, the use of light and dark but more convincingly the use of camera angles and shots achieve a spectacular job of allowing this film to be influential. Apocalypse Now is a great example of a film in which elements of cinematography are effectively used and which develops a great story.
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