All of us, every single man, woman, and child on the face of the Earth were born with the same unalienable rights; to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And, if the governments of the world can't get that through their thick skulls, then, regime change will be necessary.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Dueling Headlines That Ought To Scare The Hell Out Of Any Thinking Person
It would be awesome if someone could take the soundtrack from that segment of Apocalypse Now and tie it in to a video similar to the 'Obama is awesome' caricatures in the video above.
I added a brief quote where Willard asks the soldiers who's in charge. I think this is an important contribution as it adds to the fray, to the impossibility of authority in Vietnam. How can soldiers be responsible for their actions when they don't know who is issuing the orders? Further, I think the fact that Roach replies only with the answer "yeah" brings up a whole slew of ideas and questions. Asking Roach who he thinks is in charge is important: does he think it is the enemy who is in charge here? Is it Sheen's character Willard or Brando's character Kurtz that he thinks is in charge? Or is it God (that is, if we think there is a place for God in Coppola's film)? Who do we think is in charge? This moment in the movie is also the most clearly impressionistic and hypnotizing: light flickers on and off Sheen's face, his voice has the measure of a slow and even breath, while underneath all this seeming tranquility the soldiers in the bunker are in danger of dying. This is very much the eye of the storm, the climax of the movie.
Kurtz: Did they say why, Willard, why they want to terminate my command? Willard: I was sent on a classified mission, sir. Kurtz: It's no longer classified, is it? Did they tell you? Willard: They told me that you had gone totally insane, and that your methods were unsound. Kurtz: Are my methods unsound? Willard: I don't see any method at all, sir. Kurtz: I expected someone like you. What did you expect? Are you an assassin? Willard: I'm a soldier. Kurtz: You're neither. You're an errand boy, sent by grocery clerks, to collect a bill. ===== Infantryman: God dammit! You stepped in my face! Lance: Sorry, thought you're dead... Infantryman: You thought wrong, dammit! ========================================================== Willard: Who's the commanding officer here, soldier? Infantryman: Ain't you?
Willard: Soldier, do you know who's in command here? The Roach: Yeah. [turns away] ========================================================== Willard: How long has this kid been on this boat? Chief Phillips: Seven months. Willard: He's really specializing in busting my balls. Chief Phillips: Very possible, Captain, he thinks the same of you � Willard: Oh yeah? And what you think, Chief? Chief Phillips: I don't think! My orders say I'm not supposed to know where I'm taking this boat, so I don't! But one look at you and I know it's gonna be hot, wherever it is. (Brief pause) Willard: We're going about 70 klicks above the Do Lung bridge. Chief Phillips: That's Cambodia, Captain. Willard: That's classified. We're not supposed to be in Cambodia, but that's where I'm going. You just get me close to my destination, and I cut you and the crew loose. Chief Phillips: All right, Captain.
Has everyone here seen the Director's cut released about five or six years back?
It's exceptional. I've always loved that movie, but the Director's Cut puts it right up there with the Godfather. Absolutely brilliant the whole way through.
7 comments:
I noticed this. I'm glad you posted it.
Every movement of this war reminds me of the bridge scene in Apocalypse Now.
Do you know the scene I mean?
Vauely. Refresh my feeble memory. Beyond that there was only Kurtz?
I wish I could YouTube it for you, but they've taken all the scenes down. The whole scene is great, but it ends with the lines,
Martin Sheen: "Who's the CO around here?"
Grunt (who has been randomly firing up until this point): I thought you were.
Yes! I do remember that!
It would be awesome if someone could take the soundtrack from that segment of Apocalypse Now and tie it in to a video similar to the 'Obama is awesome' caricatures in the video above.
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Apocalypse_Now
I added a brief quote where Willard asks the soldiers who's in charge. I think this is an important contribution as it adds to the fray, to the impossibility of authority in Vietnam. How can soldiers be responsible for their actions when they don't know who is issuing the orders? Further, I think the fact that Roach replies only with the answer "yeah" brings up a whole slew of ideas and questions. Asking Roach who he thinks is in charge is important: does he think it is the enemy who is in charge here? Is it Sheen's character Willard or Brando's character Kurtz that he thinks is in charge? Or is it God (that is, if we think there is a place for God in Coppola's film)? Who do we think is in charge? This moment in the movie is also the most clearly impressionistic and hypnotizing: light flickers on and off Sheen's face, his voice has the measure of a slow and even breath, while underneath all this seeming tranquility the soldiers in the bunker are in danger of dying. This is very much the eye of the storm, the climax of the movie.
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Kurtz: Did they say why, Willard, why they want to terminate my command?
Willard: I was sent on a classified mission, sir.
Kurtz: It's no longer classified, is it? Did they tell you?
Willard: They told me that you had gone totally insane, and that your methods were unsound.
Kurtz: Are my methods unsound?
Willard: I don't see any method at all, sir.
Kurtz: I expected someone like you. What did you expect? Are you an assassin?
Willard: I'm a soldier.
Kurtz: You're neither. You're an errand boy, sent by grocery clerks, to collect a bill.
=====
Infantryman: God dammit! You stepped in my face!
Lance: Sorry, thought you're dead...
Infantryman: You thought wrong, dammit!
==========================================================
Willard: Who's the commanding officer here, soldier?
Infantryman: Ain't you?
Willard: Soldier, do you know who's in command here?
The Roach: Yeah. [turns away]
==========================================================
Willard: How long has this kid been on this boat?
Chief Phillips: Seven months.
Willard: He's really specializing in busting my balls.
Chief Phillips: Very possible, Captain, he thinks the same of you �
Willard: Oh yeah? And what you think, Chief?
Chief Phillips: I don't think! My orders say I'm not supposed to know where I'm taking this boat, so I don't! But one look at you and I know it's gonna be hot, wherever it is. (Brief pause)
Willard: We're going about 70 klicks above the Do Lung bridge.
Chief Phillips: That's Cambodia, Captain.
Willard: That's classified. We're not supposed to be in Cambodia, but that's where I'm going. You just get me close to my destination, and I cut you and the crew loose.
Chief Phillips: All right, Captain.
Great stuff, Alexander. Thanks.
Has everyone here seen the Director's cut released about five or six years back?
It's exceptional. I've always loved that movie, but the Director's Cut puts it right up there with the Godfather. Absolutely brilliant the whole way through.
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