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It's a cliche used to describe any beloved anti-imperialist war movie: Apocalypse Now's effective portrayal of the Vietnam War is sure to shock viewers.

Vietnam is inherently beautiful with its endless scenery, w

More effective than anything is not per se Apocalypse Now's portrayal of hell,

Apocalypse Now meshing Vietnam's inherently beautiful scenery with the hellish warmongering of the

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Dozens of movies have portrayed the Vietnam War's hellish circumstances but few so perfectly mesh the country's inherent beauty with that warmongering. Apocalypse Now's strength is how every moment of beauty - a peaceful village, thick forestry scenery, girls performing a show - is counterbalanced with a frivolous fervor for blood. Kids playing outside bombed with napalm because the general wanted to surf; burning helicopters and corpses scattered among trees; a beast-like lust tackling women. Of course, the United States' unnecessary imperialist Vietnam War was one of frivolity itself. A brutish effort

- a priest saying a prayer while a tank torches the village in the background
- napalm bombing a peaceful village because the general wants to surf there
- playboy bunny women performing a show; cut because men chased and lusted after them like beasts
- beautiful scenic treetops scattered with corpses and burning helicopter remains
- a woman trying to protect a puppy getting shot, and when they realize she's alive, kill her instead of taking her back to friendly territory because your assassination mission takes priority
- the last outpost with gorgeous lighting, men in the water pleading to take them back home
- reading letters from family back home only to be ambushed because some jackass lit a flare, leading to an on-board death. "anyhow, do the right thing, stay out of the way of bullets, and bring your heinie home all in one piece because we love you very much. love, mama."