Opening sequence of Apocalypse Now analysis!!! (;

The opening sequence of Apocalypse Now starts with an extreme long shot of palm trees with smoke rising up from below. All of this is happening with a sound bridge of a helicopter. Then a helicopter passes the camera. All of this can suggest that the scene is set in a war zone or something bad will happen. The music in the background is rolling and insistent which can suggest that something will happen but not sure if it’s bad or good. This scene stays for about 2 minutes. Then suddenly a helicopter again passes and all the trees are blown up by bombs and the whole scene turns into orangey and blue and this can suggest that it’s in a war zone. While all of this is happening in the background the music has lyrics and it starts off with ‘this is the end….’ This can suggest that something bad will happen and that people will die etc and the camera pans to show the demolish of the place.

Then the camera fades into too scenes in one with one half a face of a person looking worried and sad or day dreaming and the other half with the palm trees burning and the helicopters flying and fire etc. this can suggest that the person which is the main protagonist is day dreaming because you can see a fan and him lying on something. The music has some military notes, repetition and insistent and this can show that the atmosphere is very busy and scary. The camera also moves in different angles suggesting that the person is confused and worried with the fire and helicopters in the background. Then the other person is seen sleeping which can suggest that he was dreaming and/or the audience can think that the person maybe was in the military or something to do with that.

Drugs and alcohol is also seen which can show that maybe the two men were day dreaming etc. then the camera cuts to one of the men waking up to the sound of a helicopter and he first thought that it was has fan – creating a sense of confusion in the audience. Then he looks through the window to find nothing, no sound of any helicopter then he realizes that he was just dreaming and imagining himself in the place. We then get introduced to the person and his life – we found out that he used to live in a war zone and that he divorced his wife. And that’s why he is drinking, to make him forget his past and move on but he can’t, he wants to be there instead of here.

Throughout the movie sequence you can see fade over’s and continuity editing. The lighting used also suggests that there is a sense of darkness or mystery about to be resolved. A lot of shadows can be seen suggesting that the character just wants to be left alone and hidden or he wants to go back to the jungle.