A 1979 American epic war film, Apocalypse Now is the story of the journey of Captain Benjamin L. Willard played by actor Martin Sheen as he looks for the renegade-turned-lunatic Colonel Walter E. Kurtz played by actor Marlon Brando. Written and directed by Francis Coppola, the film two Oscars and proved to be one of the most intriguing movies of its time. It is based on Heart of Darkness, a novella written by Joseph Conrad.  The film was nominated for both Academy Award and Golden Globe, and it was honored at Cannes with Palme d’Or. 

While the entire film happened during the Vietnam War, the focus of the story revolves around these two complicated characters. In the story, Colonel Kurtz established himself as a god when he traversed the Congo forest and reached the deepest part of the jungle. 

The movie is a big irony and contradiction, considering how it is both strongly acclaimed and critiqued. Its cinematography has been regarded incredibly spellbinding yet at the same time, critics find that the integration of the themes and issues in the movie are messy and disappointing in a literary point of view. This seems to spring from a lot of factors, including the movie crew’s negative encounters while doing the film like Sheen breaking with a near-fatal heart attack, movie sets, and props being destroyed by the weather, and even the postponement of the products for several times. 

While a lot has been said about the film, it cannot be denied that it is now considered as culturally and historically significant movie. It showcases the Darwinian theory of natural selection, which is a truth that people seem to forget, especially with how organized and orderly the society is in the metropolitan cities. This is brought back to people’s consciousness through the movie.

When Colonel Kurtz traversed the Congo jungle, he became one with the forest. He developed skills necessary in order to be capable of living in the wild environment. This goes the same way with Captain Willard, who was tasked to assassinate Kurtz. In the wild forest, he was able to experience the force of nature that people often take for granted today. 

The entire feel of the movie is catchy and will make you feel like you’re right there and then in the Congo forest. It will make you feel the air of danger, from the unknown terrain and unpredictable weather to wild animals you have no idea about. It will even trigger your fight or flight response and is the perfect playground for Darwinian theories. And this is very transparent and evident with how the lunatic Colonel Kurtz came to be. 

Darwin is well-known from its theory of evolution. And the theory of natural selection is evident with Colonel Kurtz. Kurtz was able to establish himself as a god in the forest surrounded by unknown flora and fauna. The story showcases the changes he had to do with himself, despite already being lunatic, simply in order to survive.