Apocalypse Now - Original Soundtrack > Reviews > Vietnam meets Wagner

Author's product rating:   

Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency of tracks
Value for Money

Advantages:	Great choice of tracks to accompany the film
Disadvantages:	No Beatles (revoution/helter skelter etc !  ! )

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

You have to admire Francis Coppola's nerve - using everything in his record collection from The Doors to Richard Wagner to accompany his breathtaking vision of the Vietnam war on acid. From the opening scene, with his brilliant use of Morrison's 'The End' you instantly get the feel of this movie, you aren't in for an easy ride. It does seem though that most of the time music is actually played on transistor radios by the marines or it is actually being heard by the characters in some way - it isn't really a soundtrack and there is very little orchestral scoring for the film - even Robert Duvall's slightly bonkers Lt.Colonel Kilgore using 'Valkyries' to accompany his chopper napalm bombing run isn't 'soundtrack' as such. But it all still works and remains the best rock/classical soundtrack so far.