Briefly analyse how the opening scenes of Apocalypse Now uses the elements of film form to create meaning and  audience response  and how you feel this is setting up the content, themes , narrative and attitude to heroism and war in the rest of the film   



 Opening Scene Apocalypse Now.

Apocalypse Now uses many techniques to create meaning and audience response. At the start of the scene editing is used to give us a feel of Captain Willard's mental state. Multiple layers are used to show an upside down Willard surrounded by what Willard is thinking about, the devastation of war. The fact that he is up-side down illustrates his craziness.

The cinematography also tells us a lot about Captain Willard. The fact that he is having visons of war and destruction shows that he is still mentally at war as when he wakes up he states "when I wake up I think I'm still in the jungle". This foreshadows the death and chaos that is to come in the film also, as we know he will go back to the jungle.

In terms of sound there is a scene where as Willard wakes up from the whirr of the helicopter from his dream he slowly drifts out into the real world and there is silence. This sequence creates a good contrast between his visions and where he currently is in the hotel.

The character's performance is also a very strong component in the audience response. When he puts out his cigarette on a picture of his wife we get a good idea of Willard's priorities, telling us he is focused on his missions rather than his love life.

As Willard wakes up from his dream, the first object the audience are confronted with is a gun. This of the bat makes us associate Willard with violence and war. 


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