The course of history has been altered greatly by triumphs of war and great defeats in war. Tracing back to hunting for food and preying of lesser forms of nature, war has always been a tactical test of wit and strategic knowledge. However, with modern technology's rapid progression through the twentieth century, war has become more of an arms race and an advanced-equipment contest. The Vietnam War saw the extremities of these two poles of combat – the American's daunting amount of weaponry, mobilization and chemical warfare; and the Viet Cong's strategic genius and usage of primitive arsenals. Throughout Apocalypse Now, the elements of war and weaponry that Captain Willard and his crew encounter deteriorate from modern artillery and chemical warfare to more primitive and ancient methods of attack and defense. Willard and his crew-mates play witness to this reversion as they venture into Cambodia in search of General Walter E. Kurtz. The decline in military technology and effectiveness of firearms throughout the film showcases how war is a test of strategy and knowledge as much as an arms race.
The first scene of the movie to feature actual firing of weapons and destruction of Vietnamese territory is a ten-minute scene beginning 34 minutes into the film. After Kilgore decides to move on the intriguing surf spot, the convoy of American helicopters begins their march towards the beach to the tune of Richard Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries". The powerful music and constant helicopter noise makes the scene very dramatic and authoritative. However, the way Coppola infuses Wagner into the film is by having Lt. Kilgore play the music from his helicopter, rather than simply as soundtrack to the film. By doing this, Coppola adds to the character of Kilgore in showing his flare for the dramatic, as well as heightening the intensity of the scene having the track played over the noise of the helicopters.
