The Thin Red Line

I can't stand war movies. I will likely never watch another war movie that I love as much as this film. Epic, meditative, suspenseful, powerful, and touching. One of the few films that had me not wanting to take my eyes off the screen, it was so hard to look away. Never will there be a better war movie then this one. At least in my eyes. A masterpiece.

Malik takes us on a poignant journey of prosaic meditations on nature and philosophy, that he affronts in direct contrast the cataclysms of war and pernicious human bloodlust. From the perspective of the decorated General, down to the low ranked privates, it strolls down the long foyers' of these disgruntled men, some the most sensitive to others without a humanizing sentiment in their callous hearts. The absurdity of property, destruction of nature, trampled innocence, captured in a film.

A gorgeous, heartbreaking, breathtaking masterpiece.

The 90's were a great decade for cinema, giving 2 films (Heat, The Thin Red Line) that were truly original and flawless. The Thin Red Line is only Malick's third film, but it is riveting and to date holds the record of the best war picture ever made. It was robbed of it's well deserved oscars by the more mediocre Saving Private Ryan. This is the film that seperates a true lover of cinema from the average movie goer.

Had some hard time telling the characters apart and recognising who was doing the voiceover, but the further into the film, the less they seem to still matter: isn't it that, the baseness of subsistence, the extraordinariness of violence, and the togetherness that raises them both into the warmth of ordinariness yet can itself so easily sink in its own fragility, are questionings we all have to live in, and that, no matter what path we take from there, tragic is the ultimate gift of life for us?

Difficult to describe, but anyone who has seen and enjoyed it probably understands why I loved it. It is art, and it is a journey, and it is moving. It really sucked me in and will be something that I believe will stick with me for a long time.

For all of the star power this film had going for it, you'd think there would be a better vehicle for them to work with. This movie not only sucked, but it was loooooong! Poop!

Muy Buena

Good Movie

A beautiful film, well-acted and masterfully directed. Amazing visuals.

This is quite an emotive film, with good cinematography and its fairly thought provoking/insightful. I liked that it features narration, with numerous scenes depicting characters in quiet situations, waiting things out while we hear whats going through their minds, doubts arising and flashbacks shown of happier times back at home. It has a slight feel of Apocalpyse Now about it, although its not as good as that but it does a decent job at being pretty atmospheric and impactful at times, yes.

I don't think I was in the right frame of mind to watch this, I was able to appreciate its beauty but not really be engaged by it. Jim Caviezel is quite good, it's a shame he hasn't done much of note since this film.

Lousy film, unrealistic story line

Among the great war films, and the cinematography is incredible, but the story runs out of gas at times.

A quite beautiful description of American soldiers fighting their way through enemy Japanese lines. The movie is shot well and it pleases the eye with its breathtaking scenery and intense combat scenes. The typical Terrence Malick -style voiceover with contemplation about the difficult questions of life wasn't this time however as impressive as in for example Tree of Life. It felt like something was missing. In spite of this, The Thin Red Line is nevertheless a decent war film.

My favorite Malick (though I've yet to see Days of Heaven).

some good scenery but, thats about it. It fails to tell a story.

***** - for substance. ***** - for style.

Pretty excellent if very slow war picture.

Is there a better war film? Story-wise, I can't say so. I don't even think SAVING PRIVATE RYAN or APOCALYPSE NOW are as star-studded. I suppose it gets beat out in terms of special effects by more modern films, but this captures the absurdities and indignities of war in large and small scale with compelling performances of compelling characters in outrageous circumstances. Must see.

A unique and slightly fascinating war film. The overall tone is very philosophical, and it's held together with pondering voiceovers of the main characters. It isn't America vs. Japan - it's mankind turned against itself, and against nature.

A very slow war movie.

i would like to see the movie it was meant to be. even though it felt like watching the highlights of a much bigger film it was still good.

mesmerising. satisfied me just as it annoyed my audience-mate who thought we were seeing a "war film".

one of the only movie's i watched 3 times, real revelation to me

A good war movie.

Not even war porn, gritty and dark, and a whole bag of fun

Ahhhhhhhhh awesome !!!

Really beautiful to watch and thoroughly engaging, but it was hard to get a real sense of the character's emotions. Parts of it were a little melodramatic for a gritty war movie I thought.

Ive only seen this film once, but this thing is extremely deep and complex. I only scratched the surface of what this movie is trying to say. But what I did scratch was brilliant. Its poignant, moving, exciting, relaxing, saddening, its everything. The acting is fantastic and there are so many great names in this film. Its a lot to take in and I'll have to give it a few more views, but its a unique and fantastic war pic (one of the best) regardless of how many times you have seen it.

Some solid acting and tragic sequences, but there's little overarching purpose within the plot. Lots of men have parts of their lives revealed, experience moments of terror, and wax eloquent on the horrors of war. The numerous nature shots, while beautiful, add to a sense that the movie might be trying a little too hard.