The Thin Red Line (1998)

(Get this film in a blue ray version (if you can view blue rays.)) t is a long film. Thus you may wish to allow 2 evenings/two seatings to view it . I liked the depiction of nature, the landscapes and images of the Melanesian people. The film was recorded both in Australia (Port Douglas area) and on Solomon Islands. The battle of various moral viewpoints is very well depicted, especially egoistic drive of some military leaders to secure their own career even if it costs lives and suffering of his troops, probably very true to real life. It is based on a novel, maybe someday I shall read that novel, I am not a great fun of war films or war stories in general, but this one has more universal appear, I think. Four stars from me.

Excellent

The first thing that must be said about this film is that it looks beautiful. Many of the shots of soldiers in the Pacific could work as paintings. The soundtrack also is magnificent. But as a movie it just doesn't work - too many close-ups of the angel-headed protagonist staring off into the distance with his metaphysical musings overdubbed. At almost three hours, it’s also far too long: the battle for the island high ground held by the Japanese (and the battle for power between Nick Nolte's power hungry colonial and the sergeant in command) takes up the majority of the film. The hill's capture by the US forces and the subsequent scenes of Japanese misery would have been a logical place to stop this avowedly anti-war film, but the movie rolls on (into another sub-plot) and on.... The film tries its best to be epic but in terms of story-telling, Terrence Mallick is no David Lean.

Apocalypse Now, in WWII.

I felt this was a bit hard to follow. It had too many characters and the changing narrators was confusing. The plot seemed to change and wasn't constant because of so many characters. The movie was okay, but there are better war movies I think.

This was not a movie for me, i love war movies but its so long and has a really slow start that didnt grab but i did watch it all and there were some amazing parts to this movie and acting but overall its not a movie i would watch again.

"All they sacrificed for me, poured out like water on the ground. All I might have given for love's sake. Too late." .... Who wrote this stuff? Real solders don't talk like this. I'm not suprised this movie don't win any of the seven awards it was nominated for. Slow and boreing. Don't waste you time with this.

If you're looking for flat out action, this is not the film for you. The movie focuses much more on the human psyche side of war, rather than warfare its self. In my opinion it does not match up to other films in the same genre, like Saving Private Ryan.

A very different war movie - more focussed on the personal side of warfare, the fear and thoughts of the soldiers, than the action. Definately worth watching. Along the lines of Fals of our Fathers and Letters from Iwojima not Balck Hawk Down or we were soldiers.

This dramatic film shows the visciousness of jungle warfare against the Japs in 1942. Both the American marines and the Japanese soldiers are fighting in impossible conditions which transforms them into "sub humans".

Really found this film rambling, unfocused, and discontinuous. Not really a film I was able to enjoy at all.

One of America's best war movies. Terrance Malick is like the Stanley Kubrick of nature. His movies are visual treats. It is a shame that production studios got in the way of this, because its only fault is the obvious heavy editing of characters and stories. Malick puts you in the zone, where time really escapes you, so another hour or more of this film would have been perfect.

I loved this movie...but for those expecting more action it can be long and drawn out at times! Not for everybody.

Not my sort of Movie

First class. Great cast all round but Nick Nolte is fantastic.

With such a star cast you would expect a great movie. Wrong. Should have turned it off earlier rather than wasting 2 hours of my life.

Don't know what all the fuss was about. Should never have been nominated for an Academy Award. Slow, boring and the story does not hold a thread.

Very poor yankee version of how they won the war in new guinea or the pacific. Actually the film was too slow, too much bad language & typically American codswallop propaganda.

Okay war movie, I thought it was a little slow, Not up to the standards of Saving Private Ryan and We Were Soldiers but still worth a look if your a war fan.

Strong cast and very absorbing however it was far too long. The movie had a logical point where it could have finished however it then went on for another half hour.

A fine film but Malick's matter-of-fact style begins to pall before the story ends.

Maybe I missed the point, but I found this to be a predicatble war movie, with none of the brilliance or philosophy of the novel. Far too genre driven.

Great cinematogrophy, thought provoking plot, but just too long.

Depressing Yank hand wringing

Good performance from Nick Nolte but not much action, other war films better.

A beautifully crafted film about war and the effects it has on men. a tad long but quite poetic. Its great cast is a testament to the esteem that the director is held.

very interesting, i like the natural scenery

A great film, but not an enjoyable film. It believably depicts the horror and stupidity of war. Nick Nolte provides a fine performance as the crazed general leading from the rear. Cusack was pretty wooden, which I guess was OK for that role.