Rating: 
Summary: What happens when men go to war...
Review: Terence Malick's masterpiece is a true study in what becomes of men who face combat. Optimism dies, cynicism endures, and the concern for human life is subjugated to the desire for results.From an action standpoint, I can see how some people consider this movie to be slow and overly philosophic, but it's really not a movie about the Battle for Guadalcanal. It's about men at war, and what war can do to a man. It could be set in the midst of any conflict anywhere in history. Chaos, terror, boredom, selfish ambitions and selfless acts--all of these things are a part of armed conflict, and Malick explores them without rendering judgment. The idea that everyone who goes to war is a hero is abandoned here. In war, men don't all die heroic deaths, many die painful, lonely deaths, some die ridiculous deaths, and ultimately, all die futile deaths. This point Sean Penn's character drives home. Men do things to one another that they later revile themselves for. Is courage simply a manifestation of fear? The cinematography in this movie was magnificent. The beautiful scenery and weather contrasted greatly with the terror that was taking place on the island of Guadalcanal. Really a beautifully directed film. Ultimately, given the horrors that the characters are put through and the choices that they make, the final lesson to be taken is that the war goes on.
Rating: 
Summary: What the hell is this?
Review: Philisophical ranting while bombs are exploding behind you? Get your head out of your ... people. This movie was ridiculous. Firstly it must be noted that Saving Private Ryan set the standard for war movies just shortly before this was released. Some will criticize me for comparing the two, but frankly it cant be helped - they came out right on top of each other, and SPR definately won the war. Whereas this film stuck to typical poofs of smoke and watching guys fall over (while some moron in the forground expounded on the meaning of a tulip) Saving Private Ryan got into the visceral bowels of war. A bomb goes off, you dont tip over like a rag doll - your limbs scatter, you fly up into the hair and hit the ground with a deafing THUD and you scream for your mommy as you hold your guts in. This movie was far too poetic for its own good, and any sensible critic can see that. Further more the casting was... well... ridiculous - The poster listed George Clooney and Nick Nolte as starring in the film, and of course they turned out to be in it for a couple of minutes and then disappeared never to be seen again. Good God - Go rent Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, or Saving Private Ryan. Admittedly the film had good cinematography, however how can a film not have that when it's budget is 52 Million dollars? Dont be fooled kids, this is standard hollywood material... substandard even. See ya.
Rating:
Summary: Too many faces
Review: This movie has a great plot. But it doesn't have character actors, it doesn't have characters. You have Nick Nolte as Nick Nolte. George Clooney as George Clooney. The list goes on... and on... and on. Every big name actor portrays themselves, and because of it the movie is pretentious... a beautiful war story is hijacked by the actors. I haven't been this bored since the last time my roommate put in Scream... again.
Rating: 
Summary: What a joke.
Review: This movie was filled with great actors (with exception to Travolta and Nolte). However, I fell asleep trying to watch this worthless flick not once but twice! The story is very slow and there is no action.
Rating:
Summary: Better the 2nd time
Review: I have to be honest, the first time I watched The Thin Red Line I was not that crazy about the movie. I rented it again a few years later and either I had changed or I missed something the first time, because it is now one of my favorite movies. I think the first time I was looking for your typical war movie and found myself coming out of the theatre confused. The second time I saw the movie I really tried to listen to what the characters were saying and tried to get the true meaning of the movie. If I had to sum up a Thin Red Line I would say this, it is not your typical war movie or even just a movie about war, this is more a movie about the psychology of war. The things that men struggle with during times of war. It is not just patriotism and rah, rah U.S.A. It is about the struggle of war and the struggle of men during the time of war. Maybe this is a movie we should all watch again with our country's present situation. I found The Thin Red Line to be a very powerful and moving picture. I would suggest to all those who did not like it the first time, to sit down by yourself and watch it again and this time listen to what the movie says. It is a great film.
Rating:
Summary: Tedious, pretentious movie
Review: Terrence Malick is one of those directors that should have stayed retired. Or at least don't make war movies. What was with all of those stream-of-consciousness monologues, anyway? How many soldiers while away their hours pondering the deeper meanings of the universe...often in the middle of combat! ...Great filmmaking is often about passing on new concepts and ideas to your audience, subtly being the most effective method. Contrast this with Mr. Malik's ham-fisted "Isn't-this-movie-Deep" directing style. I've read over some of the reviews for this DVD with amazement. It's time somebody told the Emperor that he isn't wearing any clothes. It's been said that this TRL has as little to do with WWII as "Apocalypse Now" has to do with Vietnam. So its complete disconnect with history should be forgiven. Oh? Look, if the director wasn't interested in telling the story of what actually happened there, maybe he could have misused a legend instead. Malick would find ample material in the story of Paul Bunyan or King Arthur to make the point of his sermon, whatever it was... Wayne Gralian
Wayne's World of Books / Krakow RPGs
Rating: 
Summary: War Is Hell
Review: The Thin Red Line was released in 1998 and drew immediate comparisons to another World War II film released that year, Saving Private Ryan. The former film is very much like to yin to the latter's yang. Where as Ryan depicts the battle D-Day and its subsequent aftermath in the European war theater, Red Line deals with the Battle of Guadalacanal in the Pacific. Ryan shows the graphic and detailed horrors of war, where as Red Line deals with psychological effects on a soldier's mind. The film marks the return of Terrence Malick. The film was his first in twenty years and only the third of his career. Much like his two previous efforts, Days Of Heaven & Badlands, the film has a sweeping vision. The film is based on James Jones' semi-autobiographical novel that was the follow-up to From Here To Eternity. The cast is star studded, including appearances by George Clooney, John Travolta, Woody Harrelson, John Cusack, Bill Pullman, John Savage, John C. Reilly, Nick Nolte and Sean Penn, but it is the lesser known actors in the cast that are the foundation of the film. James Caviezel stars as Pvt. Witt who is a deserter living on a South Pacific island but is captured by the Navy and sent back into war. Adrien Brody (who has garnered an Oscar nomination in 2003 for The Pianist) is Pvt. Fife, who was the central character and Mr. Jones' alter-ego in the book, but has been relegated to a supporting part, Ben Chaplin is Pvt. Bell who is suffering from the ignominy of a 'Dear John' letter from his wife, Elias Koteas as a righteous captain and Tim Blake Nelson (from O Brother, Where Art Thou?) as Pvt. Tills. Mr. Malick captures the lush beauty of the South Pacific and uses it to perfectly contrast with the destruction of war. The film uses Mr. Caviezel's character in voice-overs in which he expouses on life & death that provide the heart of what this film is all about. It tries to show that while the men who fought in World War II have been portrayed as fearless men who fought for freedom without question, they were real people, with fears and doubts. The film received seven Academy Award nomination including two for Mr. Malick in the directing and adapted screenplay categories as well as best picture, but it came home empty-handed.
Rating:
Summary: The thin red line- learning to live while preparing to die
Review: This film is absolutely amazing, but to much disappointment was overshadowed by the success of Saving Private Ryan. 'Ryan' is more of an action war flick, whereas if you watch Thin Red Line, and I mean actually try to take it all in you can truly see the beauty of the film.
The characters are each learning to deal with the horrors of war that is all around them. Some choose to fight with valor and display their patriotism while others question their role in the war. The characters express through inner monologue their thoughts on the war and how to deal with death. It seems evident that they expect the war to take their life, and they are finding a way to go down content with their life.
This film has an amazing cast, and if you take your eye away for a second you could miss a Hollywood stars performance. But the two that steal the show are Sean Penn (Sgt. Welsh) and Jim Cavaziel (Pvt. Witt). Welsh expresses his questions on the war, saying that this is reality. This is the truth of the world. Witt gives a completely different take; he is able to find another world, a peaceful society with the Guadalcanal islanders. He knows there is a better place out there away from the war and he has experienced it. Witt is the hero of the story as he is able to learn how to live while staring death in the eye.
This movie is absolutely amazing. Do not just watch it to see another war flick; it is so much more than that. Watch this movie and see if you can take it all in because there is so much to love about it. Possibly the best war movie ever, but it should not be placed in that category.
Rating:
Summary: worst war movie i've ever seen. QUITE BORING
Review: Maybe this film is supposed to be deep or what have you. I don't even get how they try to accomplish that. This film is full of bad acting, lame dialogue, and absolutely no plot. I saw a "the making of. . ." once and sean penn (horrible acting) said that he was just making stuff up. It sure comes across like that, too. Not very well put together scriptwise, either. I made the mistake of seeing this film thinking it would be a great war movie like Patton or Platoon. Not the case.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Pic of 1998!!!!!!!!!1
Review: Terrance Malick's "The Thin Red Line" is just great. It was overshadowed by Saving Private Ryan which is a just as powerful film but I feel that The Thin Red Line is a better movie. Unknown people like Caviezel, Ben Chaplin, Elias Koteas give beautiful performances. Nick Nolte and Sean Penn are excellent. To me, every actor was worthy of an academy award nomination. The film itself is beautiful. The camera work shows just what Malick wants. He wants visual art. What we see on screen is nothing but beautiful visual poetry. Ben Chaplin scenes, when talking of his wife, are just great. But in my opinion, it is Jim Caviezel who gives the best performance of the film. He shows the innocence, the lonliness, the depression of PFC Witt. All in all the best pic of the year and one of the best war films ever made, if not the best. The top three are Platoon, The Thin Red Line, and Saving Private Ryan
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