The Thin Red Line

Rating:
Summary: "There's Only a Thin Red Line Between the Sane and the Mad"
Review: During the summer of 1942, the United States launched its first amphibious invasion of the war against the Japanese. The target was the island of Guadalcanal, located in the South Pacific island chain known as the Solomons. The Japanese had constructed an airstrip, and if left unchecked, the Japanese could threaten Australia as well as the vital American supply lines. This film depicts the struggles of Charlie Company, United States Army, during this bloody campaign.

An all-star cast, including Sean Penn (1st Sgt. Welsh), Nick Nolte (Lt. Col. Tall), Ben Chaplin (Private Bell), Jim Caviezel (Private Witt), John Savage (Sgt. McCron), John Cusack (Capt. Gaff), Woody Harrelson (Sgt. Keck), Elias Koteas (Capt. Staros), George Clooney (Capt. Bosche), Adrien Brody (Cpl. Fife), and John C. Reilly (Sgt. Storm), combine to re-create the bloody battle of Guadalcanal.

The film starts off with Charlie Company coming ashore to relieve the beleagured 1st Marine Divison, which was part of the original landing in August, 1942. I was a little surprised at this particular part of the film. In the movie, there was very little resistance from the Japanese to the landing. When the Marines landed, the Japanese resistance was light because they were taken completely by surprise, but by the time the Army relieved them four months later, the resistance had stiffened, so I was surprised to see such little attention paid to this aspect of the battle.

Once ashore, Captain Starlos organizes his men to attack, capture, and hold a key ridge which is crawling with Japanese. Starlos' superior officer, Lt. Col. Tall, wants an immediate frontal attack against the ridge, but Starlos prefers a more covert flanking manuver instead of subjecting his men to the ferocity of a frontal assault. Polar opposites, Starlos, ever mindful of his valuable men, and Tall, the soldier who wants results no matter what the cost, clash over this issue, and Starlos refuses to obey the order. Tall finally relents, but the seeds of tension and conflict have been sown.

After a prolonged struggle in which many of his men are killed, Starlos finally captures the ridge, much to the delight of Tall, who comes striding up the ridge with a big grin on his face. He congratulates Starlos for capturing the ridge, but says nothing of the lives it cost. The conflict between Tall and Starlos continues to boil until Tall finally relieves Starlos of his command. Many of the men question the decision, but Starlos is happy to finally be out from underneath Tall and his gung-ho ways. The battle continues to rage on until the survivors are finally evacuated, but the scars, both physical and mental, still remain.

This movie, direced by Terrence Malick, shows the terrifying effects of war, both physical and mental, and the strain they took on a young group of soldiers. Malick effectively shows the gruesome effects of combat, from deadly physical wounds to such psychological factors as freezing up during a crucial time in battle, as well as the inter-company struggles between the men. Malick earned an Academy Award nomination for his direction, while the film garnered seven nominations total.

This is a very good movie. Despite some of the historical mistakes, such as the Army landings at the beginning of the film and the strange terrain in which the movie was filmed (Guadalcanal is a complete jungle island, while the movie was shot in wide open spaces with little or no tree cover), the battle scenes are executed very well, and the acting, especially by Nick Nolte, Sean Penn, and Elias Koteas, is excellent. Watch this movie and see a hauntingly realistic view of militaty and moral chaos in the Pacific during World War II.

Rating:
Summary: Thin Red Line
Review: Since their releases in 1998, critics and audiences alike have asked whether Saving Private Ryan or The Thin Red Line was a better film. You can't really compare the two; one is a combat film and the other, more a meditation on the theme of war. Terrence Malick's 20 year hiatus has been one of the most puzzling occurrences in Hollywood history. He is back in prime form. Saving Private Ryan was a safer film to make, I think, because you have the firepower of Spielberg, the most successful commercial director in movies history and Hanks, arguably the most popular American actor today. But, The Thin Red Line has more ambition and a greater emotional impact. While the ending of Saving Private Ryan essentially compromised the film, The Thin Red Line draws no clear conclusions, and is perhaps intentional. Malick had enough influence to gravitate so many great actors for this project and makes a good selection in Jim Caviezel, who illuminates with a sort of holy aura.

Of course, nothing made by Malick is set by convention and this film is no exception. It is told essentially through multiple voice-overs and parallel plots. The soldiers are recognizable only by faces as we struggle to hear their names through the sounds of combat. The meditation exists as the narrator sort of floats above the action, acting either as an ominiscient being, or one who's voice is filled with questions. Many people have said that Saving Private Ryan was a more accurate WWII film, but I disagree. By Hollywood convention, Ryan sets up some characters and poses multiple situations where they explain who they are and what they did for the sake of the audience, but The Thin Red Line essentially throws these characters into dire situations and allow us to figure their roles out.

There are good roles in this film, especially those of Nolte, Caviezel, and Penn. Caviezel is essentially a pseudo-Christ figure and his dialogues with Penn are some of the film's best. Nolte is effective as a macho, hyper-masculine CO who possesses some nice silences between his fits of screaming.

So does Malick succeed? I don't believe this will be a commercially successful film and some of Malick's self-indulgent imagery falls flat or irrelevant. Hollywood may not be ready for such a film and neither will audiences. Despite all that, I believe it is the year's best film and ranks with Apocalypse Now as one of the best war films of all time. It is more ambitious than any film you will see in a long time.

Rating:
Summary: Not Your Typical War Film
Review: This film is based on James Jone's novel of the same name. If you aren't familiar with Jone's style of writing, he is different in making setting and plot take a back seat to theme and characterization.

This film, like the book, trys to capture the chaos and insanity of war in a different way. In many war films in the past decade,(SPR, Enemy at the Gates, We were soldiers, windtalkers... the list goes on), the magnitude of war is shown mainly through battle sequences. They follow the same guidlines. They ALWAYS give the main characters a distinct and important purpose. The objectives are clear and everything is black and white. At the end of the film, said purpose is accomplished by the main characters which will give most viewers satisfying closure to the what they just seen. Effective; but war isn't black in white. The grayness is made evident in The Thin Red Line.

In this movie, the battle for Guadal Canal is nothing more than a backdrop. The men in C-for-Charlie see the island as a hell hole out in the middle of the ocean. For the most part, they are afraid and unsure of themselves. Each individual wonders how he will hold up when the bullets start flying. However, that is only half the struggle. Not only do they have to fight the japs, but they also must deal with the psycological effects that the situation they are in causes. It is made worse that there is no crystal clear goal or sense of purpose to achieve. No answers. Just questions. Questions that they don't have answers to. Each man wonders if he will survive. How will the war change him? How long will it take before death and dying become common to the point where it is no longer dwelled upon? Will combat trigger the animal or coward within him? He doesn't know. When the battle for Guadal Canal is over the survivors are changed. But there still are questions. The nightmare continues for the survivors because there are more islands to take. The reality of war remains. The only certainty is that war is cruel and must be dealt with through the sacrifice of whatever humanity is left in him. Though the battle is fought by many men, the movie leaves you with one realization. Every Man Must Fight His Own War.

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent
Review: There is little I can add to the praise given to this masterpiece, so I'll be short. This film , I believe, is one of the greatest motion pictures ever made, and it is safe to say it will never be surpassed. The story explores the thoughts and lives of American soldiers on Guadalcanal, an island over which the U.S. fought the Japanese during the Second World War. As previously stated, however, the war merely serves as a backdrop to the feelings and emotions of the men, whose stories and emotions are powerful and deep. Excellent cinematography as well as great acting add to make this beautiful movie one of the most memorable I ever saw. It is the type of film that , as the credits rolled in the movie theater, you remained in your seat still, trying to comprehend what you've just seen. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece
Review: When someone watches an action film as Kill Bill or Rocky, what does he/she benefit? An illusion for 2 hours? An unconscious 2 hours of enjoyment?.. and? and nothing..

In my opinion, the real film, -the film from which watcher benefits- should make him/her think, add value to his/her life and act like a training... Not a formal training in a class, but an informal-focused training...

The thin red line is a so-called "war" film, which has nothing to do with war. It starts with the negative feeling about the nature as "what is this chaos in this nature?", and ends with peace. Those represent lots of things in the world: bad/good mood, capitalism/religion, believing in career/believing in GOD, living for nothing/living for everything.. and etc.

The film is about challenging human life..In order to ask the question of "why do I live in this world?", an easy option -the war- which is directly threating human life is selected.

I watched this film more than 7 times in the last 6 years. 2 times in the cinema. I purchased 3 VCD's of this film, and gave to my friends for watching.. (Even I am giving to new hires to the company, since until today I did not have any other tool better in terms of telling the importance of life, and thinking for the life&death, and living accordingly..)

By the way, a lot of sentences in the film are similar/same with the verses in Bible, -mostly- in Quran, and sentences of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).

I strongly recommend.


Rating:
Summary: Art in cinema
Review: The Thin Red Line is not a war movie, it is far more than that, and it probably due to its profundity that some people think its falls short of being an action classic. Terrence Mallick is a director who creates visually masterful, rambling movies that seem to reflect life as a beautiful, yet contradictory mosiac.

After watching the Thin Red Line many people will ask 'what was the point?', but in the way that is the point. Terrence Mallick derived the script from James Jones similarly titled novel, using it to create a framework for a careful, powerful meditation on the loss of innocence, the pointlessness of human conflict, the natural world and the grandeur of life (Jones purists beware, the film is disdainful of Jone's nihilism and recharacterises several of the protagonists). The accompanying soundtrack by Hans Zimmerman is woven skillfully into the drama, and creates a hauntingly beautiful backfrop to the gritty reality of war, death, suffering and redemption. The undoubted highlight of the film is the performance of Jim Cazviel as Whit, a private in the army who is captured whilst living AWOL amongst aboriginals, who renters the theatre of war with a buddha like simplicity garnered from his formerly peaceful life amongst the simple island inhabitants, that casts the horrors of human conflict into a strangely serene light.
There's really not much more to say, except that appreciated in the right context this film might be considered to be at least one of the greatest works of film and cinematography in history.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible Film
Review: This is a film that seems to neatly divide viewers into those who love or hate the experience. It is a fairly long movie with a complex structure, but its rewards are many. Beautifully shot in the South Pacific, and featuring brilliant performances by an all-star cast, this is a film that probes deep philosophical issues while following the paths of soldiers engaged in the battle for Guadalcanal in WWII.

One of the issues that divides many viewers is its position as a war movie released in the same year as Saving Private Ryan. Undoubtedly, those who went to see this movie hoping for "Saving Private Ryan in the Pacific" came away bitterly disappointed. Let the viewer beware, The Thin Red Line is no more a "war movie" than the Iliad is a "war book". Both use the context of war as a theatre in which to explore some of the central issues of mankind - love, honor, courage, self-sacrifice, individuality and camaraderie. There are few other movies as deeply packed with philosophical baggage, and were it not for the frequent pauses where the camera simply lingers on scenery and wildlife, or follows the quiet moments in the characters lives, this movie would surely overwhelm most audiences.

If you like your movies straightforward and "entertaining", then this may not the film for you. However, if you like a visually and intellectually provocative film that may force you to think, then this movie could be just what you're looking for.

Rating:
Summary: quite emotional
Review: The thin red line carries out the brutality of war where human values disappear inside the green forest.l think green refers the innocence of the world while the war is ready to exterminate it.The music is great,sensitimental,catch me from my soul...Unlike other war movies like saving private ryan it has got a universal vision.just watch it!



Rating:
Summary: Deserves 10 stars
Review: This movie is a complete masterpiece!!!. Likened by me to classics such as 2001, Apocalypse Now and Tarkovski's work.
It contains beautifull cinematography, a wondrous score from Hans Zimmer and fine performances particulary from Nick Nolte.
In no way is it a glorifying picture like Saving Private Ryan. On the contrary it's a more humane and spiritual film containing elements of fear, compassion and loneliness. I dont think any film to date has touched on this level of thoughtfullness. You really do feel the sense of sadness in the death of any soldier in this movie.
In the years to come this film will be remembered as the masterpiece it is unlike the other overrated films of the 90's. Mallick is amongst the great directors such as Kubrick / Peckinpah / Scorcese / Leone etc, and im glad to hear that he is making a new picture finally "The New World".
Its perhaps got too much substance for modern audiences who like films such as Spiderman 2 and Troy.
Long live Mallick and his work and I can say in confidence that of my own opinion this is the finest picture ever made.