Review of The Thin Red Line (1998) by Andy T — 23 Mar 2015

"War don't ennoble men. It turns them into dogs... poisons the soul.".

I can say without a doubt in my mind that The Thin Red Line is the greatest war film I have ever seen. Saving Private Ryan, which was released the same year as TRL, its a great movie itself but the two cannot be compared. Saving Private Ryan was more of a technical achievement showing the gruesomeness and violence of war, with the Thin Red Line showing the emotional impact of war on the human spirit. The Thin Red Line is beautifully shot, with incredible vivid scenes of this Japanese Island. The action is masterfully done, drawing suspense and keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat. The dialogue is poetic and really captivates human emotion through such turbulent times.

There is one scene toward the middle of the film, in which Americans raid the Japanese patrol camp, really shows well what the Japanese go through, losing their pride and understanding that they have failed their country. The scene comes to a climax as a Japanese POW tries to antagonize the Americans just so they can kill him, putting him out of his shame and dishonor. During this scene Hans Zimmer's amazing incredible score reaches a crescendo, truly captivating me during this scene. One thing that worried me going into this film, was the use of such a large ensemble cast, as too many stars in one film may seem overdone. This is not the case though, as each actor pulls off incredible performances and all their talent comes together as one. There is great chemistry with each of the actors, and the characters exemplify this on screen with their relationships with each other. Terrance Malick shows great direction and vision, as I have never seen such a beautiful film which deals with such dark and real topics.

Though the film is a bit lengthy, not for moment does the story drag, its poetic realism and visual beauty and just incredible acting make this film that you must see if you have not already.