The Thin Red Line
|
List Price: Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of The Thin Red Line
Movie Review: "Thin Red Line" or "Thin Plot Line"
Summary: 1 Stars
I am shocked by the number of glowing reviews this movie received - I saw it on opening day in a theater crowded with active duty military troops (I am a retired vet), and most got up and walked out by the half-way point! And I wish I had walked out too! Having 14 months+ in Iraq, I do not see that our troops would feel much differently about this movie today than they did back in 1999. My feelings are not based on the fact that the movie is "anti-war" - the more accurately a war movie portrays combat, the less likely it is you want to go out and advocate violence. The problem is that The Thin Red Line is very poorly executed depiction of infantry combat and does not provide either compelling characters or credible story that makes you care.
The Thin Red Line is set during one of the most pivotal battles in the Pacific, but there is non of the sense of desperation in the movie. Plot development? What plot? Character development? None of that either. Dialog? Acting? Wooden and melodramatic. The cinematography is gorgeous, but does not save the movie. How many flashbacks to a the same coconut on a beach can a man tolerate? All in all, I was absolutely bored.
If you are interested in a good war movie set in the WWII Pacific Theater of Operations I suggest The Great Raid based on actual events and adapted from William B. Breuer's book about the 1945 liberation of the Cabanatuan Prison Camp on the Philippine island of Luzon. But I suspect that many of those who have given The Thin Red Line a thumbs up would balk at the The Great Raid which in addition to being anti-war, also demonstrates why you sometimes have to fight with its opening a scene of the Japanese massacre of prisoners of war on Palawan.
Movie Review: A Disappointing Film
Summary: 2 Stars
I had high hopes for this film with its inherently courageous material based upon the Guadalcanal campaign. However, the movie itself has a relentless boredom, much more like a Benneton commercial than a feature film. Malick, despite his Days of Heaven classic, lost touch with audiences and maybe even filmmaking over his 20 year absence. The art of conveying ideas and powerful visual metaphors within a story worked with David Lean. With Malick's work here, it's a whimsical, uncertain philosophical reference without meaning.
Several actors like Jim Cavizel were good to watch but overall the movie meandered so much that, when it ended, I thought that they had left off a reel of film.
Movie Review: Boring, Boring, Boring
Summary: 1 Stars
As a 24-year military veteran, this movie was a complete miss and bore for me. I couldn't wait for this slow paced movie to end! A weak storyline and none existent plot further plagued this attempt to personalize war. The overacting of Nolte and barely noticeable Penn do nothing to overcome the poor directing. I still can't grasp why some people give Penn so much credit for this and other performances. His acting skills are simplistic and unbelievable, unless the part includes a drunk or drug addict.
My advice is to skip this movie and choose one of several better alternatives.
Movie Review: Somehow, it did not engage me.
Summary: 2 Stars
Somehow, it did not engage me. It might be because it did not focus to a few people.
I prefer other WWII movies such as The longest day, Saving Private Ryan, U571, Midway.
Movie Review: Here's the Real Scoop on This Movie ...
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm going to tell it like is.
First so you know where I'm coming from. I vote Republican, I like war movies and I can't stand celebrities preaching anti war propaganda.
It's true, "The Thin Red Line" is very different from "Saving Private Ryan". With SPR, you have a small group of guys that you follow from point A to point B. Real simple. Plus a lot of the film is focused on war images. I think that it could even be argued that some scenes in SPR do not represent our veterans very well, such as Matt Damon's character breaking down and crying during the middle of a battle scene. And it seemed like none of the characters got along in that movie.
I have a grand parent that fought in the same place "The Thin Red Line" is focused on. What's different about TTRL is that instead of being solely focused on battle scenes, it humanizes the troops. By that I mean, it puts you right there in the field with them, and makes you realize these aren't faceless soldiers, they're somebody's wife, husband, or dad. SPR did that a bit with Tom Hank's character but that's about it. TTRL let's you really "experience" what it was probably like to land on a foreign island that's rich in beauty but you know you're about to go into battle shortly.
Some people mentioned that this movie is convoluted and that it doesn't focus entirely on one person. That's true, this movie is the thinking person's Saving Private Ryan. If you want to vege out and see combat while the soldiers remain automons then maybe TTRL isn't for you. But if you can watch a movie like the GodFather and follow along and you want more than CGI and special effects then you'll probably love TTRL.
I gave this movie only 4 stars because after the main battle is over, it does amble on a bit but then picks right back up again.