I have seen all of Malick's films and have found them average and overated. However the thin red line stands alone. Malick captures human nature beautfully through war with intesnse and masterfully crafted war scenes. Malick's style has never worked so well in a film! One of the best movies of all time!

The Thin Red Line is up there with the greatest WWII movies of all time. It has incredible visuals that blow you away, and realistic war "gameplay." The Thin Red Line also offers the strangest insights into life lessons, mostly spoken by Witt. Ferociously suspenseful, The Thin Red Line is Terrence Mallick's masterpiece, and was a high contender at the 1999 Oscars.

This and Apocalypse Now eliminate the need for anyone to ever make another war film. Deep, surreal, poetic, and stunningly beautiful.

Quite possibly the worst waste of three hours I have experienced. I rarely knew who I was looking at, as the soldiers all looked the same, and even more seldom was the feeling that I should care about them. The voice-over-narrators all sounded the same, all spouting a similar, formulaic monologue to the effect of, "Who am I? Why are we fighting? Where do thoughts come from?" When I wasn't bored with the monologue, I was engulfed in a score that lacked any power and swelled when it should have been silent or was silent when it should have swelled. In fact, the characters had no dynamics either. They all acted like scared little boys, both the experienced and those whose first war this was, and it is a wonder they weren't all killed by the Japanese. That would have been impossible, however, as the Japanese were inept at shooting just about everything, not to mention they seemed to enjoy running over the hill towards the enemy, shouting instead of taking up positions and shooting. One shining example of this is when the Americans take Hill 210 and run into the main encampment of the Japanese, much to their surprise. The clearly outnumbered Americans then slaughter nearly every Japanese they can point their gun at while the Japanese simply decide it is better to run away than pick up their guns and fight. This film is misguided and sporadic, having only a vague plot, obscure goals, little to no characterization, and a pace so slow there is time to formulate your own cliche ponderings on life.… Expand

A great book turned into a crappy film. This is the second screen adaptation, attempted adaptation, of James Jones classic novel, and both fail miserably. Three, long, boring hours of meandering garbage. Japanese soldiers inaccurately portrayed, story garbled, an incredible waste of time.

I saw someone earlier said "this and Apocalypse Now eliminate the need for anyone to ever make another war film." I couldn't agree more. Sean Penn's burned out performance is a must see. Don't compare it to Saving Private Ryan. Let the two exist in their own realms. Where Saving Private Ryan is a great war film, Thin Red Line is simply a great film.

Everything a war movie should be made of - just an inch short of matching "Saving Private Ryan."

This isn't just a war movie. It's an existential examination of the nature of man's conflict within the context of nature, humanity, hierarchy and survival. The voice overs, the cinematography, the diaglogue, the acting, the tension, the brutality, the brotherhood....and who can forget the music. I could go on and on and on. A unforgettable cinematic masterpiece which gets better with each extra viewing. There can be no higher recommendation for a literary deconstruction on the nature of man and conflict. Quite simply breathtaking.… Expand

This is a stunning and deeply moving film that far surpasses its genre contemporary "Saving Private Ryan" in both artistry and technical execution. The movie is based on the James Jones novel of the same title, but Terence Malik translates the book into a unique cinematic experience, distinct from the written version but still evoking the same powerful ideas and emotions. This film is NOT going to please a large segment of the "mainstream" audience that wants to see the same simplistic and moronic narratives repeated over and over endlessly, like some never-ending Wednesday afternoon of "Charles in Charge." The Thin Red Line doesn't provide the viewer with all the answers or a comforting moral victory at its ending. It does explore the brutality of war and the psychology of the men engaged in combat, and it will make you think - provided you are still capable of thought and don't expect the screenplay to think for you. … Expand

Best film ever made.

Quite a shame that it was overshadowed by the oscar friendly "Saving Private Ryan" in 1998. Possibly the best war movie ever made.

Ridiculous. The emperor is without clothes.

One of the great films of a great filmmaker. Patient, frightening, daunting. It best captures the random horror and pointlessness of war, sometimes the shock erupting from boredom. The context-less death. The meaninglessness of a 'mission' or any moral framework given to industrial murder, what we call war. It might even be necessary at times, but this is one of the few films that isn't a hallmark card to the participants; it's a simulcrum of what they went through, the price of it all. No one who advocates war, especially those that want to beat their chests about the might of this nation, should do so without understanding what this film captures: the price of conflict, the horror of warfare.… Expand

Beautiful.

Everything "Saving Private Ryan" should have been.

Poetic, cerebral, and ultimately optimistic, The Thin Red Line is a challenging watch. Almost the perfect opposite of the visceral and gritty "Saving Private Ryan" (comparisons are inevitable), The Thin Red Line is presented via a complex narrative style. The narration and action switch from character to character, creating a textured mosaic. Following the strands is difficult and has no doubt put many viewers off the film, but it does have the benefit of giving the soldiers an unprecedented level of depth and emotion, and, as such, dignity. Indeed, this is an oft-overlooked area in the war genre (case point: the cardboard character-types in "Saving Private Ryan"...). By shunning a more conventional method of presentation, Malick has created hauntingly hypnotic impression of war. I have little doubt this will go down as a classic.… Expand

This is the only movie I had to apologize to my friends for dragging them to go see. The commercials had me think it would be a "Saving Private Ryan" in the Pacific. That's a gross mis-representation of a long, boring movie that seemed to have very little to do with war. It's a 3 hour long "Obsession" perfume commercial, or at least it makes as much sense as one. This is the typical art crap that critics love and the general public detests. If you like your war movies to focus on a flower in the middle of the combat, or to flash back to some guy's wife 20 times, then this movie is for you. Otherwise, go rent a good war movie like "Ryan" or "Enemy at the Gates".… Expand

I made the same mistake as nevin. This is a sorry excuse for a movie. It tried to hard to be dramatic and in doing so it made me and my friends fall asleep. Go see 'Saving Private Ryan' if u want a good war movie.

I liked this movie a lot because it wasn't an action/war movie it was more like just a war movie, they showed the reality of World War two, and the realities of any war for that matter.

Simply the best movie ever produced. Challenge yourself.

Sublime.

Good portrayal of the dark side of war, great performances, and decent realistic action scenes and introspective thoughts, but the pacing was probably what prevented this flick from universal acclaim. THere's mostly talk all the time, and people could fall asleep before they got the full message. Somewhat lackluster WWII flicks like windtalkers and pearl harbor sucked, but they succeeded at one thing: FX laden action that pins you to the seat. Just a few carefully placed, 4-10 minute CG/FX enhanced dogfights or battleship duels, and maybe an extra land battle would keep the audience more awake and alert, without taking too much from the film's central purpose.… Expand

Malick might only make films once in a blue moon, but this is yet another jewel in his crown. The plot and structure might leave much to be desired but Malick demonstrates what he does best here. Capturing the awe-inspiring beauty and using it to provide context for a morality play. If you fancy an alternative to the condescending, sentimental approach of Spielberg in Saving Private Ryan as I did, I recommend this film highly.… Expand

Ethereal meditation on humankind's dual nature. Beautifully scripted, acted, and shot.

"Heard melodies are sweet, those unheard are sweeter" - Keats. The most devastating (and devastatingly beautiful) moments in this movie happen in silence. It is so rare and wonderful to find such an brave and strangely intimate meditation on good and evil, beauty and horror.

Sublime, deeply moving work of beauty and redemption. A meditation on reality. This film is a spiritual experience. It is one of the greqtest films ever made.

So much more than a war movie, it's almost NOT a war movie so much that it is a movie about Men. Deep and meaningful. Unparalleled cinematography. I can watch this move again and again and it still moves me.

Technically it is ingenious. The cinematography is magnificent, the editing, sound and score as well. Skillfully directed by Malick and it has an incredible cast of great performances. Brutally realistic, thought provoking and unforgettable. It's main flaw is it's staggering length.

Before watching, hear this: THIS IS NOT A WAR FILM. If you watch it for the action you will be totally disappointed. This movie much like Homer's The Iliad; the war is used as a setting for Malick to express his views on human nature in times of tribulation. The movie features pairs of corresponding characters. The cynical Sgt. Welch (Penn) corresponds to the optimistic Pvt. Witt (Caviezel). Witt is considered to be the main character, with his tranquility and hope opposing the basic feelings of ordinary soldiers. The soft-spoken and diligent Captain Staros oftens conflicts with the angry, bloodthristy Col. Tall (Nolte), and their confrontations play a major role in the film. A few other main characters include Pvt. Bell (Chaplin), a man who finds comfort through his love for his wife, and a lieutenant (Cusack) who leads a charge on a bunker. Flashbacks are used to emphasize the character's true emotions. and, when it is all over, the soldiers only realize that this was one island, all their sacrifice given for one island, in a war of many.… Expand

Brilliant! Malick's cinematography is magic. His masterfully created savage dreamscape is mind-blowing. The script remains very close to the Jones novel of the same title; what the writers add, particularly through voice-overs is incredible. Breath-taking filmmaking in every respect. My favorite movie of all time.

This is a horrible movie - too absent and distorted to make any sense of a character structure or plot structure. The movie was so choppy and full of meaning that the audience has an overdose of metaphor and irony. To string together voice overs and the character's saying them is next to impossible unless it is Bell because at least then it flashes to his wife - making that connection. Wit is such an intricate character that a three hour movie could be done on him alone. There is no purpose for George Clooney, Woody Harrelson, John Savage, or John Travolta, and their scenes - because out of all their scenes only the Cloony one has any positive motion for the movie. This movie had such success only because it is an American war movie done artistically, and now - a - days everyone wants to be part of that. People who don't even understand this movie hail it as a masterpeice. But there is a moral here, THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES moral, everyone pretends that they are something they are not and are only jackasses for it. That pride and unconprimising attitude of Americans about our wonderful country reminds me of something - oh yeah, they were called the Nazi's. Get real people.… Expand

One of the three greatest films ever made. It is so far ahead of any other war movie that it almost negates the purpose of the genre.

Although it had some stunning war footage, the intellectual parts dragged on for much too long which also made the movie seem as long as the war itself. Compared to other war movies this is "Saving Private Boring".

No wonder it bombed at the box office...it is truly brilliant: the masses it was never intended for and I commend the studio for making it, and also not starring Ben Affleck in any role.

This is not a "war film". It is a serious attempt to view the realization of sin and salvation. Look for the Gospel message in the Melanesian natives and the myriad (yes it is an appropriate use of that word) biblical quatations and prayers. I'm not sure why Travolta was in it either but that's why I took off one star. I am glad Malick came back to do this film.

This movie said everything it had to say in the intro and battle for the hilltop. Deftly. Brilliantly. With terror in the windy waves of grass of a color too green to be seen. Perfect music score. Startling visual composition. Fearsome action. Actual fear, adrenaline, pain and rage in the faces of the soldiers of both sides to a man. Awesome performance by Nolte - he should have been a general, not an actor. Held its own with the concurrently-released Saving Private Ryan by applying an extra dimension, the battlefield as the underlying battlefield of the mind. The juxtaposition to natural quiet and peaceful scenes didn't hurt the film at all, though some viewers didn't appreciate the diversion. The melancholy for the faithful but soon to be wayward wife was over the top, but touching nonetheless. It was a 10 movie. Then it was half over. Crimony, the film didn't know when to stop. This energizer bunny was home free. But it just kept going and going and going, restating itself with more life and more death until it became a dissertation of the obvious and a casualty of its own truth. There's a reason they give Oscars for Editing - the most rigorous and overlooked art involved in filmmaking. Even the critics got sidetracked. There's nothing wrong with Malick's grandiose ideas any more than any other idea that ever induced placing an image on film. Just put it out there. No need to elaborate. Then, if your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt. … Expand

This is one of my favorite movies. If this bored you, it obviously wasn't a movie for you. Maybe dumb and dumberer or a stalone movie are more up your alley.

So much better and deeper than Saving Private Ryan, this phylosophical masterpiece of cinema takes you on an emotional trip into the human nature. And than there's that soundtrack who adds a great sphere to the stunning visuals.

A movie more about the soldiers feelings and fears, the soldiers all seem to have personal delema's each time they have to do anything. I find it iritating to watch and annoying, also slightly depressing. They seem to have no training and cant make decisions on how the take on the enemy. The soldiers are all soft and teary eyed. Overall you couldnt pay me enough to watch it again

The greatest of all.

A very poetic look at war.

Superb, thought it was slow the first time i watched it, but it aint its just so much more sutle that savin p r.

Well, let me blow these ratings apart. My whole family watched this, ages 18 to 60 and we all thought it was terrible. A badly overdone, unrealistic, dark movie that looked like a stage play, pathetic script, campy Shakespearean actors, as wooden as it gets. If it wasn't so damn boring we could have enjoyed it as a comedy. I was hoping they would all die quickly and that was about half way through this home video.… Expand

This movie would have been great if it were not for all the faggot actors trying to look tough and mean. What an insult to the true heroes who paid the ultimate price in this campaign. Woody & Buzz could've done a better job

Perhaps the most boring movie of all time. I think I would prefer 3 consecutive dental appointments than be forced to again stare at dolphins swimming around while some guy reads poetry. Imagery shimagery, it was pretentious and dull.

The one movie I have seen where I do not want to change a thing. Absolutely brilliant.

Not only one of the greatest war movies ever made, along side in modern times Speilbergs' 'Saving Private Ryan, but arguably one of the most poignant films to date about humanity. Quite simply, a masterpiece.

Ambitious and thoughtful but far too academic and archly conceptual, it fails to connect on a visceral level. Perhaps, that's the intention, to convey a sense of the oversoul, to tap into that transcendental state where boundaries between man and nature, between nationalities are mere illusions, manifestations that we often mistake for permanent truths when in fact they all rise from and dissolve back into some unfathomable source. Rewarding and thoughtprovoking but it is still a war movie and as such doesn't satisfy. … Expand

Characters, imagery, theme, metaphor, emotion, message. Check. Story. Not so much. All this movie needed was a premise behind the beauty.

A beautiful and oftentimes awe inspiring meditation on war and conflict. I found it to be one of the more spiritualy nourishing films I have ever seen. That said it clocks in at 3+ hours and probably not a good recomendation for those who don't have art/foriegn film leanings.

Stunning.

I completely agree with Dileep R. This movie is very underrated.. not only is it well-written, well acted, and well-filmed, on beautiful islands with awesome imagery, it also tackles the morality and harsh reality of war. Even Spielburgs "Saving Pvt. Ryan" failed to do that. The only film I'd say does that as well is "Flags of our Fathers". This is a must see for every person who comes across it. We owe it to our veterans to at least acknowledge what they went through, and that is, the insanity of war. Or, as Dileep R. put it, "industrial murder". Good phrase.… Expand

This film is heavily underated for it's coherent use of cinematography and silent timing. Not your average war film, conveys underlying theme throughout.

This is probably my favorite film ever made, excepting possibly A Clockwork Orange or the equally stunning and poetic Russian "indie" war film Come and See, but prospective viewers must be warned that, if the dictionary ever began covering oft-used phrases in addition to words, this would be listed in the example section of the entry for "love it or hate it." One of the most truly divisive movies I've ever seen - some absolutely despise it, as you can see in this review section, and some, like myself, cherish it as a work of art. Consider yourself warned.… Expand

A stunning movie made in a type of stream of consciousness manner. It is beautiful and mesmerizing, complex and simple, flowing and centres on various characters and their thoughts and changes each undergoes. Brilliant.

There are movies like The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, and The Empire Strikes Back that are so good you don’t know what to say. What is there to say? These types of movies are so flawless that a critic can barely say anything after a viewing. When something’s perfect it can speak for itself. That’s not to say that I think The Thin Red Line is one of these movies. I do believe that for what it is, it’s a perfect movie. The Thin Red Line, often referred to as “1998’s Other War Filmâ€� was overshadowed by the overrated Saving Private Ryan, which isn’t a bad movie. It’s not a new kind of movie though. I’m very disappointed in the lack of acknowledgment in this film at it’s release. It’s clearly the better movie in pretty much every way possible. Where Saving Private Ryan romanticizes its violence and battle sequences, glorifying them in some cases, The Thin Red Line makes these same types of sequences almost impossible to watch. It’s easy to watch Spielberg’s scenes because they have no conscience. We see his soldiers winning the battle so it’s ok. Maybe a few of them die, but the end justified the means. Malick’s haunting and meditative piece describes the exact opposite mindset. No matter who technically “winsâ€� a war, no one wins on the inside. Even after victories, soldiers lose their sanity, their leaders are relieved or feel guilty, their friends are dead, etc. There’s no glory in the fighting of The Thin Red Line. Even when you strip this movie down to it’s core, it’s the superior of the two. The acting is phenomenal. My only complaint is that most of the enlisted characters seem to have southern or country type accents. Even so, they’re well spoken and believable, but it gets a little redundant. My hat certainly goes off to Elias Koteas though. He’s definitely come along way since Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at this point. Koteas delivers one of the most heartbreaking, touching performances in the film’s almost three hour running time, and he’s not even in the final 35% or so of the movie. He plays Captain Staros from every angle as well. He plays a stern leader reprimanding a private during battle for not obeying him. He plays a rebellious officer who doesn’t want to send men to their deaths. He plays a soft-spoken and almost embarrassed subordinate to Nick Nolte’s Lieutenant Colonel Tall. They all culminate in a final father figure before he departs the film. I think his voice over is also my favorite. Koteas, while not the only excellent actor here, is probably one of the least known. This film is noteworthy for it’s extensive ensemble cast, and those that weren’t famous at the time used it as a springboard for their future careers, most puzzlingly John C. Reilly who went on to the incredible Magnolia and moved on to Talladega Nights and Step Brothers from there. While the acting is excellent, so is the cinematography and score. The luscious green vegetation and wildlife juxtaposed against these horrific battle sequences is genius. Hans Zimmer’s score is absent and then begins to slowly swell during the ultra violence as the soldier’s mindset becomes more and more numb to the fighting. Eventually, the sound disappears and all we hear are his haunting chords drawing everything into a frenzied blur. The Thin Red Line is the opposite of other “greatâ€� movies because there’s so much to say about it. While I’m speechless when it comes to films like The Godfather, there’s always something to discuss about Malick’s masterpiece.… Expand

Was like suffering through a 2 hour Calvin Klein commercial, Apocalypse Now style. My God what a heady bunch of crap! Should be called the "The Thin Pink Line", 'cuz this was a complete Metro waste of film.

Although receive good reviews, I think War Movie is not my type. Slow-paced, explosion - didn't attract me enough. I think Terrence Malick give his best for this movie, beautifully filmed.

This film is more entertaining than a 3 hour delay at Heathrow,,, but only marginally. If the film were edited down to the scenes with humans in (or better still to those where they actually have something to do or say!) then you would be left with a powerful 60 mins. Sadly, the director has self-indulgently bloated it out with hour after tedious hour of rivers, dolphins, trees, fields, sunsets (sun-rises..). A shot of a field or a mountain has told me everything it can after 5 to 10 seconds, so why am I forced to stare at it for another minute and a half!? Clearly some arty farty space-cadet types like it, but I suspect the common mortal like myself, will lose the will to live long before the half-way point.… Expand