Possibly the best movie about the Pacific Theater during WWII

Rating: 10/10 (25 November 1999)

The Thin Red Line is possibly the best movie anyone has made yet which shows what World War II in the Pacific Theater was like for those who actually fought there. Having recently read the book "With The Old Breed...at Peleliu and Okinawa," by E.B. Sledge, I wanted to watch TRL. However, I put off watching it because I heard from someone that it should have been named The Thin Red Plot Line. With The Old Breed told of some pretty disturbing scenes and battles in that portion of WWII. Watching TRL, I saw many of the elements noted in WTOB. I really feel that reading this book helped me to understand TRL better. Those who saw the movie and "don't get it" might want to read WTOB (or even the book which TRL is based on) to get a better understanding of this movie. The incredible scenery shots of plants, birds, etc, in the movie serve to remind the viewer that this beautiful view of life could be noted even in the midst of the madness of a battlefield and also that a soldier might not see it again at any moment. The fact that the movie does not seem to have a plot line from beginning to end is most likely due to the fact that this is actually what fighting a war was really like. Nothing made sense, nothing seemed in order and all seemed senseless. Hence the milieu feeling of this movie. War is like that.
My grandfather fought at Guadalcanal, Peleliu, Okinawa, and other areas throughout the Pacific and he knows well what it was like to be there. He would be the first to agree that TRL shows what this portion of WWII was like and how realistic it's hectic milieu feeling is portrayed. If someone were to ask me to recommend one movie that portrays WWII in the Pacific Theater in the most realistic, true-to-life manner, I would recommend TRL without a doubt.