The best war film ever

Rating: 10/10 (27 February 2001)

Right then let me first start by saying, all of those people who think that Saving Private Ryan is the best war film of recent years should either a)take another look at this or b)stop following the hype. The reason that Saving Private Ryan is rated higher than the Thin Red Line was that it was released earlier. However for pure brilliance nothing can touch the Thin Red Line. The cinematography is some of the best ever and the story line is impeccable. Looking at the trials of a few men in a platoon and seeing how they get through the horrors of war, as the tag line says 'every man fights his own war'.
Also unlike Saving Private Ryan the Thin Red Line does not need to rely on the shock factor (e.g. people getting bullits through the head in all its bloody detail). I'm not saying that Saving Private Ryan doesn't have a moral to it (war isn't fun) but it goes a little over the top at some stages. The Thin Red Line has the gore but uses it to maximum effect, and only when absolutely necessary. Finally one other point to make is the acting, for a non starring cast in the lead roles I don't think I have seen much better.