great cinematography and action sequences ruined by meandering plot and inane commentary

Rating: 3/10 (13 November 2002)

the cinematography of this film is beautiful and the action sequences are terrific, but the acting is subpar and the plot is terrible. the movie doesnt explain about where the characters are or even what they're doing. theyre in the pacific during WWII, trying to kill damn dirty faceless Japs. every thirty seconds all dialogue and action is interrupted for meaningless shots of nature and the soldiers wifes sitting in swings or taking showers back home while the actors narrate in very bad southern accents. the narration is the musings of apparent morons on the nature of life and death(the thin red line) and war. Mallick's narrative poetry is repititious and devoid of all sense or meaning. such philosophical gems include 'who was it that is shooting at us', and well, i cant remember anymore of the crap that i had to listen to for the better part of 2 hours. dont waste your time on this drivel. 3/10