Apples and Oranges

Rating: Null/10 (14 September 2000)

I see that several users have compared "The Thin Red Line" to "Saving Private Ryan". While both have to do with WWII and the trials and tribulations of war, they are really not all that comparable. And I don't mean in the "good or bad" sense; I mean in the fact that just because the neatly packaged mile-a-minute "Saving Private Ryan" appealed to the mainstream audience (myself included), "The Thin Red Line" takes time to actually breathe.
And with that methodic pacing, no not "plodding", I found myself on the edge of my seat. The movie's very different approach to realism, as well as surrealism, sustained my interest, even with the perplexing monologues. You'll notice that the different voices overheard have much to do with the reflection of existence and man's relationship with the world around him. Yes, even with battle, I could imagine one would reflect on his existence- as short lived as it might be. This is captured perfectly at almost every moment with the American's invasion on this Pacific Island.
I found "Saving Private Ryan" to be more of a tightly wrapped package, with it's character driven plot and a very different film confined to certain constraints; it does let loose, but is so much more the emotionally manipulative film. "The Thin Red Line" has its characters more as heralds of emotions and states of mind. No it wasn't the gore extravaganza that war films tend to be, but it rather uses war, WWII in particular, as a vehicle to show what happens when morality collides with life and death. (By the way, it did win it's share of awards, just not the ones that Hollywood tends to pat itself on the back with... :P ).