A smashing movie with some lovely acting

Rating: 9/10 (24 May 2003)

Somebody once said that war is not about guns and explosions, but about people.
Strictly speaking, war is about guns, explosions and people. But the basic premise of the aforementioned quote is sound.
The Thin Red Line focuses more on the people, but not at the expense of the guns and explosions. As such, you get a wider picture of the conflict in which the movie is set, rather than myopically centered on the microcosm of battle. How's that for big words? I'm impressed, and you should be too.
In this movie, the audience is given the opportunity to relate to most characters before they are shot or blown to bits. I suppose this helps to convey the tragic waste of wars and something else profound.
To summarise: if you like war movies but don't like this movie, there is something wrong with you.