"One man looks at a dying bird and sees nothing but unanswered pain. another man sees that same bird and feels the glory - feels something smiling through it."

Rating: 10/10 (5 December 2000)

The Thin Red Line is not for those with short attention spans. It is a long, poetic, and very deliberate look into human nature and anyone who sees this film expecting another Saving Private Ryan will be disappointed. The film asks the question, "Where did we go wrong? Is it really human nature to destroy ourselves?" and while the battle scenes are beautifully shot, the linear narrative is not what the film is ultimately about. Similar to 2001, which explored the origins of man and our place in the universe, The Thin Red Line explores the nature of human existence.
This film is about how people, faced with death, can dive deep within themselves and pull out a beautiful image to comfort them and remind them what they are living for. Perhaps it's the intimate touch of your wife, or the way the sun feels on your face as you float in the warm tropical water. But your dream is shattered when you open your eyes and find yourself face down in the mud, gripping a semi-automatic rifle, feeling the weight of a dead friend on top of you, and anticipating the order that might very well send you to your own violent and painful end. You grasp for that one thought - that one memory that can help bring you peace and remind you why life is so precious.
I can not recommend it enough.