Probably the greatest film ever made

Rating: 10/10 (12 March 1999)

I find it unbelievable to read the sort of comments that have been put on the web concerning this masterpiece. Without responding to any particular comment: this film does not develop characters because that is part of the message; war embraces all men and crosses all socio-political boundaries - do I really have to know anything about a character to see the senselessness in his death?
Also, to suggest that the scenes depicting nature so beautifully are merely arty rubbish just highlights the ignorance of those commenters. By comparing war with natural beauty the film highlights the ridiculous extent man has gone to by ending life and destroying such beauty.
The film also breaks the mould in that out of the countless war films made this one has finally taken a fresh approach to dealing with death. Finally a film seems realistic when showing the reactions of men in a combat situation - my favourite scene being the silence and restless inactivity that proceeds the order to charge the enemy in a suicidal attempt to gain a ridge; it perfectly depicts the reluctance of sane men to take part in an insane war.
There is so much more I could praise this movie for but I feel as though my words would be wasted on deaf ears. This film is clearly a masterpiece - all one has to do is sit and think and reflect on the film as it unfolds rather than wait for the next action sequence or explosion. I rejoice at the fact that many people feel similarly to me yet I cringe when I hear the moans of action junkies and philistines.