Absolutely stunning

Rating: 10/10 (20 March 1999)

I went to watch Thin Thin Red Line with a couple of my friends as soon as it opened in Hong Kong. I realized it was something very special as soon as it started. I had never seen anything like it before. I think this movie is one of the best I have ever seen and director Terrence Malick did his very best. The scenes and images in it were absolutely stunning, and I thought the movie had a very deep meaning in it. It wasn't just some senseless, pure action, war movie or anything. This wasn't just about war: it was about humanity, and every individual person, what we have in common that makes us human.
People who have seen "Saving Private Ryan" can't compare this with it. It is entirely different from Private Ryan. People complained that The Thin Red Line was boring, it had too much commentary in it, it was too long, and a few people even walked out half way through. I have to admit that it was a bit too long and it was a bit boring at times, but it was originally six hours long, and a lot of it had to be cut, in order to shorten it to three hours. That is why some people might say that it seems "incomplete for a movie". Some critics thought the characters were poorly developed. Despite what others said about the film, I enjoyed it very much. It was a very difficult movie to adapt, I personally read the book itself. Terrence Malick tried very hard, at his best, to make this movie and I think people should look at what's great about it, and not only point out the flaws and the bad points to it. The acting was terrific too. Overall, I think this is an excellent movie, and I think everyone should see it, and not be discouraged by those who did not enjoy it.