A painfully slow film

Rating: 4/10 (16 January 2000)

I'm deeply disappointed. This film was said to contend with Saving Private Ryan - but it's nowhere near it when it comes to narration technique and flow. The Thin Red Line is excruciatingly slow-moving, like syrup. Few movies are duller than this one. Yes, the more poetic moments are nice and the cast perform very well - but when a film lacks momentum like this one, it just never takes off. It feels like six hours instead of almost three.
And what's the point. Yeah, I see it, it's about the horrors of war and the meaninglessness of killing each other. But The Thin Red Line rather observes rather than points out, and this just adds to the dullness. I sure hope I won't have to see it again.