Surreal World

Rating: Null/10 (7 November 1999)

Yeah I saw this one, back in January-and must say that I liked it quite a bit-especially two parts. The long march up the hills, in the foliage and greenery, where the fighting is sudden, sharp and savage. I think this is as good as any of the 'Private Ryan' sequences, save for the opening Landing stuff we all know is a classic.
And the attack through the Japanese camp is well handled too. Nolte and Cusack do well with their roles.
But I had trouble sorting out some of the guys-Chaplin and the one who gets the 'Dear John Letter', among a couple others. Malick spent too much time with the Philosophic nattering and scenic shots-some of which were great but went a Lonnnng way by hour #3.
The movie could use better focus and spent more time on the guys who went up the hill, Woody Harrelson and Cusack and co. It's just something that I found confusing as watching this, and wished they'd fixed before releasing it.
But still, it is quite a film, Malick was nominated for best Director and the movie for Best Film. While I can't rate it over Ryan because the way it loses focus, neither am I slamming it-I enjoyed Thin Red Line, and agree with some of the others here-it has a Kubrick feel to it, doesn't it?
Here's my rating-*** outta ****, good stuff over all.