profound use of war as a stage for a philisophical question

Rating: Null/10 (22 March 1999)

This brilliant film uses war as a stage for one of the great philosophical questions, is there any inherent value in life or is there only what we determine to be. In the opening talk between Sean Penn and Witt this is put forth "one man is worth nothing....there ain't no world but this one" verses Witts "I know there is because I have seen it". The constant tension of the film revolves around these two views as do the uses of nature and the many brilliant scenes. The most memorable being a soldier who removed the gold out of enemy soldier's teeth holding himself as he weeps and throwing the teeth away, finally his humanity has challenged his lower nature. Private Ryan , which I enjoyed, has no scene nearly as soulful. There is a MUCH stronger sense in RED LINE that the war will never leave any man who survives it, except for Ryan himself, this is not even touched on in Private Ryan. Criticism of the plot not being clear is foolish, maybe to slow for some, but VERY clear, take the hill then clear the enemy out afterwords. From beginning to end, a brilliant, soulful examination of how humans struggle to find purpose and value in the most hellish situations.