"What is this great evil? How did it steal into the world?"

Rating: Null/10 (27 June 2001)

I haven't commented on this film before, simply due to the fact that I had walked out of the theater when I first saw it. It turned out that there were only four minutes left, but I didn't want to comment having not seen the end.. who knows, there actually could have been something interesting in those four minutes. I've just watched it again, on video, and I'd like to give my two cents:
This is a film that pretentious people will say they loved, for the simple fact that it makes them feel smarter than the average viewer You will notice that the majority of the positive reviews given here state that to fully understand this film, you need "patience, open mindedness, (and) intelligence", and to be "intelligent and sensitive". Apparently, if you don't enjoy this film, it is because you are not intelligent enough, and not because this is simply a poorly made film trying to pass itself off as intellectual.
Watching this movie, it is as if someone decided to take the intensity and raw emotion of "Saving Private Ryan", which this film is often compared to, and the creativity and beauty of poetry, and smash them together. There are ways that this could have worked, but they don't here. Rather, "The Thin Red Line" comes off as alienating, frustrating, and weak, albeit beautifully filmed.
There is some vague concept of a plot, hung around a handful of tentpole characters who are either established actors confusing stupidity for humanity, or young men, straight from the latest issue of "Details", who all look alike and spend an inordinate amount of time bathing under waterfalls.

You would think that the amount of time spent on characterization would make the viewer feel something, anything for these characters, but despite what feels like hours of voice-over, nothing is ever really said about them, their lives, or their feelings. In my opinion, I would have had much more empathy with the characters if they had voiced their thoughts in coherent, normal ways. I don't know a single person who expresses themselves in the fashion depicted here... like a Calvin Klein advertisement, only less interesting. Don't take my word for it, look at the 'memorable quotes' section to the left... and remember that these lines were written for a major motion-picture, and not poetry night at the local coffeeshop.
I'm not familiar with Mr. Mallick's work, but I would hope that, due to his reputation, this is an abberation caused by the sudden rush for 'war' films after the success of "Private Ryan". I prefer to think that he is an intelligent director who respects his audience, but was carried away by studio's urging, along with the dozen actors all pulling for their own oscar-winning speech. If this is not correct, and "The Thin Red Line" is indeed the film Mr. Mallick wanted, I find it sad that a respected director would make a film so vapid, egotistical, and, despite it's pretentions, ultimately meaningless.