My favorite of all time.

Rating: 10/10 (3 May 2000)

Transcendent. I wish there were a more magnificent way to describe this piece of wonder. "The Thin Red Line" is quite certainly the greatest piece of art that I have ever beheld in the entirety of my existence.
So many films excel in one or two or maybe three areas, and are considered exceptional. In this film, every single facet unifies into a beautiful, magical force, and one may be left exhausted after experiencing it, or perhaps in a confused state of edification and pure awe.
It begins with a story, that of soldiers, each one an individual with unique pasts and futures, thrown into a war together. There is friendship, as between Bell and Doll, and rivalry, as between Witt and Welsh, or Staros and Tall. This coexistence of peace and violence is mirrored in the subject of the unknown, omniscient narrator's voiceover. This voice speaks of the "war in the heart of nature," how perhaps there exists "not one power but two," as the land resists the barrage of the sea, and as armies fight each other, and as men stand in opposition of themselves. Dramatically, this film is a powerhouse.
Not ceasing in its brilliance, however, "The Thin Red Line" displays Malick's unparallelled visual sense, as well as his tremendous talent in editing. Of course, John Toll, Billy Weber and Leslie Jones all deserve great praise for their contributions in these areas (such as their Academy Award nominations), but clearly, the master plan was Malick's.
The island of Guadalcanal comes alive in the cinematography--it is no longer a place but an entire breathing world, feeling the pain of the wounds of war, and sighing contently with the soldiers when they, Witt in particular, feel the beauty of its paradise.
And such genius editing cannot be found anywhere but here. Malick embraces both continuity and montage styles as he relates the chaotic melee of battle, or the comparison of a family of natives to a cluster of fruit on a tree. Such freeness of style creates a mellifluous flow of ideas and tones and pace, and there is nothing left to do but exhale.
Entering into Hans Zimmer's masterful score or discussing the characters' drifting voiceovers, not to mention the rest of the film's marvellous sound would probably amount to just too much, unfortunately. But these elements do not at all fall short of the excellence of the rest of it--they also reach an unattainable perfection in this film which I simply haven't seen anywhere else. And on top of it, there is the outstanding ensemble acting. There's just way too much to say about "The Thin Red Line."
I am past recommending this film. I demand it. It must be seen. Something of such rareness and majesty cannot be missed, by anyone on this breathing earth. I am not writing this as a critic, which perhaps has been suspected already. I am an artist. And I behold this film as one. It is with all of my being that I praise this thing of beauty.