profound, moving, visually stunning, resonant

Rating: Null/10 (11 June 1999)

War poetry helps us tune in to the psyche of the soldier and this film was poetry. Not only was it visually stunning (who can forget the bird, the butterfly, the wind through the grass, the islanders), but it actually commented on the nature of war and how different people feel about it. This film is best watched alone in a cinema. Just let it flow over you. It is unlike any war film I have ever seen. It shows the struggle between humans and nature as well as the struggle within. The characters were interesting and diverse and the performances were wonderful. Especially Sean Penn, Elias Koteas, and Ben Chaplin. I love great war movies. I think the truly great ones actually comment on war rather than just showing graphic violence. I know I shouldn't compare but I thought it was a lot better than Saving Private Ryan. That film, while visually stunning, had nothing to say (unless you count the "make my death worthwhile" bit), the bookends were unnecessary and uninspiring and overly patriotic. If you want to see a good war film, see Apocalypse Now, see Platoon (we did not fight the enemy, we fought ourselves; the enemy was in us.) and see The Thin Red Line. The fact that it didn't win the Oscar for best picture is a huge compliment when you consider the bad, bad films that have won it in recent years.