one of the best films

Rating: Null/10 (18 February 1999)

TRL is one of the most powerful films I've seen. It is too bad that the trailer inaccurately depicted the movie as an action-packed war movie. I thought TRL was closer to THE PIANO than to SAVING PVT RYAN.
I especially liked the images. Opening with the crocodile gliding into the water and ending with the palm tree sprouting on the beach. Other memorable images were the birdcages when Witt's mother died and when Witt talks with Welsh in the house. The orchid in front of the burning Japanese camp, the mother hen and her chicks, all interesting.
There have been several criticisms of TRL: 1) no character development, 2) no plot, 3) too long, and 4) trying to be too deep.
Witt, Welsh, and Doll all developed during the movie. Witt grows to realize that evil may be inherent in men (witness his return to the native villagers where they fight and have enemy skulls). Welsh realizes there is more than making an island of oneself (his aiding of the gut-shot soldier). Doll realizes the effect Witt has had on others in the final voice-over as the ship leaves the shore.
The plot is there. This is a complex and difficult film. Careful attention must be paid to the voice-overs and the images to understand the plot. It is essentially the same as the book: the growth of men in combat with the spirituality of Witt thrown in.
The only extraneous scenes were the cameos of Travolta and Clooney. Even these scenes helped to develop the characters: Col. Tall's ambition and the contrast between Clooney and Staros as father figures. The acting of Travolta and Clooney fell short. Even with these scenes removed, the movie would have been "long."
The movie (especially Witt) was spiritual. This was an interesting difference from the book where Witt was a prejudiced boozer. It was a little strange to hear Eastern philosophy about the interconnected nature of all things being voiced with an Kentucky accent but it was definitely not "dime-store" philosophy.
If you don't like to think or if you are looking to be spoon-fed and manipulated, then this movie is definitely not for you.