In my book it was good

Rating: 8/10 (7 November 2005)

I had the privilege of viewing The Thin Red Line on HBO a few days back and my mind is still fresh about it. The film follows the fateful battles of American forces in the plans to take Guadalcanal and two soldiers especially. Private Witt is played by James Caveizel and First Sergeant Edward Welsh is played by Sean Penn.
Caviezel's character isn't really developed enough for my liking. Every time I saw him, I felt that he was just there for the thrill. He does show humanity to the Japanese prisoners and is brought around as the good soldier. Caviezel does give a fine performance even with the few lines he has. He helps you to understand the life of an innocent soldier, a kid in the war there because his country told him to go.
Sean Penn's character is my personal favorite. Penn's character is the only man who is actually realizing the horrors of war and how much devastation they are causing. Malick should have given Penn more screen time because of the way his character and Caviezel's worked so well together.
My favorite part of this film is the way nature is woven with the battle scenes. The battle scenes are unsettling and horribly graphic. But while the war rages on, Malick shows that there is a world beyond the battle. He works animals into the battles like I've never seen. The scene that struck me most was when the baby bird is shown with its feathers charred off and it's dying. It shows the true horror and devastation war has on everyone. The battles will shake you in a way you never thought possible. The scene in the village is one of the most heart-pounding and emotional battle scenes I've ever viewed.
The lead characters are introduced with V.O. (Voice Overs) and in my opinion, is a fresh and interesting way to do so. For a WWII film, The Thin Red Line succeeds. The battles are brutal, the drama is solid, and the characters are somewhat believable unlike other WWII films (coughWindtalkerscough). The film is a step below Saving Private Ryan but still should not be missed.
Nick Nolte gives a powerful performance as the commanding officer and some other supporting roles work well with the film. It is a shame the movie was cut back so much. A war film such as this should have been lengthened a little more, possibly to three hours or even more run-time. In the end, The Thin Red Line is excellent.
The Thin Red Line. Starring: James Caviezel, Sean Penn, John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, Nick Nolte, and Adrien Brody.
4 out of 5 Stars.