A War poem....

Rating: 9/10 (14 September 2008)

I've just seen this movie recently, and I can say that as someone who was raised watching war classics such as Saving Private Ryan, Apocalypse Now, and Patton, this is by far the most gripping I have ever seen. I felt as though this film flew right past me in its release, failing to grab attention in the box office and missing out on many of its honorable Oscar nominations. Its been a little over a decade since its release, and I have just gotten the opportunity to see it, hoping for a powerful war drama, with exceptional characters and a haunting ending. I wasn't let down, but I found myself shocked.
The Thin Red Line is a poem, encompassing the brutality and terror of war, as well as the personalities of the characters within it and their own lives, with a dramatic undertone that questions civilization's need for violence and war. The action slams into one like a machine-gun round, the romantic deaths crushing one's heart like an artillery shell. The cast is unbeatable, with Woody Harrelson, Sean Penn, and Jim Caviezel presenting some of the best acting of their careers. Along with an exceptional score by Hanz Zimmer, (his best, I believe) this war film has more to offer than any other i have ever seen.
Anti-war, pro-war, American, or not, see this movie. It has potential to change your life. Amazing. Two thumbs up.