A Masterpiece and one of the few best war movies ever

Rating: 10/10 (26 August 2015)

Greetings from Lithuania.
"The Thin Red Line" (1998) for many years in my mind was in a constant fight for the best war movie title with "Saving Private Ryan" and "Apocalypse Now". For some time i considered "The Thin Red Line" as the best war movie ever. At the moment i think that both previous titles are better war depictions then "The Thin Red Line", but "Line" is a sure number 3 war movie ever on my list and it will probably stay there until my time is done.
"The Thin Red Line" is a masterpiece. I say this very rarely, but it is true in this case. It is bold, unfocused (but highly controlled), poetic, brutal (but not overdone) take on the war.
I saw this picture ~5 times, and every time i saw something new. Probably it depends on the age of the viewer, but this is not an easy movie to watch. It's narrative is not a typical, pacing can be excruciating, but when it starts, it is impossible to put it down, its like a great novel. Probably the best way to enjoy "The Thin Red Line" is simply to relax and be taken by this movie.
Never before i saw nature depicted like in "The Thin Red Line". With the opening shoot of a crocodile to a closing take on the beach with a flower, the great Terrence Malick shows us that nature is unbreakable, no matter what happens in between and between people, nature like this flower will always remain, even if people will catch the crocodile.
Big and one of the most impressive cast ensemble off all time creates characters that are not sharply drawn, and sometimes it is not easy to identify with them. I think that was the point. It is easy to identify to my favorite character Pvt. Witt, because he is like an outsider in this situation. At the same time he is a great soldier (experiences and trustworthy in combat), but at the same time he is not a soldier - he does what he is forced to do. The opening scene with him deserted on the island with locals are amazing, they showcase what is essential - love, life, caring for each other - and when the ship comes, we understand that it carries everything opposite to that.
I could write about almost every scene in this movie - landing on the beach; soldiers march through landscape with native who walks by without noticing soldiers; a terrific opening battle scene (music, cinematography, acting); tension before it; unforgettable attack on the village, with long unbroken shoot witch is filled with long lasting images; the conversations between Pvt. Witt and Sgt. Edward Welsh (Sean Penn); the great monologues from Nick Nolte's character; torn between duty and humanity Elias Koteas's captain Staros; scene where human dies, and a bird is being born...
Overall, "The Thin Red Line" is masterpiece, but not for everyone. There are a lot of people who dislike this picture, and it is not hard to understand why. The sometimes non linear narration, construction of this movie and pacing can be very hard for action orientated mainstream audience, especially if you compare it to more "easier" approach of "Saving Private Ryan" (which i think is a better war movie overall). The best way to admire "The Thin Red Line" is just to be taken by it. This is one of the very best films ever created with war theme and overall.