Was this just a "property war"?

Rating: 9/10 (13 August 1999)

I knew going in that Terrence Malick requires some patience and pondering. "The Thin Red Line" does meander, quite frequently. But, after seeing "Days of Heaven", I knew it was coming. However, I also expected some stunning cinematography. Obviously, again, I was not wrong. This picture is gorgeous, and one of the strongest aspects of the film is its underlying comparisons between what is natural and destructive. Throughout "The Thin Red Line" a viewer sees nature at its most precious, and the war destroying this environment. The gorgeous destruction of Terrence Malick's film is a powerful issue, as is the question of who and why this destruction exists. Since this film conveys heavy doses of fright and occasionally cowardice by the troops, the question appears, and its a powerful question. However, raised on the Vietnam films of "Platoon", "Apocalypse Now" and "Full Metal Jacket", I can understand the insanity of it all. War is hell, to quote a phrase, and is obviously appropriate to condemn. However, is it truly appropriate to label WW2 as merely a "property war", as coined by Sean Penn's character? Wasn't WW2 a little more important and worthwhile than that? However, I digress. The performances of Nick Nolte and Sean Penn are exceptional, as is Terrence Malick's gorgeous attention to detail. However, the philosophies of this tale and Malick's explicit appreciation for nature downtrod the story at hand. This was also a flaw in the beauty of "Days of Heaven". And unfortunately, I was expecting this too! I will say that the first viewing was tedious and disappointing. However, this is a film that stays with you, and thus, I am sure that I will get more out of it after another sitting.