Where James Jones lost Terrance Mallick

Rating: Null/10 (20 January 1999)

For those of you who have not seen the Thin Red Line read the book. I found the movie enjoyable, yet distant. After pondering for a few minutes I realized why. Complete Lack of Characterization. I knew who the characters were, from reading the book, however, I still couldn't connect with them. I couldn't feel their thoughts or motives, and found myself not really inspired. The book was a conflict between Sgt. Welsh and Private Witt. Between Lt. Stein (Staros) and Col. Tall. Between Sgt. Storm and Charlie Dale. It was the maturing of Witt, Dale, and Fife. NONE of this was in the film. The film portrayed Charlie Company as a whole, whose only conflict was with the faceless Japanese. Although the raid on the Small Japanese base was excellent, and the bunker scene phenomenal (on the money too, I still couldn't connect to their plight. Unfortunately, it seemed to me, that the characters were already less than innocent when they hit the beach, the heroes were already molded, and the enemy, well the enemy was just there to catch bullets. Hats off to the cinematography though, I wouldn't want to charge that hill. Also for those that read the book, you may have felt like I did, that the climax was the bunker and the taking of the hill. Everything else was just mopping up.