TRL doesn't live up to promise

Rating: 2/10 (28 January 1999)

My father was a medic on Guadalcanal, and I have studied the
Pacific War since I was 5 years old. I have never been so angry
after leaving a film in my life.
Malick destroyed the gritty realism of Jones' novel. Characters
like Doll, Stein, and Welsh are reduced to pathetic actor's
representations, stressing style over substance. The constant
voice overs tell us how we should feel, instead of the actors
conveying their characters' emotions with actual acting.
Particularly ludicrous was the penchant to lapse into prose
poetry at the slightest provocation. Most of the time I felt
like I was watching a still photograph for 3 hours.
Historically, this film uses a lot of modern equipment, and
dresses planes that weren't on Guadalcanal to look like other
warbirds. This constantly reminded me I was watching a movie.
I think this film is a slap into the face of all of those who
fought on Guadalcanal, and everywhere in war, by trivializing
their experiences with death.