Poetry On Film

Rating: 9/10 (23 September 2005)

This is not a movie for the "MTV Generation". This is not a movie for those with short attention spans. This is not a movie for people who want some disposable entertainment to "veg out" to. No. This is quite possibly, one of the deepest and thought provoking movies to have come out of Western cinema and is quite possibly to deepest view into the hearts and minds of men at war that has ever been seen. I think the perfect definition of this film would be to liken it to poetry on film. There is much introspection from the characters involved particularly the lead character (played by James Caviezel). To compare it to the likes of "Saving Private Ryan" which was released several months earlier would be unfair because "The Thin Red Line" goes about it's business in a far different manner. It does not try to "check the boxes" so to speak as regards the war movie genre. What it does do however, is portray a fascinating insight into the minds of these young men and the way they feel as regards the brutality that they see each day and their own mortality. Director Terrence Malick has triumphed here. As I said - It's not a movie to watch if you want some light viewing. But if you want something more substantial and thought-provoking. Then this could be the movie for you.