Author Topic: The Thin-Red-Line (Read 674 times)

28sweep · « **on:** October 22, 2002, 07:25:09 AM »

I rented this movie recently and I must say it was a suprise. I think that the cinematography is absolutely staggering. Especially the nature scenes. Just beautiful. Of course, its got an all star cast…John Travolta, Sean Penn, George Clooney, Woody Harleson…etc.. So the rest of the movie is a mystery to me….is brilliant or garbage? Reviews of the movie range from very good to very, very bad. Any opinions here on this movie?

Sikboy · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2002, 08:18:46 AM »

My opinion (and it's only an opinion of course)

It was a movie cursed by being released six months after Saving Private Ryan. Where Speilberg chose to give audiences a simple story about heroism and sacrifice, interlaced with the chaos and tragidy of war, Marick chose to focus on the senseless nature of war itself. Unlike SPR, TTRL doesn't leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling about "The Greatests Genearion."(TM)

As you mention, the cinematography stands out even to those who don't normally comment on such things. And there are parts of the movie which are captivating and sublime. However... I too don't know how to feel about the movie. Terrence Malick has an all star cast, a solid novel to work from, and a 52 million dollar budget. Given that he only makes a movie about once every seven years, I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that he stretches it out to nearly 3 hours (this is the movie that changed my mind about getting that large sprite at the theater. Oi, my bladder had about enough of that

)

To me, TTRL failed because it came across as far to preachy and self indulgent. Yes we get it; war is bad, killing is bad, taking teeth is bad. For me, I prefer to get this lesson from reading. Try Slaughterhouse Five, or Catch 22. The reason I prefer to read about how toejamty we are, is because it can set it down after reading a while, and pick it up again after I've digested for a while. I don't resent critical lessons so much when I can take them in small doses. Seeing TTRL in the theater was a gruling experience that I was not prepared for when I bought my ticket.

I'd like to give it another shot, but my Wife absolutely hated it, so there's not much chance of that

-Sikboy

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2002, 09:04:48 AM »

The movie is one giant rhetorical question.

I'd rather have a root canal than see it again.

And I do enjoy a movie with good cinematography... its just that you have to listen to the dialog at some point.

AKDejaVu

fd ski · « **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2002, 09:51:39 AM »

what sikboy said.

If you're looking for SPR 2, this ain't it.

Monk · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2002, 09:55:02 AM »

That was a good movie, took 3 times to figure it out.

Mickey1992 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2002, 09:59:02 AM »

Not a bad movie at home. Don't know if I would have sat in a theatre to watch the whole thing. Definately not Oscar material in my opinion. Did it win or was it only nominated?

Mighty1 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 22, 2002, 10:01:02 AM »

In another thread I was trying to think of another movie worse than Windtalkers and I totally forgot about TTRL.

I think this was the WORST war movie I've ever seen.

Thrawn · « **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2002, 10:02:43 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKDejaVu
The movie is one giant rhetorical question.

Nice discription.

capt. apathy · « **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2002, 11:18:13 AM »

I very rarely walk out in the middle of a movie (especially at the prices today) I didn't make it halfway through this thing.

I guess the point was to show the senselessness of war by making a movie that was basically senseless.

Yes the cinematography was good, but the story (if there ever was one? I'm not sure.) Sucked. And IMO you can't base a movie on cinematography. It’s something you use to drive home the point. It doesn't work so well when it stands alone and becomes the point. Which is what this film seemed to me- just an excuse to try out new camera angles and scenery while getting as many celebrity headshots in as possible.

Daff · « **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2002, 11:26:15 AM »

Fantastic film..certainly put SPR in context (John Wayne/Hollywood).
Characters that could have been real people, instead of the cartoon cutouts in SPR.
Fighting sequences that seemed totally random, rather than the "I'm gonna say some contentious and then die" in SPR.

Daff

P.S. Pretty sure Thin Red Line went into production before SPR....they spent ages shooting it.

Kratzer · « **Reply #10 on:** October 22, 2002, 12:36:23 PM »

I thought it was an excellent film, and the point wasn't 'war is bad, killing is bad' that toejam is a given. If you think that is the point, you might want to watch it again.

Sikboy · « **Reply #11 on:** October 22, 2002, 12:48:31 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Kratzer
I thought it was an excellent film, and the point wasn't 'war is bad, killing is bad' that toejam is a given. If you think that is the point, you might want to watch it again.

I'd love to, but I've gone over that. Perhaps you could help me out here?

-Sikboy

Saintaw · « **Reply #12 on:** October 22, 2002, 12:50:26 PM »

most boring movie ever (ok ok, maybe it disputes the spot with "you have mail"). I think my ex could still kick me if I reminded her I pulled her by the arm to go & see it.

And the fake letters

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #13 on:** October 22, 2002, 01:27:54 PM »

Saving Private Ryan was a movie.

The Thin Red Line is a film.

That pretty much sums it up. I thought TRL was horrible the first time I saw it (I guess I was expecting SPR in the Pacific) but after watching it a second and third time, I think its fantastic.

IMO, the "point" of the movie is not some new age spin on hippe philosophy, its a film about the challenges facing individual soldiers in combat.

I think the movie COULD have been better had they kept the momentum going. Everytime they cut the scene back to the "wife" who wrote the Dear John letter, I got disgusted... too much poetry/roadkill dialogue and I was sick of seeing the damn woman swinging/bathing.

That said, the other 90% of the film I absolutely loved. It evokes an emotional response - sadness - not unlike Platoon or the end of Glory. You cant argue with the musical score either - great soundtrack.

It also seemed more realistic to me - not in terms of camera angles and effects, but in terms of the characters. Anyone notice that the vast majority of the soldiers actually looked like they were 17? Confusion, fear, nervous breakdown (guy forgetting his name - looking at dog tags in confusion after the initial attack). And in terms of the "heroism" comparison between Tom Hanks' character and (forget his name) the guy that is shot at the end of the film in TRL surrounded by Japs - I dont think you can argue that. Something about good old Tom telling Matt Damon to "Earn this" before dying smells of hollywood. The best scenes in TRL have no dialouge and still make a bigger impact than any scene in SPR.

Wow that was a long post... sorry.

Soulyss · « **Reply #14 on:** October 22, 2002, 01:28:19 PM »

First time I saw The Thin Red Line I was in the theater and I thought it was so long and drawn out that I was tempted to get up and leave, I just about fell asleep. I was impressed with the visuals and cinematography but that along could hold me attention for 3 hours. I watched it again at home after it came out on video/dvd/whatever and enjoyed it more the second time around. I was prepared for a long rather slow paced movie, I think what your expectations are going in have a lot to do with what you think coming out of it.