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The Thin Red Line Details

1998 DVD Certificate 15.gif
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 11,224 members

Terrence Malick returns to Hollywood after a two-decade hiatus with this adaptation of the classic WWII novel by James Jones. The story follows the efforts of an army platoon to capture the Japanese-controlled island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific Ocean, which will have a major effect on the outcome of the war. The members of C-.. Read more

Starring Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, Jim Caviezel, John Cusack
Director Terrence Malick
Genres Action/Adventure, Drama

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The Thin Red Line

Terrence Malick returns to Hollywood after a two-decade hiatus with this adaptation of the classic WWII novel by James Jones. The story follows the efforts of an army platoon to capture the Japanese-controlled island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific Ocean, which will have a major effect on the outcome of the war. The members of C-for-Charlie Company are all fighting for different reasons: Some to achieve glory, some to fight for democracy, and some simply to remain alive. They spend the quieter moments reflecting upon their existence, searching for meaning amid the senselessness of war.
Malick's reputation as one of cinema's most brilliant directors, based on his masterworks BADLANDS and DAYS OF HEAVEN, enabled him to pull together one of the largest ensemble all-star casts in Hollywood history. The result is a sprawling epic that carries itself like a poem read in a dream, a feeling that is greatly enhanced by John Toll's floating camerawork and Hans Zimmer's haunting score. Rather than concentrating solely on the violence and destruction of war, Malick uses the situation to address philosophical questions such as man versus nature, war versus peace, and good versus evil. THE THIN RED LINE proves that after a 20-year layoff, Malick hasn't lost a step.

Starring Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, Jim Caviezel, John Cusack, George Clooney, Ben Chaplin, Woody Harrelson, Elias Koteas, Nick Nolte, John C. Reilly, Miranda Otto, John Savage, John Travolta, Nick Stahl, Dash Mihok, Jared Leto, Arie Verveen, Thomas
Director Terrence Malick
Studio 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 2 hrs 46 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate 15.gif
Genres Action/Adventure, Drama
Language English
Hearing-impaired English
Subtitles Czech, Danish, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish
Released DVD: 12 Jun 2000
Production year: 1998
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (6) of The Thin Red Line

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    Admirers of Terrence Malick's excellent 1998 version of James Jones' epic Second World War novel may find this a touch disappointing. But this well-acted picture takes a more conventional approach, by focusing on the spiky relationship between veteran first sergeant Jack Warden and raw private Keir Dullea. In the bitter conflict in Guadalcanal in the Pacific, the two men's loathing for each other develops into mutual respect. The combat sequences, particularly the final one, are first class, without war being glorified.

    • Radio Times
  • 3 stars out of 4

    A ruminative war movie, with much voice-over, and often depending for its viewpoint on sound and the visual contrast between the lush landscapes and the mess the soldiers make of it. War is seen as an aberration, an intrusion on a natural paradise.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful member's review of The Thin Red Line

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  • 28 out of 31 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    The thinking man's war film

    Not all war films are about blood and guts. But in most of the best it is a major component. This film mixes it with the best and is as good, if not better at it then Pte Ryan.

    All great war films are about comradeship, and human emotions, which this has by the bucket load.

    This film has everything, from beautiful cinematography to brilliant acting and such brilliant storytelling that you get drawn into the brotherhood of the soldiers.

      • james robinson from Ashbourne, England
  • Most recent members' review of The Thin Red Line

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star [Highly rated reviewer]

    Disappointing!!!!!

    With a great cast this was promising to be a epic. However, the film was hugely disappointing, extremely slow, lack of empathy with characters and a poor drawn out ending! All in all couldn't wait for it to finish.

    Don't recommend.

      • bigcbass from Plymouth
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Rating breakdown

11,224 Member ratings
  • 100
1,087
  • 90
869
  • 80
1,646
  • 70
1,758
  • 60
2,227
  • 50
1,239
  • 40
950
  • 30
622
  • 20
556
  • 10
270

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    • Terrence Malick returns to Hollywood after a two-decade hiatus with this adaptation of the classic WWII novel by James Jones. The story follows the efforts of an army platoon to capture the Japanese-...