The Thin Redline is all imagery, but not much else. This does not imply that it's a bad movie. The imagery is so powerful and moving, it alone is worthy of the audience's attention. The visual is so overwhelming, in fact, that you can watch it with the sound turned off, and it wouldn't make a difference.

I cannot recall watching another movie that paid this much attention to the visuals in recent times. (Batman Returns comes close, but still it's not in the same league.) To put it quite simply, every frame of this movie looks like it's straight out of Life magazine. That's right, every frame looks like a million bucks. From the serene surf of the South Pacific to the savage battle in the island jungle, the director dazzles the audience with majestic imagery weaved together through personal reflections as told by the movies's characters.

The story is simple enough. A company of army men was dispatched to take out a Japanese stronghold in Guadalcanal. Along the way, the soldiers pauses to reflect upon their lives, their hopes, and the savage environment that surrounds them. That's it.

In essence, this movie is all Act II, but without an Act I or III. It really doens't have a beginning or an end. That's where the weakness lies. The story is unfocused; it drags on and on for two and half hours without going anywhere. The dialogue is beyond vague; at times, I have no idea what the hell they are saying. Again, like I said, you can watch this movie with the sound turned off and it wouldn't make a differnce.

Despite a huge cast, there is a standout performance here, and that's Nick Nolte. He brings such unusual depth to his character, a megalomanical colonel, I feel he got robbed at the Oscars. He should have gone home with that Golden Statuette for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. I won't give a lot away, but look the way he delivers his big speech about being passed over. One can't help but loathe and sympathize with him at the same time.

This movie was released in theatres during Christmas of 98, approximately 6 months after the relase of Saving Private Ryan. Because these two movies share the same backdrop, there were lots of comparisons between the two. If you plan to go down that path, I say save your breathe. These two movies have nothing in common other than the backdrop. While Saving Private Ryan goes for unabashed realism, The Thin Red Line is all atmosphere and mood. One has nothing to do with another.

Conclusion: Looks great, but doesn't taste quite as good as it looks. Nevertheless, this flick is definitely worth a look. Get it if you are in the mood to philosophize.

Score: 78/100