The Thin Red Line

This would have to be one of the most boring movies I have ever sat through. Putting this movie in the Action category is truly false advertising. It seems almost the entire movie consists of short bursts of violence followed by long periods of the arty shots of sunlight filtering through greenery while a voiceover murmurs about suffering or self-discovery or whatever. I'm sure it's all very deep, and the book may well be worth a read, but its translation to film is terrible. Highly unrecommended.

Not the type of war movie that is fast-paced and big on action/drama, or the type that is slow at first but then builds to a crescendo. Rather, this is a film that focuses much more on the personal journeys of different characters, some relatively briefly, others explored in more detail. It also considers the environment in which this battle occurs (Solomon Islands, WW2). There are still bits of action, tension and surprise, and it's certainly not at all boring if your expectations are in the right place. My only negative comment is about some seemingly-unnecessary casting of big-name actors who don't really fit the role, although that's minor (and of course, subjective), as generally the casting is good and the acting excellent.

I think people who have depth and a desire to understand humanity and meaning will find this movie (and all of Malick's work) beautiful.