The Thin Red Line by Chris Moretti

The Thin Red Line /1998
Director :Terrence Malick /U.S/1943
Novel Writer: James Jones
Budget:52,000,000
Gross:81,600,00
 
Synopsis : A group of young soldiers are brought as relief for battle weary marine units in The battle of Guadalcanal.

Narrative and Visual Keywords: The film has a visual image that would give anyone who has never been in combat in the jungle a strong sense of what it is like to be in such an environment.

Characterization/ Dialogue : Characters are well developed and each have their own personalities independently from each other.

Camera/lighting/editing technique : The editing in this film in very motivated with long takes which hold on important moments. As in most Terrence Malick films a strong use of natural lighting is employed.  Camera seems in be close in and very personal showing the many casualties of war.

 Political/ Social Commentary : A brave look at soldiers who are different from the films made about WWII in the past.




1. Are there any evident elements of an evolving group integration? In many films including this one the have a group of soldiers who battle through the odds and come out a family , but in this film they do not come out as a family.

2. Are there any scenes where self-sacrifice is apparent? The end of the second act is a self sacrifice in its own regard.

3. Which of the characters are realistic and which ones are exaggerated for effect?Some characters in this film are very stereotypical war junkies while other characters have a softer side and emote in a very nontraditional way. Woody Harrelson's character is realistic in the sense that he makes a fatal mistake, and many people make mistakes in war.