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 enlarge | Director: Terrence Malick
Actors: Kirk Acevedo, Penelope Allen, Benjamin Green, Simon Billig, Mark Boone Junior
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy Used: $2.16
You Save: $12.82 (86%)
New (61) Used (55) Collectible (2) from $2.16
Avg. Customer Rating:  908 reviews
Sales Rank: 6363
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dts Surround Sound, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 170
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.6
MPN: D2003000D
UPC: 024543030003
EAN: 0024543030003
ASIN: B00005PJ8T
Theatrical Release Date: January 8, 1999
Release Date: May 21, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: **NO ARTWORK - NEW BLANK CASE** Guaranteed to play. Normal case wear with stickers, very slight scratches. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.
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| Customer Reviews:
 20 years later.... February 10, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Terrence Malick decided to come back from self imposed exile after 20 years (!) and made this film. While it does ramble a bit at times, it is one of the most unique, poetic, transcendtal war films ever made. There are such etheral, extraordinary moments here. I saw this in a theater, and despite the fact that some audience members making really stupid remarks during the film (someone said "shoot that son of a bitch" real loud during the film...a**hole), it didn't detract from the fact that this is one of the most artistic films ever made about war. Many people compared this film to Saving Private Ryan, which was released the same year. Private Ryan was a Hollywood film, this film is an art film. It may sound a little pretentious, but The Thin Red Line captured the reality of war a lot more accurately than Spielberg's film did. This was the better of the 2 films, and while many dislike this film intensely, I don't understand why.
I find it remarkable that despite a 20 year layoff, Malick came back and made such a memorable film. I read somewhere that the original version of this was rougly 6 hours. I don't know, but if that is true, I would very much like to see that, because I believe it would be an ultimate masterpiece. But this 3 hour version is the only one that's been released to date, so hopefully a longer director's cut (if it does exist) will emerge.
Profound achievement January 26, 2008
I feel that this movie is magnificent and certainly worthwhile for someone to go see. I am struck by the fact that there exists such a polarization in audiences with their varied reactions to this film. Perhaps art and interpreting aesthetics is a lot more subjective than some of us believe. There is no universal or objective conclusion we all collectively reach, merely divisive reactions we all harbor (which are especially true for "The Thin Red Line").
Terrence Malick graduated from Harvard with a degree in Philosophy, so naturally his screenplays and direction in general are unique and not commonplace to mainstream cinema. Personally, I do not hold any type of aversion for Philosophy or Poetry to be melded into a film. I find that abstract approaches can be just as meaningful as a more conventional approach would yield. The first time I saw this movie, I had somewhat of an ambivalent reaction. I realized I had witnessed some of the most powerful and sublime scenes created, yet, my mind wanted a big finale that most war films have, and I wanted a better structure for the disjointed story to embody. I know that I have been conditioned by all the films I have seen before, and wanted this one to follow roads predetermined by my own discrimination... I almost wrote the film off as "artsy" or even "pretentious", but so much of it resonated with me long after I watched it. I began thinking more about some of those beautiful scenes, and I found that my mind had been stimulated.
I don't believe all people can appreciate "The Thin Red Line" the first time they watch it. They almost have to be prepared for it, in the sense that this is not a run-of-the-mill war or action film. This is much deeper and cogitative than standard fare. I would surmise that most audiences generally want to turn off their minds and prop their feet up when they watch movies. Most don't seem to be interested in looking deeper, or considering abstract notions that transcend stock entertainment.
Maybe "The Thin Red Line" was not marketed accurately, and many viewers were caught off guard at what unfolded.
I think this movie is outstanding and worthy of film goers who are going to give it some deserved thought and consideration. I feel weary of patrons who deem this film as 'pseudo-intellectual' or 'dreck'. I think that an open mind is essential in understanding "The Thin Red Line" and other art forms that reach for virtuosity.
 Is It Done Yet? December 17, 2007
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
Sorry - I grant everyone scads of talent all around: it takes EXCEPTIONAL talent to turn such naturally exciting and interesting material into such a soporific wet noodle. But this movie is a huge snooze. First comes storytelling and THEN you can get artsy all over the place, OK? There are better war films... but not a huge number of worse ones. This is one of those DVD's where you keep checking the "time remaining" to see how much longer this can go on. Trust me, it'll seem longer than the clock indicates.
makes Apocalypse Now look like an amusement park ride December 17, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Nick Nolte's finest hour. Entire cast very good. Has got to be one of the most powerful war films ever made.
Lingers in your mind long after the viewing. Terrific direction and screenplay.
My only "beef/complaint" has to be the voiceovers, the constant nature shots and the never-ending flashbacks of one soldier's wife. Please, Mr. Malick, lighten up on that stuff, would you? There is no need to beat the audiance over the head with it.
The various voice-overs could have been eliminated entirely, and the nature shots and flashbacks could easily have been cut by half. The movie, as it stands, is too long.
Other than that, I say: get it. It will punch you in the belly, and then knock you on your rear end. War, the real thing, is not a John Wayne movie. This motion picture gives you the agonizing truth.
Will we ever learn? Forget about it.
For once a war movie that doesn't glorify war November 26, 2007
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
Of all the war movies, that I have seen, I would rate this one as one of the best. It depicts the horrors and meaninglessness of war, instead of glorifying it, and how it destroys the people participating in it. This movie shows war from a personal perspective with much work done in showing the soldiers emotions and their dilemmas of conscience. Good acting and one where Sean Penn stood out as an actor for me.
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