Popular reviews

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  Review by Lucas ★½

  I find it so funny that, in 1963, James Jones wrote an article titled ‘Phony War Films’ where he claimed that contemporary war films were cheesy, heartless and utterly unrealistic. And then literally the following year, this adaptation of his extraordinary and progressive novel is released, and encompasses all that he publicly disdained in that article. It’s just a disservice to the life and work of an incredible veteran and author, as well as to anyone who seeks it out in the hope that it is anywhere near as moving as Malick’s masterpiece, because it certainly isn’t.

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  Review by Matthew Donahue ★★★★

  The first version of the James Jones novel (later brilliantly remade by Terrence Malick in 1998) is a fine black and white WWII film. This version focuses on a main character and his relationship to a hard-ass sergeant. It does a great job portraying the madness of war and some stellar battle scenes. If your a fan of Malick version, seek this one out.

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  Review by Jeff Williams ★★★½

  Allied Artists WWII drama set at Guadalcanal that works best during its action sequences but suffers a bit from the overly melodramatic characterizations.

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  Review by Bandabydoo ★★★ 1

  Every single person in this movie who dies throws their hands up and ragdolls, it's the cinematic equivilent of Grand Theft Auto 4

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  Review by Grace ★★★½

  Kier Dullea was actually pretty underrated, you know? And this is pretty tense and interesting - I like the way that all the men in this are kind of trying to do what's right through very different means, and that 'what's right' in a horrifically unjust, hideous circumstance like war is never going to actually be right.
  I saw the Malick version of this a couple times as a teenager, and I have very little idea or memory of how faithful it is to this, if at all

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  Review by Darren ★★★

  "I remember an old Midwest saying, 'There's only a thin red line between the sane and the mad"

  Another fantastic anti-war film from the 1960's focusing on the horrors, death and insanity of war.

  The action scenes were really well done for something from the 1960's, and the acting is great.

  Safe to say this forgotten gem holds up pretty perfectly today.

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  Review by Blake Miskovsky ★★★★

  The often overlooked original adaptation of the James Jones novelization of the battle of Guadalcanal, The Thin Red Line offers contrast between fear and heroism as it renders a raw showcase of this second world war conflict. Including an evolving relationship between a tired Sargent and a soldier learning to grapple with the pressure of warfare, the narrative's earlier cinematic effort successfully conveys its drama even as it struggles with the tragic subtext. It is nevertheless an exciting and respectful interpretation of a period of history in which Japanese and American forces were at war within the Pacific Theater.

  8 / 10

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  Review by joshmatthews ★★½

  Watching this movie tempts one to think that Terrence Malick might've made the best remake ever.

  I have seen the Malick movie a dozen times, and then finally watched the original, which came out when Malick was age 20-21. With that level of knowledge of the remake, I found it extraordinary how Malick lifted whole scenes of dialogue and particular images for his own film.

  (While it's true that everything in both films might be based on the Jones' novel, which I have read, I consider the Malick film to be quoting/remixing this original film, since they are both in the same medium set apart from the novel.)

  This original "Thin Red Line" comes out at a fascinating time, right…

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  Review by jchb12 ★★★½

  This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

  This movie adaptation of the book of the same name explores the effects of war on the individual, and how experiences and choices can change someone and their relationship with others. In the film, we are introduced to Private Doll, a recently engaged soldier interested in returning home safely to his future wife above anything else. This desire drives him to disregard commands and break the rules imposed on him in order to achieve his goal. Doll's attitude and behavior put him at odds with his superior Sergeant Welsh, an experienced army man who doesn't care for Doll's tendencies. Welsh's and Doll's relationship takes a turn after Doll kills a Japanese soldier for the first time. Though at first Welsh…

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  Review by Mater Tenebraum🌙 ★★★½

  Based on James Jones's 1962 novel of the same name. Just after getting married, Pvt. Doll is shipped out to battle during World War II. Once there, he decides to do whatever it takes to survive the war, even disregarding orders. This attitude rankles his commanding officer, tough veteran Sgt. Welsh. After Doll makes his first kill of a Japanese soldier, he starts becoming a violent fighter, responsible for many enemy deaths. Despite their differences, Welsh and Doll start working together to survive their mission.

  The original Thin Red Line is a perfect companion piece to Robert Aldrich's Attack. The combat sequences are something else, without war being glorified.

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  Review by msprague ★★★½

  It's good. This was well made and I can appreciate the remake more.

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  Review by Robin Karlsson ★★★½

  To say that "The Thin Red Line" is a well crafted movie, is plainly an understatement. It depicts human mentality, within warfare, signal. While having a ground, explicitly around notion and both its outcome, but also passim driving forth.

  Clearly a film that moves, rather than only render. But with all that, it does a significant job to put forward the perception, that in fact has a preeminent apprehension, as well as frame.

  I must admit that I haven't experience the 1998 version, and thought I would start with Andrew Marton's. So, I have nothing to compare it with. But for what I've taken this one for, I do think it does a wonderful deed. Sure, it doesn't go anything…