I didn't expect to see a national Geographic nature film when I saw The Thin Red Line! Director/ Writer Terrence Malick butchered the James Jones Novel of the same title. What an abomination of a story! With all the hype and comparison this movie had with Saving Private Ryan -- I left the theatre thoroughly disappointed. Saving Private Ryan reigns supreme as the definative WW-II movie. The Thin Red Line has three things going for it -- excellent cinematography, well choreographed battle scenes (which don't happen very often in between all the poetic ramblings on why is there air etc etc), and an intense acting performance by Nick Nolte as Lt. Col Tall. That's it. Are you suffering from insomnia?? The Thin Red Line is your cure -- rush to get it when it comes out on video!