Thin Red Line

In Thin Red Line, a lot of the meaning in the story must be seen rather than heard. One must look for the visual symbolism rather than just listening for the characters to say it out loud. For example, Witt does describe his feelings when his mothers death and how he was looking for mortality. However, he does not put himself in harms way throughout the beginning of the film because he is scared to die. If one did not see the visual clues in the film, one would miss the point in the movie when he becomes unafraid. When Woody Harrelson's character dies, Witt stands above him watching in horror, until he sees the life leave the body, then Witt smiles a little bit. He is not happy, but rather has finally seen mortality and now is not scared to die. After that, he begins putting himself in harm's way and ultimately dies in battle.

Similar to in Apocalypse Now, the film incorporates the Holy by means of showing destruction. No matter how powerful either side in the movie is they both are killed in the end. The Japanese are dug in very hard, then an airstrike pummels them and makes them vulnerable. In Apocalypse Now, the napalm and bombings were much more graphic in showing the power of the almighty, but the theme is the same.

One important contrast in the film is the beauty of nature and the ugliness in war. While there is bloodshed and bombs left and right, the director shows beauty in the struggle. He shows a bird being born and also a butterfly flying in the middle of it all. Also, the battle itself takes place on a beautiful landscape. Perhaps he is saying that although it looks bleak and like doomsday, there is always hope in nature.

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