Saving Private Ryan x The Thin Red Line

[Cremildo]

It seems like every time Malick's film is mentioned in cinephile circles, someone has to chime in and say how much they prefer it over Spielberg's.

Frankly, I think the only reason that happens is that both were released in the same year and competed at the same Oscars. Apart from belonging to the war genre, they could hardly be more different in terms of approach. One's a visceral, action-oriented war epic clearly aimed at general audiences; the other is an introspective, philosophical rumination on the subject that seems positively arthouse in comparison.

Personally, I think they're both great in different ways, but let's put it to a vote once and for all, shall we?

EDIT: this was supposed to be in the polls section. Sorry.

[aiman04]

Saving Private Ryan.

[PipesDonatello]

I like The Thin Red Line quite a bit, but much prefer Saving Private Ryan.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

I should probably give The Thin Red Line another shot as I haven't seen it since it first came out on video but when I saw it I didn't like it at all. I love Saving Private Ryan though and I don't see myself preferring The Thin Red Line over it on a rewatch.

[*PREACHER*]

I break it down as far as replay value, both films are good but I watch Saving Private Ryan at least once a year and it gets to my heart a lot more as The Thin Red Line which I only revisit every other year doesn't.

[Stanis]

I'll proudly stand up and say Thin Red Line. Not that there is anything wrong with SPR, however the treacly Spielbergy ending hurts the rewatch for me (I always opt instead for good ol Band of Brothers)

[lemonski]

The Thin Red Line by a mile. SPR has a great opening, but the rest of it is bland and smothered with too much Spielberg cheese.

[Rzzzz]

Saving Private Ryan. I saw it in the theater and was absolutely blown away (and I am not a huge Spielberg fan). I have tried watching The Thin Red Line on home media twice (actually bought the dvd used 2 times for around $5) and both times I fell asleep. I wasn't even tired. Maybe I should try a third time and skip the first 30 minutes? Or maybe it was because I hate pretensous, arty movies that think it is edgy to film paint drying....

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by Rzzzz

Saving Private Ryan. I saw it in the theater and was absolutely blown away (and I am not a huge Spielberg fan). I have tried watching The Thin Red Line on home media twice (actually bought the dvd used 2 times for around $5) and both times I fell asleep. I wasn't even tired. Maybe I should try a third time and skip the first 30 minutes? Or maybe it was because I hate pretensous, arty movies that think it is edgy to film paint drying....

Pretentious is exactly the term that I would describe how I felt about The Thin Red Line.

[Hazel Motes]

The Thin Red Line > Saving Private Ryan

Band of Brothers > Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan > Shakespeare in Love

[Atomic Salad]

Private Ryan > Almost any other movie(s) of its decade.

Thin Red Line > Almost any other movie(s), period.

Randomly selected direct-to-video Nic Cage flick from the last 10 years > Shakespeare in Love

[Blu Lemmy]

I went SPR, but both are excellent

[L.J.]

Can't pick one over the other. Like them equally but for different reasons.

[Prog5000]

Ryan. Not even a competition.

[Prog5000]

Also has any one worked out the answer to Saving Private Ryan x The Thin Red Line?

Saving Private Ryan x The Thin Red Line = black hawk down.

[jasonmiles2014]

They are so different from each other, and both are so excellent, that I am unable to choose one.

[imsounoriginal]

I own The Thin Red Line, I don't own Saving Private Ryan. So there it is.

[Blu Lemmy]

Originally Posted by jasonmiles2014

They are so different from each other, and both are so excellent, that I am unable to choose one.

[HockeySlasher]

Saving Private Ryan.

Malick is one of those directors that I just don't understand. His movies aren't "bad"... they are very well done, but they just don't speak to me.

[Gacivory]

Thin Red Line!