THE THIN RED LINE:

When you go to the cinema, which movie do you chose to spend your hard-earned readies to see? On what do you base a choice? Well, there's newspaper and television advertising, trailers at the cinema and then there's word of mouth -- friends who have seen and recommend a movie or columns such as this, with one man's opinion committed to paper.

Well, this week I listened to the advertising, the hype and the rave reviews and chose to see The Thin Red Line.

I have to say I was misled. The advertising promised an action war movie starring many well known Hollywood superstars. The hype said it was on a par with, if not better than Saving Private Ryan (my favourite movie of all time) and most reviews I read said it was a masterpiece of the cinematic art.

This is not an action war movie. Sure it has action and war in it but it is not of that genre. I would describe it as an arthouse, psychoanalytical essay ... which is not what I would have chosen to see.

As for the big stars, well, although Nick Nolte was quite brilliant in his role and Sean Penn lasted the distance (sporting far too much hair for a first-sergeant of the US Army), other big names put in no more than cameo appearances. John Travolta graced the screen for less than five minutes at the start while George Clooney had a less than auspicious 20 second slot at the end. Woody Harrelson made it about half way through before he blew his own arse off when he pulled a pin out of his pocket instead of a grenade.

The comparison with Saving Private Ryan, well, that is just laughable.

I am quite limited for space in this column, which isn't usually a problem, but this movie makes me want to waffle on and on. And, since I don't have many good things to say about it, the lack of space is probably best.

As for the rave reviews, well, those other reviewers are as entitled to their opinion as I am to mine (and please don't forget, this is just the personal opinion of this reporter). I suggest that if you are in any doubt you will just have to spend the readies and make up your own mind. I would be most pleased to hear your opinion if you agree or disagree with my analysis? Let's have a vote and I'll publish the result next issue.

My apologies to the 12 Aussie diggers who made a cameo appearance in The Thin Red Line, I just couldn't get as excited about it as you obviously are. I do, however, envy your experience.

Check out the official Thin Red Line website

The following story appeared in  ARMY Newspaper at the same time the movie was released.

TWELVE Aussie soldiers recently shot to fame following the release of the latest Hollywood blockbuster after supporting the movie's production in far north Queensland nearly two years ago.

Lights, camera, action were the orders of the day for the 1 Fld Regt gunners during filming of The Thin Red Line, the movie version of the battle that stemmed the tide of Japanese advance -- Guadalcanal.

The film's producers had a requirement for artillery in the movie and after a fruitless search of museums and collectors, the army was asked for help.

Two M2A2s were resurrected from war stocks, transported to the film location north of Port Douglas, Queensland and manned by the army's expert extras.

Officer in charge of the detachment Maj Andrew Garrad said it was a "bloody big thrill" to see himself and his colleagues on the big screen in the same shot with Nick Nolte.

"It really gives you a buzz to see yourself up there with people like Nick Nolte, John Travolta, George Clooney and Sean Penn, even if it was only a short scene," Maj Garrad said.

"I was lucky in that I also got to work at first hand with the director, Terrence Malick, because he wasn't au fait with drills on the guns and between us we choreographed the action scene you see in the movie."

He said that the fact the guns would not recoil when firing blank charges was a major concern to the director, who was very keen for authenticity.

"The special effects people came up with an idea to put an airbag under them, which were trigger operated causing the gun to jump when we fired.

"Another example of the lengths they went to for authenticity was in the uniforms. They actually went back to the 1940's manufacturer and had them remake the original woolen cloth in the old style."

Maj Garrad said that making a movie was very similar to running an army exercise, even having lots of hurry up and wait.

"At any one time there may have been a couple of hundred extras, all kitted up, just waiting around to be seen for a brief second on a hilltop somewhere in the background."