In 1998, two Movies about war shed light on true stories from human history, but they also bring up questions of morality, justice, and bravery. Furthermore, war movies can be as groundbreaking as any other drama film.
There have been some truly outstanding war movies released in the last 25 years. Movies like Dunkirk and 1917 stand out because they manage to tell an important story while also providing incredible visuals that make the viewer feel steeped in the trenches. There are also non-violent war movies like Oppenheimer, which explore the cause and effect of weapons in war. However, two of the best war movies of all time are the two that were released in 1998. These star-studded epics successfully showcase the human condition in a place where humanity is a hard thing to hold onto.
Saving Private Ryan & The Thin Red Line Both Released In 1998
What Saving Private Ryan & The Thin Red Line Are About
In July 1998, the Steven Spielberg war drama, Saving Private Ryan, premiered in theaters. The movie stars Tom Hanks as Captain John Miller, who leads a squadron of men behind enemy lines during World War II in order to find a soldier named Private James Francis Ryan, played by Matt Damon. Ryan's three brothers were killed in action, and thus, the army wants to send him home.
As the men trek through wartorn , each soldier comes to with his own thoughts and feelings about the war and his own part to play in it. Just five months later, in December 1998, another war movie came to the big screen: The Thin Red Line. This movie follows Private Witt, who flees the army to live among the locals on a South Pacific island during World War II.
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However, Witt is quickly found by his commanding officer and forced back into service. From there, Witt and his peers prepare for a massive campaign against the Japanese. In the same vein, they consider their own feelings about this life-or-death situation, with each man having a different way of coping with the impact of war.
Saving Private Ryan & The Thin Red Line Are Two All-Time Great War Movies
What Makes Saving Private Ryan & The Thin Red Line So Great
Since their 1998 releases, Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line have been lauded as two of the best war movies ever. First and foremost, Saving Private Ryan was a success both at the box office and among critics. On a budget of $65 to 70 million, the movie grossed $482 million at the box office. Furthermore, the movie earned 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics applauding the movie for its intense opening sequence and violent vividness.
Ultimately, Saving Private Ryan won a Golden Globe for Best Drama and an Academy Award for Best Director, among other things. The Thin Red Line has a somewhat similar story. The movie didn't gross nearly as much as Saving Private Ryan, but with a budget of $52 million, it earned a fine $98 million at the box office. Its critical reaction was also a bit lower, with an 80% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Many felt that Saving Private Ryan should have won the Academy Award for Best Picture, which ultimately went to Shakespeare In Love. A 2015 poll of the Academy revealed that many would change their vote (via The Hollywood Reporter.)
However, that does not diminish the great things critics had to say about the movie. The Thin Red Line has been praised for its unflinching portrayal of war stripping away mens' innocence, and also, its more contemplative moments, which leave viewers questioning their own feelings about war.
Saving Private Ryan Was A Bigger Success Than The Thin Red Line
The Thin Red Line Deserves As Much Praise As Saving Private Ryan
Both Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line are incredible war movies, but the former did better than the latter. Saving Private Ryan earned more money, more praise, and more accolades. The reasons for this aren't entirely clear. Both movies showcase amazing casts and both delve into important stories that bring up similar themes.
By both premiering in 1998, Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line were forced to be compared to one another.
Saving Private Ryan was directed by Steven Spielberg, but The Thin Red Line was Terrence Malick's first movie in 20 years. For all intents and purposes, these films should have received the same amount of praise. Ultimately, the differences between the two war films may simply come down to the year they were released. By both premiering in 1998, Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line were forced to be compared to one another.
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Additionally, by coming out first, Saving Private Ryan may have had a leg up over the competition. Audiences already saw their new favorite war movie, and The Thin Red Line perhaps just came a bit late. Regardless, The Thin Red Line deserves just as much appreciation as Saving Private Ryan. War movie buffs must check out both of these 1998 classics.
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Saving Private Ryan
10/10- Release Date
- July 24, 1998
- Runtime
- 169 minutes
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
Cast
Tom Sizemore
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYTom Hanks stars as Captain John Miller in Steven Spielberg's 1998 WWII film. Saving Private Ryan tells the story of Miller's command of a company of soldiers who risk their lives in an attempt to extricate Private James Ryan from the fighting in Europe, in order to spare his family from losing all of their sons after Ryan's brothers are killed in the war. Matt Damon, Edward Burns, and Tom Sizemore also star.
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The Thin Red Line
- Release Date
- December 23, 1998
- Runtime
- 171 Minutes
- Director
- Terrence Malick
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYThe Thin Red Line is a war film directed by Terrence Malick, based on James Jones' autobiographical novel. Released in 1998, it focuses on the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II, exploring the psychological toll of combat on soldiers. The ensemble cast includes Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, and Nick Nolte, among others, and delves into themes of survival, fear, and the impact of war on human nature.
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