Thin Red Line - Connor Pugh

      The Thin Red Line follows the events of the Battle for Guadalcanal in the Pacific theater of World War II. Private Witt is picked up by a patrol boat while he and another solider are AWOL, living with a group of South Pacific natives living a care free life. Witt is punished with demotion by his Sergeant. As the film progresses, officers speak on large warships of the importance of taking the island of Guadalcanal, many of the soldiers who will be raiding the island are horrified and worrisome of what will happen on the island. Captain Staros is an American Captain who is tasked with keeping all of his men in line and also making sure they are all okay and healthy. It bothers Captain Staros that his men are seen as merely pieces in a grand plan by commanding officers and not as human lives. Staros is faced with an order from Lt. Colonel Tall to charge of a hill which will lead to the loss of probably all of his men and refuses to take the order, by doing so, this delay saves the lives of many of his men. Staros can be seen as holy figure, as he willingly disobeys the orders given to him to save his men even though he knows he will be punished for it. Lt. Colonel Tall chooses to relieve Staros of his duty and tells him he is too soft-hearted for war. Tall puts the concept of war in a sublime light, as he describes it as the pinnacle of humanity, fighting for ones life. He also describes how war is natural and to look at the jungle and how vines wrap and choke other plants and its a battle for space to live amongst plants.
       Witt, who has lived in both the solider lifestyle and with the island natives is able recognize the critical differences that come with living in both ways. He is able to realize that the war and conflict do not need to exist and that life has much more value than the war gives it. Witt can realize the transcendent reality of the world when he lives with the natives and learns to connect with nature but is left with so many questions to why things happen when he has to return to active duty. The filmmakers do a great job making Witt seem like he's living in a utopia of sorts with the natives. The natives play in the sand, smile, laugh and sing songs all day and Witt is essentially just along for the ride. While the filmmakers do a great job also with making everyone look and feel absolutely miserable and scared out of their mind in the landing craft heading to the island.
       Nature can draw many comparisons to war in many ways. War in its essence normally leads to a battle for survival and in nature, plants and animals are always at a constant struggle to stay alive. Plants do not do things because they enjoy them, rather they do things because it helps them stay alive.