The Thin Red Line (1998)

1942, Guadalcanal. US soldiers land on the island, hoping to take it back from the Japanese. At first, they encounter no resistance. C for Charlie company ventures into the jungle, discovering the corpses of some colleagues who've gone before them. Their progress is halted and they sustain many losses when they attempt to climb a hill heavily fortified by the Japanese. Lt Colonel Tall is adamant that they must take the hill, but Captain Staros is reluctant to commit his men on a mission he fears will kill many unnecessarily so he disobeys Tall's order. A powerful all star cast explodes into action in this hauntingly realistic view of military and moral chaos in the Pacific during World War II. Terrence Malick returns to the director's chair after a 20-year absence.