5.0 out of 5 stars "I've seen another world!"

S. · 25 July 2016

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } When released in 1998, Terence Malick's languid, lyrical and meditative World War II drama, 'The Thin Red Line,' was seen by many critics as a counterpoint to the more straight-forward, self-sacrificing heroics of Steven Spielberg's Oscar winning, 'Saving Private Ryan,' which was released the same year. It is certainly more explicit in it's anti-war stance and suggests that war is not only a crime against humanity but a crime against nature itself. Now, Hans Zimmer may seem an odd choice to score this kind of movie, being as his name is now synonymous with Teutonic, percussion heavy, Hollywood soundtracks but he has composed music for well over a hundred movies during the past thirty years - 'Thelma and Louise;' 'The Lion King;' 'Gladiator;' True Romance;' 'Inception;' to name but a few - and has been largely successful in scoring music that fits the particular film he's working on. Even in his more bombastic scores, he produced music that was thrilling, atmospheric and beautiful. Here, he composes some of his finest work. With the movie centred around the Battle of Guadalcanal, Zimmer adds Eastern instruments, such as the Shakahachi flute, koto, Taiko drums and Tibetan bowls, as well as Melanesian vocal chants and songs, to the more familiar sounds of the orchestra.1. The Coral Atoll - Though it begins with an ominous drone or rumble, which slowly rises in pitch, the prevailing mood is one of peace and tranquillity; man and nature as one. However, the sound of airy strings and harp does not last, for the double bass heralds an intrusion of darker forces and soon a minor chord is struck repeatedly on a piano, tolling like a bell...2. The Lagoon - Tibetan bowls; vocal chants; a mournful melody on strings, which becomes more hopeful as the volume increases. A bassoon joins in before it all falls away...3. Journey To The Line - The most famous piece on the CD and it's not hard to see why. The strings slowly rise and rise in volume until they are joined by French horns, at which point the music has reached its emotional peak... and then it falls away. It accompanies one of the more powerful scenes from the film and is one of Zimmer's finest compositions.4. Light - One of my favourite pieces from the soundtrack. When listening to this, I like to close my eyes and imagine I'm somewhere far away, with dappled sunlight on my face and a light breeze caressing my cheek. It has a beautiful melody, enhanced by the plucking of a harp and the sound of woodwind.5. Beam - A lower, deeper sound, hinting at mystery and danger. Actually composed by Zimmer's collaborator, John Powell.6. Air - The exotic, mysterious sounds of Taiko drums and Tibetan bowls suggest we're in a completely alien environment.7. Stone In My Heart - Another favourite. It has a wonderful melody and plenty of forward momentum. The melody has some similarity to the main theme of 'Light' but this is quicker. It ends with the tune played on a single violin.8. The Village - Another lovely melody, which fades away to be replaced by a more mournful rendering of the theme from the previous track. It in turn is replaced by the dominant theme from 'Journey To The Line,' though that soon fades and bleeds into...9. Silence - ...Don't worry! It's not five minutes of actual silence. This is not a John Cage composition! The 'Journey To The Line' theme plays for a time, without ever reaching the same intensity as before, before it fades into nothingness.10. God, You Tekem Laef Blong Mi - A short, Melanesian choral song, which increases in volume with each repetition of the same line.11. Sit Back and Relax - Composed by Francisco Lupica, it is an airy, shifting piece of music to close the album.If you like music that is relaxing, reflective and deeply moving, then this album is for you! If you love the film, then you must buy this soundtrack because the two are inextricably linked. In short, it is one of Hans Zimmer's most beautiful and complete soundtracks.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best soundtracks I know.

J.D. · 15 February 2004

If you listen to this music - composed by Hans Zimmer - you notice that it's nothing like the usual war-movie sounds (a lot of brass, pounding drums, etc.). Instead it's music that makes you dream away and it takes you to beautiful and peaceful places where you have never been before. The music is quiet with a simple but beautiful melody, sensitive and sometimes a little sad but never sentimental. This sadness and the fact that on two or three occasions you hear eerie voices and sounds, reminds you that there is a war going on.It's a soundtrack you can listen to without having seen the movie.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic

C. · 4 May 2015

If you're already a fan of Hans Zimmer like me then you'll love this. It's one of his best soundtracks. Full of depth and emotion.

4.0 out of 5 stars Innocence and Foreboding

N.C. · 5 May 2010

I last played this soundtrack whilst walking to work through the heavy traffic. What a calming effect it had! None of Hans Zimmer's soundtracks has affected me so much as this purchase. I came late to the fantastic film, and so late to the soundtrack. Terrence Malick is no ordinary Hollywood blockbuster director; and neither are the soundtracks to his films. The soundtrack to `The Thin Red Line' is replete with long sustained chords, ostinatos, Brucknerian chorales, and long-breathed meditative melodies. Innocence and foreboding resonate as someone else's war engulfs and consumes paradise.We open with `The Coral Atoll', where distant rumbling in the ocean's depths give rise to a simply-arranged contemplative melange. A sustained chord figure appears that will `dominate' proceedings, but the first track ends with an arrangement of an American folk hymn above an ominous ostinato in the bass.Track three, `Journey to the Line', is worth a full five stars. A ticking clock is soon mirrored by woodwind and percussion. Then, out of the basses, rises an eleven-note stepped figure against which a three-note falling melancholic figure appears in the weeping strings. This sounds oh so dry in the description, but the music is oh so beautiful. Over nine minutes the music proceeds in a slow and stately progress, music to die to with the brass mimicking bells. Indeed, we end on a celestial plane with angelic high strings.The following track, `Light', is just as beautiful, the way the strings act like a gentle waterfall in slow motion, each wave beautifully falling over its previous as it heads down to the distant pool below. `Air' too is another five-star track, conveying an other-worldliness with its drums, bowls, and bells followed by a massive discord crescendo on strings. `Stone in My Heart' is a quickened version of the eleven-note figure heard in `Journey to the Line', and this figure again appears in new arrangements in subsequent tracks.Zimmer's soundtrack ends where it began with the rumblings of the ocean in a track suitably titled `Silence'. But that's not the end of the CD. In a total but welcome contrast we hear Melanesian singers chant through a communal hymn. Finally, Francesco Lupica brings the CD to a close with an Eno-esque piece.

5.0 out of 5 stars Zimmer magic

T. · 17 March 2009

The Thin Red Line is a thinking mans war film.This is as close as you will ever get to a 21st century Wagner.It is literally a case of close your eyes, listen and you are right there in the middle of it.Hans Zimmer paints a picture with every note,a picture you will not forget in a long time.The man is a genius and paints with a baton rather than a brush.

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect !!!!!!!!!!1

B.G. · 27 January 2014

Received the Thin Red Line in 2 days....One of the best Soundtracks I have ever heard!!...Looking for Paris Texas now......Man Of Steel is also Outstanding !!

5.0 out of 5 stars What a CD

K. · 2 July 2013

Great soundtrack.I love this music and the sense of occasion it has.Composers are writing such wonderful music.Highly recommended.

3.0 out of 5 stars Cheap but scratched

P. · 9 July 2025

Arrived quickly but described as used very good which is a term in application to a CD's condition I would reserve for one that is free of scratches which the one I received definitely wasn't.

Parfait

E.H. · 12 February 2017

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } Arrivé abimé une première fois (plastique de la jaquette fêlée), Bolo m'a renvoyé une version impeccable du produit le jour suivant, rien a dire, efficacité maximum, a vraiment recommander donc pour l'achat de produits audios. C'est la première fois que je laisse un avis sur le site mais je considère qu'ils le méritent vraiment, ils savent qu'ils prennent des risques avec les jaquettes mais assument jusqu'au bout, service client sur lequel prendre exemple. Pour le reste une bande son digne des césars mais que le jury n'a pas cru bon récompenser tandis qu'Hans Zimmer nous livre une œuvre sans égale. Un régal a commander sans hésiter.

Sehr guter Sountrack

A. · 26 March 2020

Durch Zufall bin ich auf diese Film-Musik gestoßen. Seit dem ich alles in Ruhe über (sehr gut klingende Kopfhörer) gehört habe, kann ich nur sagen - großartige (wenn auch etwas düstere) Film-Musik! Gerade auch der Klang ist gewaltig!

La détente optimale !

J.P. · 29 March 2021

Vraiment une oeuvre cinématographique mais la musique y est tout autant.La détente dans un environment musical magistrale.

Obra maestra.

R. · 20 August 2019

Sin lugar a dudas la obra maestra de Zimmer y una de las mejores bandas sonoras de la historia del cine. Atmosférica, envolvente, mágica. Imprescindible.

Bellissima musica anche fuori dal contesto del film

L. · 18 December 2019

Mi è piaciuto molto il film ora le musiche da sole sono eccezionali