10 Most Visually Stunning War Films Of All Time

5. The Thin Red Line (John Toll)

Wizard of oz
20th Century Fox

Cleveland-born cinematographer John Toll was already coming off the success of an Oscar-winning turn framing the historical war epic Braveheart for Mel Gibson when he was tapped to helm Terrence Malick's first film for two decades - yet he surpassed himself when relocating from the wilds of Scotland to the Guadalcanal campaign for The Thin Red Line.

Shot on location in the Solomon Islands and in Queensland, the film covers the Battle of Mount Austen with a piercing clarity and masterful sense of spatial clarity, orchestrated in no small part by the compositions crafted by Toll's keen eye. He was unable to add to his haul of Academy Awards, but only because he was edged out by another all-time war great in Saving Private Ryan, as shot by Janusz Kamiński. (The fact two of cinema's greatest WWII-set pictures were released the same year remains a curious oddity.)

Still, its legacy is all but assured - pull up a still from just about any part of the film and you'll be transported back in time to arresting results.

Contributor

Something of a culture vulture, Mr Steel can historically be found in three places; the local cinema, the local stadium or the local chip shop. He is an avowed fan of franchise films, amateur cricket and power-chords.