Recent Reviews for The Bridge on the River Kwai
Recent Reviews
-
MCT:July 15, 2008I really appreciated this movie... but I can't honestly say I get it... I don't understand why they blew up the bridge, but the acting and the directing was awesome and I was thoroughly entertained.
-
MCT:July 12, 2008A bit long winded but that's forgivable considering friggin' awesome. It's great to watch a war movie with a canadian character for once.
-
MCT:July 9, 2008
well, it's one them old movies, so it's not entertaining at all, but it's damn significant so watch it.
-
MCT:July 7, 2008Colonel Saito: Do you know what will happen to me if the bridge is not built on time?
Colonel Nicholson: I haven't the foggiest.
Colonel Saito: I'll have to kill myself. What would you do if you were me?
Colonel Nicholson: I suppose if I were you... I'd have to kill myself.
Colonel Nicholson: [raising the glass of scotch he previously declined] Cheers!
There is a reason why this film is regarded as one of, if not the best war film of all time - it's because it is. Its a great movie that has an excellent story full of wonderful characters and memorable scenes. And really, its not much of a standard war film involving large scale battles, but more of a character focused story, with various moments of thrills.
Alec Guiness, who is simply awesome throughout, plays Colonel Nicholson a British officer. He and a large squad of his men have just been captured and sent to a Japanese PoW camp in Burma.
There, under the orders of Colonel Saito, also played wonderfully by Sessue Hayakawa, all of the men are being ordered to build a bridge over the river. While Nicholson understands his position and is willing to allow his men to go forth and build the bridge, while under British officer's orders, Saito and Nicholson clash at first due to their own principles. However, this lets up and Nicholson is soon under control of making the best possible bridge, despite being under enemy control.
Colonel Nicholson: One day the war will be over. And I hope that the people that use this bridge in years to come will remember how it was built and who built it. Not a gang of slaves, but soldiers, British soldiers, Clipton, even in captivity.
At the same time, a previous American prisoner, Major Shears, played by William Holden, escapes after Nicholson's arrival and makes his way to a hospital and army base.
Despite his best efforts however, Shears is soon put in a position to be sent back to the PoW camp with a special team in an effort to blow up the bridge that is under construction.
Maj. Warden: [to Col. Green] Sir, it's most annoying. They say, in view of the time element, they don't think a few practice jumps would be worthwhile.
Major Shears: No?
Maj. Warden: No, they say if you make one jump, you've only got 50% chance of injury, two jumps, 80%, and three jumps, you're bound to catch a backache. The consensus of opinion is that the most sensible thing for Major Shears to do is to go ahead and jump, and hope for the best.
Major Shears: With or without a parachute?
What is very interesting is how the grand scheme of the actual war is of little issue. The movie is not about putting sides against each other, but putting the views and principles of these main characters at odds with each other. Its wonderful to see Guiness' Nicholson always want to stand by how he perceives a situation and fight for it, while Holden goes in between being for himself and working to achieve a goal. It's very well done.
Commander Shears: You mean, you intend to uphold the letter of the law, no matter what it costs?
Colonel Nicholson: Without law, Commander, there is no civilization.
Commander Shears: That's just my point; here, there is no civilization.
Colonel Nicholson: Then we have the opportunity to introduce it.
At two hours and forty-five minutes, there is a not a lot of wasted time. The movie flows wonderfully and looks great. The look of the jungle is perfect, wonderful cinematography. The score also adds to how effective this movie is.
Director David Lean, who is no stranger to epics with films like Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago, has made an incredible film that works on all levels. Great.
Major Shears: You make me sick with your heroics! There's a stench of death about you. You carry it in your pack like the plague. Explosives and L-pills - they go well together, don't they? And with you it's just one thing or the other: destroy a bridge or destroy yourself. This is just a game, this war! You and Colonel Nicholson, you're two of a kind, crazy with courage. For what? How to die like a gentleman... how to die by the rules - when the only important thing is how to live like a human being. -
MCT:July 1, 2008
madness...............madness.......... madness.........
the reason why alot of people consider this a classic is because it is .... david lean creates another masterpiece -
MCT:June 24, 2008it's so-so movie in the beginning and in the middle. it just getting good when it's near the ending...
-
MCT:June 23, 2008
A brilliant classic 1950s film by Lawrence Of Arabia director David Lean. Plot is awesome. It deserved all the Oscars this film got. Alec Guinness was brilliant in probably his most famous film. There are some scenes however which bored me a bit like when they are in the large room talking about the plans for the bridge which lasted like 15 minutes. When you hear about the bridge for the first time you think that it isnt really that important but when you are about half way through the film the bridge is a really big turning point in the film. The scenery looks absolutely beautiful particularly the little beaches and the waterfalls. Sort of like Dances With Wolves scenery.
-
MCT:June 22, 2008
Madness indeed. This to me is strictly a British film which only adds the American POW character to make this a marketable film for the US. William Holden was an ideal choice mainly because of his role in Stalag 17, another successful WWII prison camp picture.
There are not many laughs in this picture. The focus of the story is on Alec Guinness and Sessue Hayakawa. Col.Nicholson (Guinness) agrees to help Col.Saito (Hayakawa) reach his deadline of building one transport bridge that stretches the length of the Kwai river primarily using British troops as the labor. Nicholson however does not view the perfect construction of such a bridge as aiding the enemy as much as he views it simply as a morale booster for the imprisoned British troops. Nevertheless, his decision does backfire in the end.
This is a one of a kind war picture due to the plot not pertaining to Americas involvement in WWII. The locations had to have made for a laborious effort from cast and crew. For a film that is nearly three hours long no scene is spared. Despite the historical inaccuracies, the film itself holds up rather well and again proves how genuine this era of film-making was in comparison to the hyper-inflated budgeted war films of today.
Good show old man, good show... -
MCT:June 1, 2008
A good movie. its good to be over 50 years old. And great movies like Alec Guinness. I understand why this is a Classic. i love this movie.
-
MCT:May 18, 2008
An astonishing feat by David Lean, and as epic and memorable as his highly regarded classic "Lawrence of Arabia". Set in a prisoner-of-war camp, British soldiers have been captured and defeated and are being held captive by tyrannical Japanese colonel Saito and are to be used to create a bridge that could help Japan's tactics in the war. Clashing differences and the rules of war held up by the Geneva Convention causes a resistance from British officer Colonel Nicholson (played magnificently by Alec Guinness) and it leads to a stand still unless the two sides come to a mutual agreement. Once the bridge's construction takes off, Colonel Nicholson oversees and becomes obsessed with the completion, but Allied forces have another plan. Distinctively split up into a few different acts, it all holds up really well, and hardly ceases to grab attention. The beginning is extraordinary in it's portrayal of Nicholson's stand against the bully of the Japanese, and the intrigue continues with escapee Commander Shears (William Holden) somewhat comical bits. It may lag some during the last half hour, but the suspenseful and gripping ending brings the film to a grand finale that won't be soon forgotten. This is truly a film that lives up to the hype: it's plot and cinematography combined with all around brilliant performances make it one of the best war movies I've ever seen.
-
MCT:May 14, 2008
I'm not the type of guy who watch those old long movie. But I didn't have anything to do that day so I decided to watch this movie when it aired on TV. Wow! Easily one of my favourite movie and the ending sums it up: Madness! Madness!
All the characters are mad/crazy. The American Commander is crazy because he's a liar (he's not even a commander). The British colonel (played by Obi Wan Kenobi himself) is a maniac because he agreed to help the Japanese built the bridge to show them the pride of the British. The Japanese Colonel is mad because he never had control of his prisoners. All of this lead up to the amazing finale. Madness! Madness! -
MCT:May 14, 2008
It may have little resemblance to the historic events that it is based on but it is still an enjoyable film.
-
MCT:May 13, 2008
Sweeping Lean! The acting is awesome. I love the battle of wills between the two top officers. Another charismatic performance from Holden too. And the ending is edge of your seat suspenseful without all the excessive special effects and stunts used in today's action dramas.
-
MCT:May 10, 2008
I have liked this film a lot since my first viewing when I was young and the amazing qualities of this epic David Lean film have stuck with me. Alec Guinness is larger than anything as he stands against the inhumane treatment of his soldiers and officers and more so for the upholding of order even the desertedness of the jungle. William Holden as well does an excellent job even if it is the weakest part of the strong overall story. The music maybe a bit conventional as well, but it is so gosh darned memorable I can?t help but love it. And of course, the amazing cinematography for which Lean pictures are known for makes this a visual masterpiece to behold as well.
-
MCT:April 22, 2008
"Do not speak to me of rules. This is war! This is not a game of cricket!"
The Bridge on the River Kwai is a film that has been widely acclaimed and immensely praised in the decades following its release. I don't think there is anyone on this planet who isn't familiar with the famous theme tune which is played instrumentally, and whistled by the cast in a few scenes.
The memorable theme music is just one in the string of memorable moments this film has to offer. A classic cast and a classic story are also thrown in here for maximum effect.
David Lean (probably best known for his work on Lawrence of Arabia) has crafted the entire film to perfection; utilising gorgeous locations in Sri Lanka, beautiful set design and lush cinematography.
The film is about a group of British Prisoners of War who are sent to a Japanese prison camp. The Japanese wish to build a bridge across the River Kwai to assist in transporting supplies - and hence force the British PoWs to build the bridge for them. Colonel Nicholson (Guinness) oversees the construction of the bridge and is oblivious that his allies are formulating plans to destroy it.
The locations that are showcased here look absolutely stunning. And the result of the bridge...remarkable. And it did have an epic feel on top of this as well. While watching the movie I got the sense that a lot of effort had gone into the overall production.
Naturally, the filming was plagued with troubles and the conditions weren't first-rate. This just makes the film seem a whole lot more realistic and gritty, in my opinion.
The Bridge on the River Kwai was never meant to be a history lesson, and consequently it's widely regarded as being historically inaccurate. Despite this, the film is a classic tale and a very good movie overall.
However the film's entertainment value is not without flaws. The film is dreadfully overlong and bogs horribly during the middle section. While they build the bridge, despite the great filmmaking, I was incredibly bored and couldn't get through it in one sitting. In my opinion they could have massacred at least half an hour off the running time, if not more.
But despite all the aforementioned flaws to do with length and historical inaccuracy, it's extraordinarily good filmmaking and is still regarded as one of the classic war movies. It has stellar direction that earned an Oscar, and a great performance by Alec Guinness that earned an Oscar.
The film walked away with a myriad of Oscars, including some for Best Cinematography and Best Writing...and of course Best Picture. All in all, The Bridge on the River Kwai is a classic war film that is flawed but not overly. It's a great experience, and cinema lovers simply owe it to themselves to see this one. -
MCT:April 14, 2008
Anthologic, mythical, epic war film directed with the grand-scale, flawless eye of David Lean. magnificent photography, cast, screenplay, soundtrack. extraordinary ending.
-
MCT:April 9, 2008
''I've been thinking. Tomorrow it will be twenty-eight years to the day that I've been in the service. Twenty-eight years in peace and war. I don't suppose I've been at home more than ten months in all that time. Still, it's been a good life. I loved India. I wouldn't have had it any other way. But there are times when suddenly you realize you're nearer the end than the beginning. And you wonder, you ask yourself, what the sum total of your life represents. What difference your being there at any time made to anything. Hardly made any difference at all, really, particularly in comparison with other men's careers. I don't know whether that kind of thinking's very healthy; but I must admit I've had some thoughts on those lines from time to time. But tonight... tonight!''
After settling his differences with a Japanese PoW camp commander, a British colonel co-operates to oversee his men's construction of a railway bridge for their captors - while oblivious to a plan by the Allies to destroy it.
Alec Guinness: Col. Nicholson
Sessue Hayakawa: Col. Saito
This is a raved about classic, not sure about that legendary scene on the bridge, Alec Guiness's character he portrays is compelling and definitely Oscar Worthy.
The idea of principle, of duty is apparent in this. I would say The Bridge On The River Kwai is a relic of the past. You have to be in the right mood to appreciate it though.
Alec Guiness's performance is nothing short of plausibility. Bound by a sense of duty.
You really see the paradox in the last scene but for such a classic scene, i built up high expectations which is why the effect was lessened on me.
The music was vintage, the whistle well known. We used to sing ''Hitler has only got one ball...The other...is in Albert Hall!'' at school. I swear it's on Short Circuit too.
I watched with Rachael which made the experience worth while. Seen so many great classics recently.
The kind of movie you watch with your granddad while having a nap in intervals. -
MCT:March 29, 2008
You could take away pretty much every English-language war movie ever made and we wouldn't lose anything as long as we still had this one.
-
MCT:March 29, 2008
I saw this movie just yesterday and I think it is one of the best movies
ever made, the acting is perfect, the directing, the locations, ... .
The whole movie is just perfect. I liked the tensions between the colonel and the
japanese warlord -
MCT:March 22, 2008
Definitely one of the most overrated movies of all time. Sure, it was a good movie overall, but nowhere near one of the best ever made. The first 2 hours and 20 minutes were extremely boring, but then the last part was terrific. Full of suspense and action.
-
MCT:March 1, 2008
We know "the Bridge on the River Kwai" opens in a Japanese prisoner-of-war in Burma (1943), where a battle of wills rages Colonel Saito and newly arrived Britisch colonel Nicholson, played by Alec Guinness. The between camp commander Saito insists that Nicholson order his men to build a bridge over the river Kwai ... he refuses! Filmed in Ceylon, Bridge on the River Kwai won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for the legendary British filmmaker David Lean, and Best Actor for Guinness. It also won Best Screenplay for Pierre Boulle, the author of the novel ...
-
MCT:February 21, 2008
It's easy to see why this film is regarded as a classic. Not only is it beautiful for film in the 50s (a colour-film too), but it's a wonderful exploration of Stockholm Syndrome-esque ideas and themes as well as the idea of being brought to mild madness along with a simple idea of pride for what one stands for.
It essentially did what 'The Great Escape' did, but 6 years earlier and more importantly better.
As if that wasn't enough, there's some magnificent acting to be found, most obviously Alec Guiness.
Personal enjoyment: 8/10
Actual quality as a film: 10/10 -
MCT:February 13, 2008
A brilliant story which concludes with one of the greatest climaxes ever put on film. Mix in the fantastic performances by all, but especially Sir Alec Guinness, and you have a masterpiece. Unforgettable. Best bit: "What have I done?"
-
MCT:January 21, 2008
I've waited a while to see this film and it finally made it's way onto my tv screen. I kept meaning to rent it but just never got round to it. A very good war film that didn't disappoint. Loads of people had told me to go and see it and their reviews were pretty much spot on. The acting was of a consistant high standard and the plot in general was good. I usually enjoy war films and this one wasn't much different. I liked the ending as well. You really feel for the guy when he realises what is going on but at the same time I felt that he was being a little stupid and I also couldn't understand he would want to build a bridge that would help the enemy anyway. That aspect of it didn't really make much sense to me but other than that I have no problems and also recommend that everyone see this brilliant film.
-
MCT:January 13, 2008I'm sorry but, I hated this movie. Give me Force 10 From Navarone. I fell asleep 30 minutes into this movie.
