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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Sep 22, 2012
Pros: Tightened up the book version nicely.
Cons: Some of the satire from the book is missing.
Summary: "A fine example!": British C.O. Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness) employs sarcasm better than he receives it from M.O. Major Clipton (James Donald) when the former "posted ... as deserters the young officers who had ... ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
May 21, 2008
Pros: Ambiguity, performances, script, direction.
Cons: Nothing.
Summary: David Lean's The Bridge on the River Kwai triumphs through the force of moral ambiguity. We have an impressive array of "protagonists" and "antagonists" displayed here, but none of them are solidly "good" nor solidly "evil." Each contains a brand ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Mar 27, 2007
Pros: Guinnes, Hayakawa, Holden, Hawkins. Boulle's novel. Wilson/Foreman screenplay. Lean's direction. Cardiff's photography. Arnold's score.
Cons: Film's anti-war message, black humor, went over the heads of the audience. Still does.
Summary: To begin with, though nothing is wrong with viewers and critics seeing BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI as a grand adventure story or an heroic war film, I think they miss the point. Adventure story and war film it may be, but David Lean's 161 minute epic is ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Apr 30, 2006
Pros: Everything
Cons: You do need patience
Summary: In World War Two, in Southeast Asia, Sessue Hayakawa portrays the commandant of a Japanese prison camp. Alec Guinness is the British Colonel of a group of soldiers who were captured and placed in that prison camp. Jack Hawkins is another British ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jul 6, 2005
Pros: Great locales, cinematography, direction, performances, themes, story, and DVD presentation
Cons: Has some potential to taint the bravery of the real men of the prison camp
Summary: Here's a film that can withstand whatever accolades you care to throw at it – masterpiece, epic, classic, or what-have-you. Although the film, as an artistic creation, falls to the credit of director David Lean, it was first the brainchild of ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jan 8, 2005
Pros: Superb acting. Brilliant cinematography. Great script and direction.
Cons: At times overly stereotypical and historically inaccurate.
Summary: Madness…madness are the immortal words of Maj. Clipton upon reflecting the effect of war upon men in David Lean’s 1957 epic The Bridge on the River Kwai : a film which explores the madness of war itself and its effects upon ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Sep 22, 2002
Pros: Acting, cast, cinematography, direction, music score, writing.
Cons: A bit 'Hollywooodized'. Best seen on a restored, widescreen print.
Summary: In 1957, a movie was premiered that was the most awe-inspiring of its time. It was a massive project, involving a collaboration of several countries and the building of a bridge, then the largest single prop used for a film. It was the movie that put ... read more
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Rated a Somewhat Helpful Review by the Epinions community
May 30, 2001
Pros: Great Characters, wonderful story, timeless classic
Cons: Main character is a bit he-man for me.
Summary: Bridge Over the River Kwai is one of the best classic films ever put on DVD. The depth of character, depth of story, and development of the plot more than make up for the stereotypical main character. How would you compare a movie made back in 1957 with ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
May 26, 2001
Pros: Superb acting, incredible story, gripping action, and some of the most memorable scenes ever.
Cons: None whatsoever.
Summary: From the second the Brits first came marching in whistling the "Col. Bogey March," I knew, just by the grandeur of that underplayed scene alone, that I had found a gem. How right I was.
The acting here is among the best ever. Alec Guiness is ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 14, 2001
Pros: A fine DVD package, make sure you get the 2 disc version. Great movie
Cons: The last line of the movie is a bit cheesy
Summary: Unfortunately for me, I wasn't around in the 50's to enjoy such movie achievments as this. It won 8 Academy Awards, and in my mind earned every one of them. But lets look at the DVD:
Movie: 9.5/10
This is a very powerful film. I ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 14, 2001
Pros: Great story about leadership and human nature in adversity
Cons: Not a lot of insight into the Japanese side (esp. Saito)
Summary: ... said the British doctor, as he watched what unfolded at the end of this great movie. I always look for movies that teaches something, and this is it. I do give some things away in this review, but, this movie isn't about the whether the bridge ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Aug 7, 2000
Pros: Every performance, the score, the direction ... I could go on for days
Cons: None. None. None
Summary: As you may know, one of the great actors of our time, perhaps of all time, has died. This review results.
It is hard even to write the words: Alec Guinness is dead.
With him died a befuddled vacuum-cleaner salesman, a ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jul 6, 2000
Pros: Shows how the noblest aspirations can be perverted
Cons: (Sound of wind blowing)
Summary: Until "Saving Private Ryan" came out two years ago, "Bridge over the River Kwai" was certainly the best English-language film originally in color about World War II. It doesn't show the civilian suffering as well as "Schindler's ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
May 18, 2000
Pros: The film has great themes (can you separate actions from consequence? When does national pride become prejudice? When does ambition become hubris?), fascinating characters expertly acted, a compelling plot and brilliant direction by one of the masters of t
Cons: If you find one, post a comment on it. Thanks.
Summary: The Bridge on the River Kwai is a noble film whose execution is flawless.
The great Alec Guinness plays Colonel Nicholson, a British commander imprisoned in a Japanese prisoner of war camp during the Second World War. His Japanese counterpart ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Feb 10, 2000
Pros: Gripping, Frank, with no punches pulled, a masterpiece.
Cons: Those looking for an awful lot of action scenes might be disappointed.
Summary: Am I the only one who finds that the best war movies were all made quite a long time ago? The Guns of Navarone, The Great Escape, The Magnificent Seven and now this film, far surpass 99% of what is served up today.
One of the greatest war ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jan 20, 2000
Pros: Well-written plot and characters
Cons: Not as realistic as some other war films
Summary: David Lean intended “The Bride on the River Kwai” to be “The Big Movie with Meaning.” Obviously, he was successful in making one of the most impressive movies of his time, with its all star cast, huge company, and $3,000,000 budget. There has been, ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Dec 25, 1999
Pros: movie, accurate, deep
Cons: ...
Summary: The Bridge on the River Kwai is an extremely well done movie! Not only does it accurately portray quite a lot about war times, but it shows the indomitable[sp?] spirit of man at its best. The movie is educational for its insight into the war and the ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Nov 8, 1999
Pros: One of the best war films ever
Cons: None
Summary: "The Bridge on the River Kwai" is one of those war films that is excellent from the very start. This film will be ranked with "The Guns of Navarone", "All's Quiet on the Western Front", "Run Silent, Run Deep", ... read more
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Rated a Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Nov 7, 1999
Pros: direction, acting, music, script, ending
Cons: length
Summary: The Bridge on the River Kwai is one of the greatest war films of all time, placing right up there with All Quiet on the Western Front, Apocalypse Now and Platoon. What makes it so great? The Bridge captures the subject of POWs and the war in Japan ... read more
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Rated a Very Helpful Review by the Epinions community
Jan 26, 2013
Pros: Acting
Cons: Racism, pacing, location, and sexism
Summary: David Lean’s 1957 movie “The Bridge on the River Kwai” received many awards and is adored by many men -- and perhaps some jingoist women, too. Its special effects look quaint now, and its pervasive colonialist perspective is more ... read more
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