The Bridge on the River Kwai Reviews

Filmes de guerra nunca foi meu ponto forte, pelo menos alguns chamaram a minha atenção. E este sem sombra de duvidas merece toda critica positiva acerca do mesmo. Durante seus longos 220 minutos, que de uma maneira ou de outra, é um tanto difícil para o publico em geral acompanhar. Mas a Ponte do Rio Kwai tem uma características únicas que o diferencia dos demais, seja pela fotografia muito bem feita, levando em conta o ano em que foi produzido; ou pela proporção massiva de efeitos visuais e sonoros. 

A representação histórica é um ponto bem critico, pois é realizado com base em fatos reais e de cunho militarista. Desde Platoon eu não via algo tão sufocante e desesperador. Não me aprofundei no contexto histórico pra saber de fato a precisão dos fatos, mas fui capaz de extrair uma boa gama de informações pelo que foi abordado neste filme.

Para concluir a revisão, "The Brigde of the River Kwai" é uma excelente representação histórica e cultural, que conta com uma massiva produção épica em larga escala. E que deve ser preservado com a reputação que de fato merece.

Among the massive epics directed by David Lean, in my opinion, it must be the most accessible one. I think that the very best remains, by far, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, but this movie has a running time of almost 220 minutes and, therefore but also for some other reasons, it is a rather demanding flick. In my opinion, 'The Bridge on a the River Kwai' is more an exciting feature and, basically some kind of forefather to our own blockbusters. Basically, it is a really entertaining piece of work and I even remember watching this flick with my dad back in those days. I thought it was really good and I already enjoyed it back then. Apparently, even though David Lean and Alec Guiness worked together on many movies, they actually didn’t get along very well and it was the only movie he made for Lean for which Guiness had the lead. He was very good in this, and apparently, he believed it was his best work. To be honest, it has been a while since I saw this flick and I will definitely re-watch it in the future at some point. To conclude, it is a massive classic, it completely deserves it reputation and it is definitely worth a look, a must see for any decent movie buff.

I love how the cinicism of Holden and the stupidity of Guinness goes for their whistling redemption on last reel. Visionary Lean.

The Bridge On the River Kwai wasn't just about the Pacific Theatre of World War II, it was about British pride and the "stiff upper lip" attitude. Not only did the British seek to build the bridge as a symbol of British moral and dignity, they sought to undermine the Japanese by simply being "British." The entire scene of the British POWs presenting to their captors the plan to properly build the bridge was as much a demonstration of British know-how as it was a way to wear down the camp commander with the Western business model.

''It is quite understandable; it's a very natural reaction. But one day - in a week, a month, a year - on that day when, God willing, we all return to our homes again, you're going to feel very proud of what you have achieved here in the face of great adversity. What you have done should be, and I think will be, an example to all our countrymen, soldier and civilian alike. You have survived with honour - that, and more - here in the wilderness. You have turned defeat into victory. I congratulate you. Well done.''

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.

William Holden: Shears

Alec Guinness: Colonel Nicholson

A film from 1957 from David Lean whom would later helm Lawrence of Arabia, converts writer Pierre Boulle's novel Le pont de la rivière Kwaï to the big screen. Pierre also wrote the titan novel Planet of the Apes. His two biggest achievements of his life amongst an array of books he wrote.
The Bridge on the River Kwai is a moralistic story with believable characters whom all serve a purpose and point in the wheel and scheme of matters.



David Lean succeeds in creating a breath-takingly layered film which is entertaining, thought provoking and assembles characters we can relate to and care for.
The Bridge on the River Kwai is a colossus achievement which shows off and immerses us in a time from history and a novel that has twists then turns as each plot thread is divulged to us.
The Bridge on the River Kwai has many dimensions - all relatively reflective and powerful. It is one work for which the term spectacular and extravagant is awe inducing, and not some pipe dream forgettable creation. The relationship regarding the Hayakawa and Guinness characters, and the interaction thus between them is as compelling as anything ever presented on stage or screen previously.

The four leads were as perfect in their roles, individually and in combination, as heaven doth allow. In addition to their acting talents, their abilities to portray characters proper relative age are duly noted. At true age of 47, Jack Hawkins' character is about the equivalent in the film. William Holden, younger in the film, and Alec Guinness maturer Veteran, were believable, although only two years apart (41 and 43 respectively) in actuality. Most amazing is Sessue Hayakawa; He was 68 -essentially pushing 70- in 1957, yet one could imagine his character's being a contemporary of Guinness's colonel - even maybe a year or two younger.
Alec Guinness deservedly received the Oscar for Best Actor for his role of colonel Nicholson, whom he embodies in entirety, disappearing so utterly into the character that the actor is an after thought, leaving nothing but the real man in his stead. It's a superlative piece of acting from one of the truly great actors of our time.

Overall, The Bridge on the River Kwai from the beginning of the film to it's spectacular climax, Lean builds upon and maintains a subtle tension that underscores and lovingly strokes the drama, thus a compelling, unforgettable motion picture film is born from the results. David Lean is the definitive master regarding epic films such as this, filling them with sweeping visuals while integrating them with the emotional involvement of his characters. Lean knows what he wants and how to achieve results, and he takes an electrically charged story and glorifies it by using everything possible at his disposal; Visually vast, rich and potent and combined with use of sound and poignant musical prowess. Most importantly, he knows how to get the kind of performances from his actors to put it all across so convincingly and believably.

The Bridge on the River Kwai won 7 Oscars and rightly so because it achieves a timeless quality that is a sum of it's parts...and everytime you watch the qualities show. Later, Lawrence of Arabia from David Lean would achieve similar results and also 7 Oscars echoing the success of The Bridge on the River Kwai. This is a golden film, treasure and prize for audiences to cherish, and an epic adaptation utilizing a dramatically turbulent story.

''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.''

"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.

WW II. British prisoners of war are ordered to build a bridge to accommodate the Burma-Siam railway.

I had never seen this classic in its entirety until recently.
While the story certainly had more impact upon its release, the movie still is worth watching for the actors, the director’s work, the script and the photography.

This is a beautiful classic, which should never be overlooked or missed.