Review of Return from the River Kwai

A much more realistic war film than it's predecessor, David Lean's classic, The Bridge On The River Kwai, but does contain moments that echo that film made over thirty years before it. For one, Chris Penn's American pilot hesitates killing a Japanese guard, much in the same way a young commando did in Bridge. Racism, beheading and plenty of swearing, all adds to the realism. Edward Fox and Nick Tate are good as British and Australian senior officers, respectively, but Denholm Elliott and particularly George Takei are superb, the latter being a real cold b******. The first half is damn good, but from then on the film deteriorates and the unexciting climax aboard a ship was done so much better in the director's own, The Sea Wolves. I saw this film about three years ago and enjoyed it then but not so much this time round.

3/5