Review of The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) by Aaron B — 17 May 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.