War movies tend to make people’s best movies lists don’t they? I guess war makes good movies, because Bridge on the River Kwai(#32) certainly qualifies as a damn good movie. Bridge on the River Kwai takes place during World War II in a Japanese POW camp in Thailand. US Navy Commander Shears (William Holden) has been a prisoner for a long time as British Colonel Nicholson(Alec Guinness) brings a large group of soldiers into the camp(famously whistling “Colonel Bogey March”). The Japanese wish to build a bridge over the River Kwai and want the prisoners to do it. To build troop morale, Colonel Nicholson uses the bridge as a mark of pride with his soldiers. Soon after, Shears miraculously escapes and is saved by the British army, who wish to blow up the bridge.
I have seen so many war movies because of this project, it’s hard to think that this one would be any different from the others, but it was. I actually genuinely enjoyed this film, partially because Alec Guinness was amazing as Colonel Nicholson. The way his character changes is nothing less than spectacular. Before this, I only knew him as Old Ben aka Obi-Wan Kenobi in the first Star Wars trilogy. Now I see that he is much, much more than that. He won an Oscar for this role and it is clear why. I don’t want to give it away, but let’s just say his paradigm shift at the end of the movie is one of the most amazing bits of acting I’ve ever seen and that’s saying something.
Bridge on the River Kwai is one of those movies that everyone talks about, but it seems like no one has ever seen it. This needs to be remedied. I was terribly skeptical before I started watching this film, but I’m not anymore. Everyone should see this movie. There is no question this movie deserves it’s place on the list.
