45 years later, still a fresh movie experience.

Rating: Null/10 (28 February 2002)

Some films have the ability to transport you to another place and time so completely that you forget you are watching a movie.
"Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957) is such a film. Director David Lean takes an inspired script, superb casting, and a lush jungle setting and spins the tale of the of the strong-willed but ultimately doomed Col Nicholson and his struggle to find some dignity in the face of brutal captivity. That the film is also a rip-roaring adventure, complete with daring escapes, leech-infested swamps, and unrelenting suspense climaxing in the famous bridge scene, is a tribute to Lean's directing skill and keen sense of Film as Entertainment, first and foremost. There is also a truly funny side to this film, provided mainly through the "token" American character Shears, played with a perfect fatalistic resignation by William Holden. This is not just another "war movie with a message." Pure entertainment or morality tale, "Bridge" continues to fascinate with each successive viewing, revealing the genius that makes this film work on so many levels- the rapid -fire dialogue, incredible cinematography, sound engineering that completes the jungle "illusion", and seemless editing that merges the two parallel storylines to their eventual conclusion. It is hard to believe that this film was made 45 years ago, especially when compared with the dated look of feel films of the same era and genre. This film is truly a different animal. An overused cliche to be sure, but "Bridge on the River Kwai" really does get better withn each viewing. If you haven't seen it in a while, you are in for a treat, especially if you can get the newly restored special edition on DVD. It belongs in any serious movie collection as an example of the quality which movies were onve able to attain.