Critic Reviews

Bridge on the River Kwai, The (1957) Rank 3 Reviews

Expert Review Summary

Movie critics combined give Bridge on the River Kwai, The (1957) a score of 3.7171 out of 4

based on (70) reviews

Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating

Excellent

(55)

Very Good

(14)

Good

(1)

Fair

(0)

Poor

(0)

Reviews by Score:

filmsgraded.com (Brian Koller)

The Bridge on the River Kwai is undeniably a very good movie. The cinematography is excellent, with many distant crane shots that can only be accomplished with outdoor location filming, a swarming cast of extras, and large, expensive sets... ...read the complete Bridge on the River Kwai movie review at filmsgraded.com (Brian Koller)

Time Out (--)

A classic example of a film that fudges the issues it raises. ...read the complete Bridge on the River Kwai movie review at Time Out (--)

BFI Screen Online

David Lean's plans to film Richard Mason's novel, The Wind Cannot Read, for Alexander Korda had come to nothing. However, his new project was also to have a jungle setting, and also brought his first collaboration with legendary producer Sam Spiegel, ...read the complete Bridge on the River Kwai movie review at BFI Screen Online

IndependentCritics.com (Richard Propes)

Frequently, I do not agree with the Academy Award for Best Picture. In fact, I should go back through all the awards presented since my birth to see how many I agree with over the years. This film, actually released before my birth, is a film I ...read the complete Bridge on the River Kwai movie review at IndependentCritics.com (Richard Propes)

DVD Talk (Scott Weinberg)

Forever intent on finding new ways in which to package old DVDs into something new and swanky, the folks over at Sony Home Entertainment decided to release two separate "WWII 60th Anniversary Collection" box sets. This particular set offers Fred ...read the complete Bridge on the River Kwai movie review at DVD Talk (Scott Weinberg)

Britmovie

Based loosely on the true story of the construction of the Bangkok-Rangoon railway, A Bridge on the River Kwai portrays British soldiers held in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Burma during 1943. They are ordered to build a bridge across the River ...read the complete Bridge on the River Kwai movie review at Britmovie

About.com Home - DVD Review (Ivana Redwine)

This boxed set deepened my appreciation of Lean's ability to create movies of epic grandeur. All three films are absorbing stories set against spectacular backdrops, but they are more than mere spectacle-all three are thematically rich. ...read the complete Bridge on the River Kwai movie review at About.com Home - DVD Review (Ivana Redwine)

Crazy for Cinema

Even though this film won many Best Picture awards the year it was released, and is considered a classic, I have never been very interested in sitting through it. ...read the complete Bridge on the River Kwai movie review at Crazy for Cinema

DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")

In times of war, prisoners of war are sometimes used to complete manual labor tasks, such as hauling supplies and constructing items such as bridges and shacks. Such is the case here, as a team of British prisoners of war are forced to build an important ...read the complete Bridge on the River Kwai movie review at DVD Authority.com ("Fusion3600")

Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)

The last words in David Lean's ``The Bridge on the River Kwai'' are ``Madness! Madness ... madness!'' Although the film's two most important characters are both mad, the hero more than the villain, we're not quite certain what is intended by that ...read the complete Bridge on the River Kwai movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)

TV Guide's Movie Guide (--)

This intelligent and exciting WWII tale, masterfully helmed by Lean (at the start of his 'epic' period), features a splendid performance from Guinness. ...read the complete Bridge on the River Kwai movie review at TV Guide's Movie Guide (--)

Zap2it.com (Michael Szymanski)

One of the most rousing and inspiring war films, this is also a psychological battle of wills. The intensity between Hayakawa and Guinness is captivating. ...read the complete Bridge on the River Kwai movie review at Zap2it.com (Michael Szymanski)

Austin Chronicle (--)

The big screen is the place to see this widescreen epic. ...read the complete Bridge on the River Kwai movie review at Austin Chronicle (--)

Karl Rackwitz

In this year's July the American Film Institute (AFI) chose David Lean's war picture "The Bridge on the River Kwai" as number 13 on its list of the 100 greatest American movies. Not to mention that "The Bridge on the River Kwai" is a British ...read the complete Bridge on the River Kwai movie review at Karl Rackwitz

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