British war movie 'masterpiece' has 'most satisfying ending in history'

An 'epic' film which is a collaboration between the author of Planet of the Apes and one of Britain's most prolific directors is now available for streaming in its entirety. The Bridge on the River Kwai, hailed as one of cinema's greatest war epics, continues to captivate audiences six decades after its 1957 release, with fans lauding it as a "masterpiece".

Set against the brutal backdrop of World War II, just 12 years after its end, the film's timely creation has ensured its lasting impact on viewers. The critically acclaimed film boasts an impressive 96% rating on review platform Rotten Tomatoes. One critic wrote: "There will never be another movie that approaches this one in ambition and grand scope. The screenplay, acting, location, and setting - it's as if designed by providence. Just brilliant." The enduring appeal of the film can be attributed to the combined brilliance of French novelist Pierre Boulle and renowned British director David Lean CBE, but it's Alec Guinness who truly shines.

Another review reads: "Hayakawa, Holden and Hawkins are all superb, but it's the towering performance of Guinness which elevates this movie to classic status and guarantees its place in movie immortality."

The actor was at the height of his cinematic success when he embodied Colonel Nicholson, leading a contingent of British prisoners of war in The Bridge on the River Kwai. This portrayal, along with numerous other performances, appears on the BFI's compilation of the most important British films of the 20th century, claiming the 11th position.

One critique labels it as "the best war movie I've ever watched", proceeding to brand it a "true masterpiece". Additionally, another critic penned: "One of the greatest and most satisfying endings in all film history.

"Powerful, complex, moving, and a unique narrative make this one of the best war movies of all time," one enthralled spectator remarked.

They continued: "Colonel Nicholson is one of my favourite characters of all time. This is truly like watching a Shakespeare play unfold.

"The plot is so complex, and for a 1950s movie, it is so ahead of its time. William Holden is masterful as well. Overall some of the best acting I have ever seen, a wonderful soundtrack, perfect pacing and incredibly ambitious cinematography."

Set in 1943, during World War Two, a group of British prisoners of war suffer dreadful circumstances under the brutal authority of a Japanese internment camp in Thailand. Under Colonel Nicholson's leadership, the troops are tasked with building a bridge, crucial to their captors, designed to bolster the Burma-Siam railway.

However, they harbour different motives, with a secret plot to sabotage the whole mission. During the picture, we see the colonel suffer savage torture from his jailers, yet remarkably few scenes show the terrors of actual warfare.

Countless viewers have commended the film's shrewd choice to concentrate less on combat sequences and more on the individual stories of the characters.

One fan remarked: "Extremely well done, especially given this 1957 movie didn't have the benefits of modern CGI and special effects.

"Great characters and great performances. A war picture without war, instead focusing on the men's motivations and morality."

Having secured seven Academy Awards, it's scarcely surprising that film lovers continue flocking back to this 1950s classic.

You can now view it for yourself, as The Bridge on the River Kwai is presently available on Amazon Prime, or alternatively on NowTV.