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Ciaran McMenamin, Robert Carlyle, Kiefer Sutherland, Mark Strong, Yugo Saso ... see more see more... , Sakae Kimura , James Cosmo , Masayuki Yui , John Gregg , Shu Nakajima , Greg Ellis , Pip Torrens , Brendan Cowell , Adam Sinclair , Joji Yoshida

David L. Cunningham follows up on his acclaimed Beyond Paradise with this Bridge Over the River Kwai-like POW drama. Following Japan's surprise invasion of Singapore during the waning days of 1941, a ... read more read more...small British battalion headed by Lieutenant Colonel McLean (James Cosmo), Major Campbell (Robert Carlyle), Captain Gordon (Ciaran McMenamin), and Lieutenant Tom Ridgen (Kiefer Sutherland) are captured and imprisoned in a camp deep in the Burmese jungle. Soon after arriving, Major Campbell starts to an uprising. Worn down by an exhausting march through the woods, brutal daily beatings, and a lack of food, the troops are in no mood for a coup and the scheme collapses. Captain Gordon copes with the camp's extreme conditions in a polar opposite manner -- by forgiving his captors and seeking spiritual salvation. Soon a split occurs within the camp between those who follow Campbell's tireless efforts for physical freedom and those who follow Gordon's more transcendent pursues. This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Flixster Users

84% liked it

7,781 ratings

Critics

58% liked it

12 critics

R, 2 hr. 6 min.

Directed by: David L. Cunningham

Release Date: December 6, 2002

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DVD Release Date: June 15, 2004

Stats: 540 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (540)

  • DouglasWCollins
    December 30, 2011
    DouglasWCollins
    To find hope in the worst of places. An amazing movie that is one of best war movies I have ever seen.
  • allan913
    August 1, 2008
    allan913
    An amasing and unforgettable movie. Powerful, astonishing and extroadinary. A remarkable look on the inside of pain and survival. Kiefer Sutherland, Mark Strong, Ciaren McMenamin and Robert Carlyle deliver excellent performances. A relentless war drama. It grabs you and never let... read mores go for a second. Brilliant, riveting and exhilerating. A film such as this should not be missed. Well excuted and superbly performed. An emotionally gripping, deeply moving and electrifying powerhouse. Great storytelling thats as gripping and as moving as Schindlers List. . A film with an impact more powerful than any gun battle could describe. This is true poetry-in-motion. A remarkable piece of work.
  • CloudStrife84
    July 1, 2007
    CloudStrife84
    Surprisingly good! It's a mystery why this one never went up in the cinema as it has a great, yet brutal, story to tell. It feels a bit different than regular war movies, as it is mostly played out in a prison camp, but in this case that's something that works for the better. On ... read moretop of that it bears a lot of heart and soul that will definitely affect you on some level. What makes it most special though is the excellent and well-mixed cast. Among them is a very interesting character played by Kiefer Sutherland, who we now know best through the hit series "24". The only thing I didn't really like about this movie is the music score...but maybe that's just me.
  • fb704730572
    May 13, 2012
    fb704730572
    A powerful movie that offers a compelling view of war and the power of forgiveness,and does so in an effective and engrossing way. The subject matter and tone is in many ways similar to Bridge Over the River Kwai (a masterpiece), especially in the way it humanizes the enemy, thou... read moregh it lacks the restraint and subtlety of that film. Strong performances from everyone involved. I only wish the film had waited until the epilogue to show the real-life images of the POW camps, as to do it in-film can be distracting. An authentic and memorable tale of war and redemption.

    4/5 Stars
  • irisheyes686
    December 20, 2009
    irisheyes686
    Extremely sad and brutal. It was very good though!
  • terris85017
    May 28, 2012
    terris85017
    (2001) Glad I got to see this one this weekend [Memorial Day Weekend]! Whew! A bit more stark than I had anticipated but stellar performances by a great cast made this a great viewing.

    After the moving showing (on TV21 tbn) there was a brief storylette about the actual "Captai... read moren Gordon" & Nagasake the Oxford educated Japanese translator @ the prison camp.
  • i4jesus
    July 24, 2008
    i4jesus
    it was very good. i can c how it was SO gory but in a way i think it was something hollywood coulda put compared 2 saving private ryan
  • studlyahern
    July 31, 2007
    studlyahern
    an emotional, spiritual drama about suffering at the hands of your captors and following your own moral code! Powerful filmmaking and stirring storytelling!
  • indysrevenge
    July 17, 2007
    indysrevenge
    One of the best movies of all time! Based on a true story from the war- shows the hurt and delema from both points of view.
  • thuringwithal
    June 26, 2007
    thuringwithal
    I think this film gives a beautiful portrayal of how we must love our enemies as much as we love our neighbors. It's difficult to watch the sufferings of the prisoners in the P.O.W. camp but it's also inspiring to see how they coped with it. It throws hard questions at you and it... read more's difficult to face the truth sometimes, but I think it's a powerful movie with a beautiful message that we should all receive.

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Critic Reviews

Kevin Thomas
December 5, 2002
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

More grueling than rewarding. Full Review

David Hunter
May 17, 2002
David Hunter, Hollywood Reporter

An ensemble effort that recalls other great POW movies, Wars boasts many superb performances.

Burl Burlingame
July 5, 2011
Burl Burlingame, Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Will be well-received on Sunday-school movie night at church, particularly during group discussions afterward. For the rest of us, alas, it doesn't quite hang together. Full Review

Ron Reed
November 1, 2006
Ron Reed, Christianity Today

Its message of costly sacrifice and hard-won reconciliation is at the heart of the gospel, and the fact that this story is drawn from actual events demands attention.

David Nusair
July 20, 2004
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...there's no denying that the story it's telling is a fascinating one. Full Review

David Thomas
June 16, 2004
David Thomas, Filmcritic.com

the unoriginal presentation, which often favors hitting us over the head when restraint would be far more enticing, leaves much to be desired Full Review

Rich Cline
December 5, 2003
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

Extremely well-made, this film looks excellent and features strong performances from the entire cast. Full Review

Luke Y. Thompson
February 26, 2003
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times

There's so much cynical and calculated religion these days that it's nice to see, regardless of one's wartime affiliation, a traditional Christian forgiveness that really does have the power to redeem. Full Review

Chuck Wilson
December 5, 2002
Chuck Wilson, L.A. Weekly

A vivid but uneven film. Full Review

Ed Scheid
October 20, 2002
Ed Scheid, Boxoffice Magazine

Director David L. Cunningham, working on a small budget, skillfully combines scenes of action and anxiety with substantial character development. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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