BS: 'To End All Wars'

Subject: BS: 'To End All Wars'
From: GUEST,Likes Philosophical Movies
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 11:15 AM

As a connoisseur of war movies I was surprised that I'd never even heard of "To End All Wars" (2002) before watching it on cable last night.

It's one of the very finest war films ever, and absolutely the best one I've seen about prisoners of the Japanese. You'll never be able to watch "The Bridge on the River Kwai" again, believe me.

I'm not connected with the film, the producers, etc., in any way. I've been reading the current threads on war, liberty, pacifism, justice, treatment of POWs, etc., and I urge anybody who's interested in these topics to rent this movie. There are a few unlikely bits, but overall the film is historically accurate.

WARNING: wrenching but true to life violence, bad language, *thought-provoking themes.* However, it could be exactly the kind of people who would be most put off by these elements who need to see the movie the most. The less you know about war, the more you need this film.

It stars David Carlyle, Ciaran McMenamin and Kiefer Sutherland.

If you're not in tears by the end, you're tougher than I am.

Subject: RE: BS: 'To End All Wars'
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 06:47 AM

I will look out for it.
Try also A Town Like Alice

Subject: RE: BS: 'To End All Wars'
From: GUEST,Likes Philosophical Movies
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 08:41 AM

I will. Have heard the name, but never seen the movie.

Subject: RE: BS: 'To End All Wars'
From: Lighter
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 03:27 PM

"To End All Wars" - one of the greatest ! It didn't play within a million miles of here and I never heard of it till I saw it on cable. I'm amazed that it's not better known. As GUEST said, "See it, people !" If you can handle it, that is.

Subject: RE: BS: 'To End All Wars'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 07:20 PM

"Philosophical," how's it different from "River Kwai"?
My 15-yr-old will be studying WWII in History soon - is it suitable educational matter?
Right now, we're looking for a good movie on WWI.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: 'To End All Wars'
From: GUEST,Likes Philosophical Movies
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 10:28 PM

It makes "River Kwai" look like a Disney film. The depiction of conditions during the building of the railroad is much more realistic and makes it easy to understand how 20,000 Allied PWs died during the
project. I don't want to give away too much, but the contrast between Bushido and Western ideas of human freedom is underscored. The film builds to a conclusion that asks whether the cultural differences and even justified hatreds between people, or at least some people, can ever be overcome. The answer is yes.

"All Quiet on the western Front" (1930)is probably the best World war I movie, but the acting and direction looks old-fashioned now. There's a 1970s remake starring Richard Thomas and Ernest Borgnine that to me is just as good. It's in color and was filmed in Czecholslovakia. One thing that makes it especially interesting is that it's from the German point of view.

Please don't think that any one of these movies glorify war or violence. They do just the opposite, but they also show that war and peace issues are not simple black and white.

Subject: RE: BS: 'To End All Wars'
From: Lighter
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 09:50 PM

It's true. I recommended it to a friend of mine, who was also bowled over. He then recommended it to a Vietnam war vet who, it turned out, had already seen it, and he too agreed it was one of the best.

Did they have distribution problems with this film, or what?

Any 'Catters who've seen this film, what did you think of it ?