Tonight we watched The Bridge on the River Kwai. Never have I seen such glowing reviews for a movie I disliked so much. None of the characters were even remotely honorable. Heck, none of the characters even existed; for a movie that was supposedly based on historical events, it sure played loose with the facts. 16,000 Allied POWs died building that stupid bridge, and the movie didn't show a single one. Oh, did I say POW camp? I meant Happy Camp, where Japanese and British got along swimmingly. What a load of crap. If I were one of those real-life POWs who surreptitiously tried to sabotage the construction and survived the war only to find a movie made ten years later in which I collaborated with the Japanese and built them a purty lil' bridge, I'd be pretty f-in' steamed. And to sit through a movie where the main message is that all soldiers are mad, war is pointless, and bad guys and good guys are all the same deep down? I'd be out of my mind.
You remember how Neil was looking into publishing a book based on his Armor Geddon blog? You know why he didn't publish it? Because no one was buying what he was selling. They wanted more "internal conflict." They wanted him to struggle with his role in the war and the world. They didn't want to hear that the only regret soldiers like Neil have is that they weren't able to kill more bad guys.
War does not make all men go mad and lose their sense of right and wrong. But apparently making a movie in which they do will get you a 95% approval rating.
Posted by Sarah at June 22, 2007 10:55 PM | TrackBackActually, I just got the same comment on an essay anthology I was shopping about your more non-traditional military wives. Unless it included all war-protesting, serious marital conflict spouses (and cheating! Can't forget lots of cheating!), it just wasn't "meaty" enough.
We own "Bridge on the River Kwai" along with every other military movie known to man. Whenever my husband decides we're putting one of those in, I feel it my civic duty to retaliate with "Clueless" or "Harold and Maude" the next night.
Posted by: Non-Essential Equipment at June 23, 2007 02:27 AMI have never liked that movie. There are actually few war movies I do like. But that one as you noticed has always been considered REALLY GOOD. Not by me and I am of the generation in which it came out. Maybe it's just not a girl thing, but your points are well made. I never liked that TV show that made POW's in Germany SO MUCH FUN either. I've even blocked it's name for the time being. No senior moments here.(G)
Posted by: Ruth H at June 23, 2007 05:58 PMWell dayum - I was wondering about Neil and his book. That is truly a loss for many. No wonder Buzzell had such an easy time of getting his book published but then I never read his. He just seemed too conflicted for me and I'm not trying to diminish his experience. Neil's experience explains alot I guess.
Posted by: toni at June 23, 2007 11:15 PM"...war is pointless..."
Funny you should mention that. Just last night some cable network clowns reviewing "Rescue Dawn" made that exact same assertion, praising the movie for showing us that war is futile. Like so many spoiled kids, they have never had to fight for their freedom, much less their lives, and it's so much fun to condescend to their betters.
Posted by: pst314 at June 24, 2007 12:01 PMWhat the hell!? Red Six was one of the most
interesting blogs that I had ever read. Need
we remind people that he was awarded the
Silver Star?
WRONG. Just wrong. Wait a few years Neil. Your
time will come. I said it to you before and I
will say it again,money for nothin'!
The redeeming quality of Bridge on the River Kwai is the brit commander's love of his soldiers.
Posted by: Eric Chen at July 4, 2007 12:18 AM