User Reviews

Overall, I really didn't connect with this movie emotionally, Surprising given the subject matter, I did like the different direction it took half way through, with the abrupt flashbacks, And they made sense as movie went along, the singing was an act of strength, But it wasn't enough to make this movie noteworthy.

World War II drama in an atypical tone, as it is not necessarily inspired by real events; Its greatest support is addressing issues such as the clash of cultures, guilt, shame and forgiveness. Those who like this genre will be grateful. Especially fans of the "rock chameleon" David Bowie.

What is this movie trying to say? My take is that it's about homosexuals and how they need to be protected from society. That's the only message I take from this, and the scene with Maj. Celliers brother is the most telling. He replaces homosexual with sensitive or artistic, in that his brother is a great singer. The older boys put him through an initiation (just plunking him waste-deep in some water; something that all the boys even Cellier go through btw), and it scars him for life in that he never sings again. I can only guess that this is a metaphor for being closeted. As such Celliers feels he owes it to all homosexuals to protect them for his betrayal to his brother? I can't tell if he means Mr. Lawerence (a terrible and wishy-washy Bill Conti), but I'm positive he means the camp commander. Add to this the scene at the beginning that attempts to make some statement as to how homosexuals are more sensitive and that's why the Dutch prisoner bites his tongue off after his Korean lover is killed? All in all this is a mess. The metaphor is wonky as **** and the Bridge on the River Kwai like setting doesn't help. Comraderie and homosexuality should not be confused. Not that there's anything wrong with either, but they are entirely different things. I don't think POWs in WWII gave a **** about homosexuality, and would protect their fellow prisoners to a fault unless they somehow betrayed them to the enemy. There are better ways to tell this story and I think masking homosexuality as sensitivity and artistic temperament does neither justice.

For many years I wanted to see this movie, and it turns out that the hype and its fame were much greater than the results delivered. Excellent performance by David Bowie. And Ryuichi Sakamoto's music is marvelous, but there's not much else to rescue here that is worth mentioning.