The Bridge on the River Kwai Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Bridge on the River Kwai - Movie Review Example The story speaks about living in dignity, being civilized and treating others in a human manner regardless of their condition and status in life. However, it also speaks about the realities of the possibilities that the good motives of dignified men, trained and educated to do service to other people, may well be mixed with personal intentions and objectives that is, to satisfy one’s ego and desires by being known throughout the world for ages because of their achievements. Colonel Nicholson presents a confusing character. He was stubborn in demanding his rights and for a viewer, it would be hard to understand why he would allow himself to suffer rather than just obey orders and be treated well. He is also an interesting character who stirs curiosity from the audience. The initial reasoning of the British colonel is highly commendable. He thought about the good of his officers, fighting for their rights. It is highly appreciated for an officer to keep to the rules and regulati ons even in the face of death. In defending his and the rights of his officers, colonel Nicholson endangered his life as well as his officers. Still, wanting to show his men the principles that he clings to, he defied the Japanese commander. When he was punished, caged in a box like an animal, he did not allow his situation to limit or even depreciate his beliefs rather he stood his ground that the British officers will have no part in the manual labor demanded by the Japanese as stated in the international law. This showed cultural issues, with the British showing diplomacy and the Japanese showing barbaric disciplines. In the course of time, when the Japanese commander was pressured by his deadlines, he eventually had to bend his rules against his will to the demands of the British officer if only to save his life from the dangers he faces if he was not able to meet his deadline for the construction of the bridge. Having regained his power and dignity in the presence of the Japane se soldiers, colonel Nicholson solicited the help of the British officers and soldiers to build the bridge they were ordered to do, the best thing that happened in the movie. The colonel had good intentions of showing how diplomatic the British could work with their enemies and let them appreciate the ‘civilized’ living they have, adhering to rules and respecting humanity, giving them the dignity of human beings. Instead of working against their enemies as initially intended, the British prisoners of war worked in their favor. The engineer revealed the mistakes in building the bridge on an unstable area and he collaborated with the other officers to plan to make a good bridge. The ideal of Nicholson were logical he could even convince any viewer with it. Build a bridge of good quality and show the Japanese what British soldiers could do, boost the morale of the soldiers and uphold their dignity and, to top his reasoning, the project would be for the good of the British government, were what the officer said. Building the bridge would be a diplomatic act in favor of the British government, he reasons. But was that really it? When the engineer told Colonel Nicholson that the bridge they were to build is similar to the medieval London Bridge that stood six hundred years of service, he became ecstatic, more driven and ambitious. He probably was