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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: 20th Century Fox
Salesrank: 8565
Released: June 15, 2004 |
| Our Price: $7.94 |
| Used Price: $3.14 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Kiefer Sutherland and Robert Carlyle star in this explosive war film based on an amazing true story. Captured by the Japanese, a group of courageous soldiers are forced to build the infamous "Railway of Death" between Thailand and Burma during the height
Description of To End All Wars:
A Japanese P.O.W. camp during World War II becomes the battleground for the souls as well as the lives of its Scottish and British prisoners. Based on a true story, To End All Wars centers around Ernest Gordon (Ciaran McMenamin), a young soldier who wants to teach philosophy. When Gordon recovers from seeming death by illness, the other prisoners agree to become Grodon's pupils, studying Plato, Shakespeare, and the Bible. Gordon's superior officer, Ian Campbell (Robert Carlyle, Trainspotting, The Full Monty), scoffs at the increasingly pacificist bent of Gordon's teachings. Jim Reardon (Kiefer Sutherland, 24, Freeway), a lone American running a black market, is equally skeptical. But under the relentless brutality of the camp, the only way for the soldiers to survive is to find what gives their lives meaning. The strong performances of To End All Wars makes this moral conflict as vivid as any gun battle. --Bret Fetzer
To End All Wars Reviews:
Realistic Reflection to Bridge Over The River Kwai 
2009-06-09 - To End All Wars covers much of the same ground as the classic The Bridge Over The River Kwai, not only in plotting but theme as well.
A group of British soldiers (in this case Scottish) lead by a headstrong Colonel are brought to a Japanese prisoner of war camp in the middle of Thailand and put to work on the labor force to build a railroad through the jungle to India. In the face of deprivations and the cruelty of the Japanese the prisoners find ways to maintain their dignity and humanity. I half expected to see Alec Guiness or William Holden in a far off shot of the next prison camp over. Though Kiefer Sutherland does seem to playing the William Holden part, the roguish American thrown in with the bewildering British while he offers commonsense existential wisdom to the British stoicism.
While this isn't a remake of Bridge Over The River Kwai the stories are remarkably similar, but that just maybe because the stories are set in the same proximity, time and of course the Japanese building the railroad. While Bridge is a fictional account To End All Wars is based on a true story by Ernest Gordon. This movie is much more realistic in its depiction of the cruelty and war crimes of the Japanese than Bridge was. It is also more realistic in the depiction of the living conditions, I believe going by the adage that if you tell the truth about war you have created an anti-war movie. The maintaining of dignity in this movie is much more complex undertaking than in Bridge, here Ernest starts teaching the prisoners, unbeknownst to the Japanese, of course. Although the lessons taught in the "jungle university" and the moral of the story maybe more informed by Ernest's post war career, 26 years as Chaplin of Cambridge than what may have actually been taught at the time.
The bonus extras include a directors commentary, a making of documentary, and the film trailer.
One of the best war movies of all time 
2009-06-07 - 1. I watched this movie on a whim, thought it might be decent movie but was in shock and amazed with the inspirational story.
2. The movie is well written, well acted and actually has a theme/ point. One of the best war movies of all time. Highly recommended.
Deeply moving!!!
2009-04-27 - Best and great ANTI-WAR movie We've seen!!! And it is based on true story. 'Showed compassion and forgiveness on both sides. TERRIFIC!
To End All Wars
2009-02-21 - This is one of the most powerful movies I have ever seen. On the surface it presents as a war movie. War though is just the back drop for riveting examination of mans inhumanity to man and the spirit of forgiveness. Superb performances and a great script will leave you thinking long after the movie ends.
Kip the Movie-Buy the Book 
2009-01-16 - The movie is a watered down Hollywood version of the book. The power of the story is in the sacrifice and submission to the principles of peace that change the characters lives for good, not the blood and guts that Hollywood focuses on. To really appreciate the experience portrayed in this amazing story you need to read the book.
