I am always wary of war films that say they are based on a true story. But this film is obviously very close to the facts because of the way in which it does away with the superficial and goes for the "guts' of living out of forgiveness above the typical revenge and hate films. The dirty, stinking and constant cruel circumstances of these Allied POW's make you wonder how the heck they could do it. War is not fun and being in a Japanese prison in a sweaty jungle with extreme inhuman treatment must be no fun at all. I was glad to see the script of each character was real not just some grunt from a super-human killing machine who kisses all his enemies goodbye. Kiefer Sutherland was the American trying to make the best of a very bad situation but faced with the responses of indifference and hate that all war victims seem to experience. The strong performance by Robert Carlyle as Campbell should have had the Scots applauding and won a number of Film Awards. However Ciarån McMenamin as Ernest Gordon strengthen the film with his honest narration leading to the last part of the film where the truth of war and the suffering involved is squarely faced. This is a haunting and truthful film with great scenes but please be warned those who have experienced war and its cruelty you will be crying at the end. I give it 7
Review of To End All Wars
