Reviews

Was sad to see the passing of Tony Melody this summer. He was such a good yet under sung character actor. His performance in Yanks was excellent and the mischievous smile he cracked when he said there would be 'no danger' of the bottle of whisky remaining unopened was brilliant as oppose to his wife's refusal to eat the cake that Geres character had prepared.

I wonder if the picture of his character he showed Gere when he was talking about his war service was actually his real father as he had served in the Guards during the first world war - just a thought.

Lisa Eichorn had me fooled for many a year - that Lancashire accent is spot on.

The IMDb discussion board has had a lot of discussions regarding this film. Certainly, if you are a fan of the John Wayne genre of the marines storming a bunker type movie then you should really avoid this film. For you to post a comment on the board leaves you open to deserved criticism. When I make a judgement on a film I consider many things such as how the much the movie cost, did it rely heavily on one big star name; was it factual and did the movie leave me asking questions about how I would have reacted in those situations. For me, 'To End All Wars' ticked all the boxes in that, it was done comparatively cheaply; it did not rely on one big name but utilised craftsmen actors who don't rely on good looks but can go a bit deeper to find that mirror on the human condition to portray what it was really like. Importantly, this film never fails to leave me asking questions 'what would it have been like' and 'how would I have coped'.

The acting is first class in this film with Carlyle, McMenamin, Strong, Sutherland and not forgetting Sakae 'Supastition' Kimura all putting in excellent performances. I thought the juxtaposition of Kimura & Carlyle was unforgettable. Both these men essentially subscribed to the same destructive code of honour. Although admiring their loyalty and obedience (note the distinction), ultimately it led to the needless deaths of the men under their command. I also scrutinised my view on the bible too with the help of this film. The characters of Dusty and Campbell both based their actions on what the bible subscribed: in Dustys case the teachings of Christ 'to sacrifice your life for a brother' and 'to turn the other cheek', all from the the new testament and in the case of Major Campbell 'an eye for an eye' a tenant deeply rooted in the old testament. What path is the right one to follow? I note the criticisms of Dustys character especially about 'how unpatriotic he was. I think when these men were incarcerated into that dusty, disease ridden hell hole all notion of ties to ones country diminished. Note when Ernest upset the solider in the dinner queue and he called him an 'english *beep* After time it gravitated down to an 'us and them' struggle between the oppressors, the Japanese and the oppressed allied soldiers. I don't think patriotism was at the forefront of the prisoners minds, it was survival or in some cases 'could the end come quicker'. This wasn't a film about Christianity it was about the men, despite having nothing, they were richer for co-operating together and for tolerating the treatment that was doled out to them. Watch the film again and note how Dusty in his chaplaincy / minister role gradually wins round the four main characters namely: Yanker, Reardon & Campbell and the other prisoners in the camp. You don't have to be a believer in Christ to know that the road that Gordon, Dusty & latterly Yanker was far more productive than Campbell & Itos confrontations. Carlyles angst married with that haunting score just as Ito administers the final part of his obedience to Bushido still stays with me.