To End All Wars (2001)

Director:

David L. Cunningham

Writers:

Brian Godawa (screenplay)
Ernest Gordon (book)

Genre:

Drama | War | Action

Tagline:

In a jungle war of survival, they learned sacrifice. In a prison of brutal confinement, they found true freedom.

Plot:

A true story about four Allied POW's who endure harsh treatment from their Japanese captors during World...

Plot Keywords:

Jungle | Corporal Punishment | Vomit Scene | Exploding Building | Railroad Worker

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Ciarán McMenamin	...	Capt. Ernest 'Ernie' Gordon
Robert Carlyle	...	Maj. Ian Campbell
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Lt. Jim 'Yankee' Reardon
Mark Strong	...	Dusty Miller
Yugo Saso	...	Takashi Nagase
Sakae Kimura	...	Sgt. Ito
James Cosmo	...	Lt. Col. Stuart McLean
Masayuki Yui	...	Capt. Noguchi
John Gregg	...	Camp Doctor Coates
Shû Nakajima	...	Nagatomo (as Shu Nakajima)
Greg Ellis	...	Sgt. Roger Primrose
Pip Torrens	...	Lt. Foxworth
James McCarthy	...	Norman
Brendan Cowell	...	Wallace Hamilton
Winton Nicholson	...	Duncan

MPAA:

Rated R for war violence and brutality, and for some language.

Runtime:

125 min | USA:117 min | Germany:110 min (TV version) | UK:110 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Australia:MA | Germany:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | USA:R | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Kaua'i, Hawaii, USA

Company:

Argyll Film Partners

Trivia:

The film's dedication during the closing credits is to Captain Ernest 'Ernie' Gordon who is played by Ciarán McMenamin in the film. The dedication states that the film is made In Memory of Ernest Gordon, 31 May 1916 - 16 January 2002.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When the POW camp is liberated by US forces, the US infantry are paratroopers.This can be seen by the distinct uniform and camouflaged helmets. Although the 11th Airborne division did fight in the Pacific theater, they fought in the Philippines. As the movies takes place in Thailand, it is impossible that the camp was liberated by an Airborne division.

Quotes:

Primrose: [to new arrivals] Officers, try to keep your shirt *on*. It'll distinguish you from the grunts, which is about the *only* thing that's keeping us from degenerating into a bloody anarchy.

Soundtrack:

LA NA CRUINNE (END OF TIME)

Uplifting

To End All Wars is a remarkably bold--almost brazen--film that deserves a wider distribution. As far as war movies go, it is much better than Thin Red Line, which tries to be thoughtful but only achieves a meaningless ambivalence. To End All Wars conveys its message in a clear yet profound way.

As a Christian film, it shines as the boldest offering I have ever seen. Whereas popular depictions of religion (Seventh Heaven, anyone?) might mention an unspecified god every now and then, this film uses unmistakable metaphors and symbolism that blur the line between analogy and reality. It is one thing to put a cross in a shot. It is another thing completely to depict someone making sacrifices for his friends.

Ultimately, To End All Wars makes no compromises, neither to those who think its rating does not match its message nor not to those who think it is too preachy. Some things need to be preached.