did anyone like 12 Angry Men better? - The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) Discussion

[–] mxzt 10 years ago

12 Angry Men is not only better than this movie. But it could very well be the greatest film made in the 1950's and easily up there in the all time list imo.

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[–] Adler-99 9 years ago

I finally, FINALLY just finished watching TBOTRK in its entirety for the first time on TCM. I'd seen bits and pieces of it before but never the whole thing from start to finish. Without going on too much about what I disliked about it, mostly the editing (we get it, they have to march through the jungle.... and march .... and march...) and the 1950s cheesiness, I think 12 Angry Men was a hundred times better.

At least, in my quest to see every Best Picture winner, I can cross TBOTRK off my list and never have to see it again. It's not that I don't like old movies or war-related movies or whatever. The Best Years of Our Lives is one of my favorites, but this one.... nope.

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[–] batpuller007 8 years ago

Happily it's a question that need not be answered.

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[–] tectactoe 8 years ago

I think 12 Angry Men is a better movie from a subjective standpoint, but I also think it has the advantage of being more timeless - even though it's in black & white, it still doesn't feel quite as dated as Bridge on the River Kwai, even though BotRK is a period piece.

12 Angry Men has better acting performances & did something very powerful with very little aside from some actors & their dialogue. The issues & discussions are things that are still relevant in this day & age, yet another reason with it still feels relatively fresh despite being nearly 60 years old.

However both of them are still great movies.

12 Angry Men - 9/10
Bridge on the River Kwai - 8/10

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[–] Beau_Buffet 8 years ago

My scores:

12 Angry Men : 10/10 (I have less than a dozen of those, I've seen approx 1500 films)
Paths of Glory : 9/10
The Bridge on the River Kwai : 8/10 (Still a good rating)

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[–] Iron_Giant 8 years ago

They are both classics, but very different films. In terms of the overall production, I'd give the edge to Kwai. Huge cast, location shooting, costumes, sets, etc. Production values like that garner more awards than a film with one indoor location.

It also has deeper characterization and leaves some room for debate and interpretation. 12 Angry Men is fascinating, but a little more obvious and surface level. Fonda's character is just a little too perfect and idealized. He's not a real and flawed human being like the ones in Kwai. Juror #3 is also more a representative symbol of racism than a fully fleshed out human being. I prefer the shades of grey in Kwai to the clear cut (even manipulative) morality of 12 Angry Men.

They both lack compelling female characters, I'd add.

Please don't call someone a _____tard.

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[–] Bernnard_Black 8 years ago

Definitely two different movies. That said, yeah; I prefer 12 Angry Men.

Whores will have their trinkets.

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[–] daultimatefan 8 years ago

I think they're not NEARLY the same genre, so it isn't really fair to compare the two films.

That being said the scope of BotK (as well as its tale of obssession) makes for better viewing on an epic (for lack of better word) level. 12AM is great viewing for its script and direction, but the scale is so small that I don't think I'd rewatch it as much as Kwai.

So BotK for me.

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[–] partydjz (424) 7 years ago

Paths of Glory deserved the Oscar that year

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[–] Culburn (3638) 7 years ago

It was good, party, but, it had too much a foreign feel to it.

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[–] Culburn (3638) 7 years ago

"12" improves as the years roll on. The Lee J. Cobb character is incredibly complex and thoroughly enjoyable.

"Kwai" is excellent but, it's inert.

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[–] telegonus (738) 7 years ago

I agree, and I vastly prefer 12 Angry Men to the River Kwai picture, but then I have my personal quirks and prejudices like everyone else; and I'm not saying that I'm right (though I think I am), just saying what I believe.

Oddly, I find 12/Men to be in many respect technically perfect in a way that Kwai isn't. Every shot counts. The closeups, some of them, are nearly haunting at times. Watching Kwai I always feel like I'm being "set up", as it were, to admire a masterpiece.

12/Men feels more like a genuine masterpiece to me, or closer anyway, due to the hard work that went into its making; the professionalism of its actors, the photography, not flashy but better for the story that was being told than the more grand manner of Kwai.

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