Never looked at this as a war movie

Yes, it is set during WWII in the Pacific. My uncle was 18 years old when he was captured in Bataan and had to endure the Death March and my father served in the the Army/Air Corp in the Philippines so I am extremely aware of what the war was like there.

But, I always looked at this movie more of a character study. Of how each man handled (and woman) the experience.

One scene I always found interesting is when Colonel Nicholson and Colonel Saito meet on the bridge after its completion. Colonel Saito says: Beautiful. Referring to the sunset and Nicholson thinks he is talking about the bridge. Saito was a man that studied art and I think in part due to his father who always wanted him in the military became a Colonel and did not understand how things worked and due to his fear of having to kill himself and failure let Nicholson take over. In the end Saito is ashamed of this and still plans on killing himself until once again he backs out. Meanwhile Nicholson's pride in the British way does betray his country until the end. He may have said it was to boost the men's morale but it was his arrogance that was behind completing the bridge and to show up the Japanese.

And, the end when Nicholson says to Shears: You. And Shears replies back: You. Those 2 words spoke volumes! Shears, a man who wanted nothing to do with the war does his duty. While Nicholson, a lifelong military man failed and realizes it.

This still is one of my favorite movies of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM6uU9CWjAI