This is certainly an imbalanced production, as despite having a good cast and a skilled director, it results in a rather routine movie where nothing stands out for its quality. The actors, the storytelling, the dialogues, the soundtrack-all are decent, but they only manage to achieve a fair pass, as nothing truly stands out.
Undoubtedly, one of the main issues is the excessive length of the film; as we know, overly diluted soup ends up watery. Fortunately, the close-ups of actors like Michael Caine manage to scrape the film through with a narrow pass mark.
Moreover, there are too many redundant sequences, and halfway through the movie, an unexpected twist shifts the focus from the actual attack on the Japanese base to more about how one returns from it.
The only narrative aspect worth highlighting is the psychological game through the unrealistic tactic of the scattered speakers in the jungle, which the Japanese commander intends to use to pressure the surrender of the British mission members. It's a shame that this tactic, which could have been an entire cinematic experience on its own if executed and directed well, turns out to be somewhat dull and unconvincing.
On the other hand, the photography, despite capturing landscapes, also feels flat and somewhat routine, adhering too much to the technical clichés of that era. While this isn't something to heavily criticize, here it's notably evident.
With this photography, at times, there's a sensation that the movie feels more like it's set in the Vietnam War than in World War II. Some dialogues also contribute to this feeling, blending the two conflicts.
Undoubtedly, one of the main issues is the excessive length of the film; as we know, overly diluted soup ends up watery. Fortunately, the close-ups of actors like Michael Caine manage to scrape the film through with a narrow pass mark.
Moreover, there are too many redundant sequences, and halfway through the movie, an unexpected twist shifts the focus from the actual attack on the Japanese base to more about how one returns from it.
The only narrative aspect worth highlighting is the psychological game through the unrealistic tactic of the scattered speakers in the jungle, which the Japanese commander intends to use to pressure the surrender of the British mission members. It's a shame that this tactic, which could have been an entire cinematic experience on its own if executed and directed well, turns out to be somewhat dull and unconvincing.
On the other hand, the photography, despite capturing landscapes, also feels flat and somewhat routine, adhering too much to the technical clichés of that era. While this isn't something to heavily criticize, here it's notably evident.
With this photography, at times, there's a sensation that the movie feels more like it's set in the Vietnam War than in World War II. Some dialogues also contribute to this feeling, blending the two conflicts.