A Bridge Too Far

The very best of the genre

This is an incredibly epic film and large production (one of the largest I've seen). The film is long and feels that way. While the entire production doesn't gel into a cohesive whole, it's worth seeing and those interested in film should watch it. Much of the film is shot beautifully and there are a large number of interesting shots that are... just there. An interesting film. It could be construed as a series of vignettes with a "War is pointless and those in charge are incompetent" Venn diagram. Aside: Connery seems miscast (or just does a poor job). The script could've been polished more.

Top critics enjoy saying this film is overlong and wastes a great cast. Yet, normal people at least get that A Bridge Too Far is a classic. With some of the best battle scenes ever shot on film.
The great cast definitely helps keep your attention throughout. The musical score just makes the movie sound like a feel good action comedy. When it is in fact pretty gloomy.

A classic WW2 movie based on real events.

Regarding the British, a very great example of Lions led by donkeys, given the senior commands it’s only down to the men who fought so well that we managed to do as well as we did

Great cast, but movie was lacking. After Saving Private Ryan, every war movie seems like it is just kids in the backyard playing war. Storyline follows the typical analysis of Market Garden.

First off - WHAT A CAST! Just unbelievable. I consider myself a minor history buff and I knew nothing of Operation Market-Garden, the real World War II battle that this is based on. This is one of a very few WWII movies that don't have the Allies coming out victorious. It really made me start wondering if the Brits get tired of us making Field Marshall Montgomery look like a buffoon in all of our movies. The cinematography was outstanding throughout the three hours here, but I have to single out the paratroop scenes. The multiple camera angles from the ground and air were blended nicely to paint an amazing picture of the jumpers. This is a must see for any World War II movie buff.

Arguably the movie with the most (male) film stars ever assembled. The cast is nothing lees than astounding. The film not so much. While other war movies paint the same picture that war is senseless, this movie questions not only war but the movie itself. I first saw A Bridge too Far when I was ten and was immediately struck of how bleak it ended. Then saw it in my 20s again and looked for something more than just story. Maybe it was a fine film regardless of story. It wasn't. And now being 42 I was seeing it again and the whole movie seems just as pointless. I know, some purpose of the movie was to show how pointless war is in itself, but as I said before countless other war movies have made that before without making the whole movie about nothing. Allied forces trying to capture bridges in Holland, suffer heavy casualties, have to retreat, ending up right where they started and a whole lot of people died for nothing. Yes, that's war and I guess this absurdity is depicted here. I'm just wondering if this could have been handled better. Showing war is absurd without sacrificing the integrity of the whole film. Longest Day could. Saving Private Ryan could. Hacksaw Ridge could as well. This falls short. Too bad. The cast deserved better.