GrimPrecise I'll tell you why so serious

Onlinewsma Absolutely Brilliant!

Cleveronix A different way of telling a story

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Richie-67-485852 Both are introduced into this movie but not like you would expect nor will you ever forget either. Most excellent entertaining movie showcasing the depth of human nature under harsh conditions and how each person handles all the different circumstances according to their skills, abilities and beliefs. Even the ones that don't do well survive in this classic prisoner of war drama but use resentment and fear to do so. However, don't be surprised because one must find what works to stay alive and last. This is the story of not only one such man who just comes alive and excels under all these challenging conditions but also those in his little world both on his team or just able to observe from a distance. Many things stand-out that make this a movie that one must see over and over again not just for the study in human nature under adverse conditions but for the memorable scenes expertly acted out. Notice how there is order in this camp but there is also real life outside of military discipline where rank doesn't get you much in a world where food, safety and perks abound. Why? You cannot command welfare or well-being but at best hope for it and take advantage when it comes but with a catch: How far are you willing to go? One learns he has to live with himself in making that decision. Its personal for everyone and some handle it better than others. Human suffering is never pretty but this movie manages to use it to teach valuable lessons and at the same time never forget what man can do to man especially in war. Realism, good story line and directing brings it all home with credible acting sealing the deal. Look forward to this gem and I highly recommend eating during this movie as there are several scenes involving food. One is appetizing while three others keep you alive and still another surprises but satisfies. Have finger foods, chips, popcorn and definitely a tasty drink with your favorite candy too. Great flick for sunflower or pumpkin seeds BTW...health care is covered in this movie as in can you afford it and if not? The ending satisfies and the reality of it hits solidly home. I read the book which is excellent and have seen this movie many times and own the DVD too. Must for any library of the serious viewer

p-seed-889-188469 I have never read the book but I have seen the movie a half dozen times over a couple of decades. Every time I see it I find myself even more amazed at the subtlety of the screenplay and the acting. This is a movie of many "bit" parts all of which are handled by their respective actors with bravura performances the sum of which leaves me in awe. Hawkins, the officer with the dog, the doctor and his assistant, the guy lecturing on whales, the man who lived for his chickens, the senior camp officers, the list goes on – all are gems of characterization. James Fox is cast to perfection as Marlowe and plays the part of his career. George Segal is also superb as Corporal King, although the shallowness of the character he plays inevitably limits his opportunities to display his full palette of acting chops. As others have said this is a movie that turns you on your head regarding the need to realign accepted levels of morality to suit the situation. Superimposed on this morality shift is a microcosm of class revolution, where upper class officers dressed in rags bow and scrape to a Yankee corporal in his starched, crisp uniform. It is a bloodless coup achieved by natural cunning rather than blood or force, the natural order of things. Whereas, say, "Lord of the flies" tackles a similar theme with a slightly unbelievable scenario in which sides are clearly drawn, and morality is tipped unambiguously on its head, King Rat uses a real life scenario, the morality shifts are subtle and shaded, and you never quite know who is operating with what morality model at what time. Ultimately everyone is flawed to some degree. While at the start of the movie we may be quite clear who the heroes and villains are, by the end we may just find ourselves thinking Corporal King is if not the most "moral", then certainly the most honest person in the entire camp. In civilian life it is rammed down our throats that cutthroat competition is the Holy Grail of existence, the key to personal success and the growth of civilization. Profit is good! In the POW camp environment we are supposed to think that somehow this goes away. Unlike real-life corporate executives, Corporal King actually seems to be a nice guy - he does not appear to have a malignant bone in his body. Never once does he get angry, swear or appear to be motivated by vindictiveness or malice. Ironically I would say he is not even motivated by greed, in the sense that he covets possessions, prestige, vanity, or power, although he may actually derive these as side effects in the process of what he does. He is a bargaining machine and his motives are not that complicated. I would love to see a movie showing the future adventures of Corporal King back in the civilian world, in which I have no doubt he would still rise to the top even in a world of "normal" morality and class conventions. He will always be a survivor, in any scenario. More than that, he will always be king. Equally I would love to see sequels of the future life of the tortured, tormented, Lieutenant Gray and of Peter Marlowe. Any film/book that creates three such compelling characters and a raft of unanswered and unsettling deeply human questions has got to be a 10 in my book.

Dain Turner I can count on one hand the number of movies I have seen where I can say the movies is just as good as the book, and King Rat is one of them. This is one of those lost or forgotten movie gems it seems not a lot of people have heard about, yet when they see it are blown away by the story line and the awesome acting that takes place in this film. If you want to know what it's like to waste away in a Japanese prisoner of war camp during World War II, you need not look any further than this film.George Segal plays the king, an American POW who is hustling to not only stay alive, but to even prosper given the situation. He's admired and hated by just about everyone in the camp.

angelofvic King Rat, based on writer James Clavell's own three-year experience in one of the most infamous POW camps, takes place in the brutal WWII Japanese POW camp called Changi in Malaysia -- surrounded by miles of endless ocean and impenetrable jungle.From the beginning, the viewer can feel the hellish heat, the agonizing hunger, and the sheer desperation of both officers and enlisted men. Prisoners die of starvation, disease, and torture. In one scene at the massively full infirmary, when yet another prisoner dies, someone asks the overworked and unsupplied doctor, "He lost the will to live, right?" The doctor replies, "No, he just gave up the irrational will not to die." 26-year-old James Fox gives an outstanding performance as the protagonist, Marlowe, an idealistic young upper-class Flight Lieutenant in the RAF, who happens to speak Malay.The titular character, the American corporal King (George Segal), is an expert hustler and scammer who, in stark contrast to his starving, diseased, and bedraggled fellow prisoners, remains well fed, well clothed, and well supplied. For King, in the milieu of the POW camp, he is what he could never be in outside military or civilian life: a success.Once King notices Marlowe's linguistic skills, he moves in fast to recruit him into his team of subordinates who help him carry out his scams. In return for his translations which make scamming the Malaysian guards possible, Marlowe gets 10% of the profit, and occasionally an egg or, miraculously once, meat, which is completely unheard of.But Marlowe is a high-ranking officer, and King is a lowly corporal. Is their friendship mere expediency, or is it a faithful, unbreakable bond forged in the extremities of war? Only the life-changing events which follow will determine that.Although the film shows the hardships and brutality of the POW camp, it's far from one-note or bleak. There are scenes of high humor and gaiety, complex interpersonal relationships and dealings, and a variety of complex characters. Tom Courtenay is Lt. Grey, the maddeningly belligerent and self-righteous camp provost who polices all of his fellow prisoners' behavior; and the supporting cast boasts actors such as John Mills and Denholm Elliott.All in all, King Rat is a delicious and riveting film, arguably the best POW film ever.