Watching adults encouraging kids to go to war as if it were a fun game and kids going happily into it was enraging. But not more enraging than a grown-ass man sending people to die needlessly, 15 minutes before the fucking armistice took effect, in an attempt to feel as accomplished as his daddy.
It's crazy to think that film has been around long enough that a remake can arrive almost a century after the original. With a gap that long, it's unsurprising that most younger audiences (including myself) have never seen the 1930 adaptation of this novel. Of course, I like to go into movies blind anyway, so it was my preference to judge the film without any bias driven by comparisons to the Best Picture winning original.
The aspect of the film that I enjoyed most was that it comes from the less explored German perspective. When compared to the Allied perspective that audiences are more accustomed to, there are the obvious high level differences (e.g. driving toward a looming defeat versus a triumphant victory), but there are also many little details that I really enjoyed (e.g. the dog tags that snap in two). The opening was clever and well executed, with the life cycle of a German uniform really driving home the scope and human cost of the war. The filmmaking is also excellent, with plenty of striking visuals and memorable moments. And while it may not be the most elaborate musical motif, the deep, ominous bass riff that repeats throughout was incredibly effective.
Regarding the story, it combines a classic "war is hell" narrative (i.e. naive young soldier joins up with his buddies only to lose them one by one as he discovers that there's nothing heroic about war) with a clever big picture narrative (the pending armistice acting as a ticking clock to the end of hostilities). It's a powerful source of dramatic irony that adds a lot of weight to every death. The central performance by Felix Kammerer was also fantastic, with his eyes and demeanor sinking as the war dragged on.
All of that said, I think I've become a bit numb to the actual war sequences that comprise the major beats of the story. Especially with 1917 being only a couple years old, the spectacle of trench warfare just didn't hit as hard. There's only so many ways to show soldiers charging through no man's land, or getting evaporated by artillery shells, or run through by bayonets. That's not to say the movie does a bad job with any of these things. I think it's all visually and technically well executed. But it all feels familiar. The movie was at its best outside of those moments, with trips to steal a goose or eggs standing out above the actual fight on the western front.
Worth definitely watching maybe even twice or three times!
Everything about this movie is great. But especially the makeup department. Jesus Christ did these people look horrible.
Absolutely boggles my mind that people were actually EXCITED to go to war back then. Brilliant film.
It is hard to find words. Brilliant. Acting is from another planet as well. Strongly recommended.
You have to be in the right frame of mind for this. It isn't a heroic epic where everything turns out all right.
It is a graphic and real depiction of the horrors of war from the eyes of those fighting on the front lines in ww1. It is meant to make you question the motives of leaders. It is meant to make you think about how much the normal people putting their lives on the lines to kill each other, actually differ from the ones they are killing. And it's meant to show you/make you viscerally feel the shift that happens when you move from only hearing the media/govt rhetoric - to seeing first hand the conflicts of interest / cruelty in your own / illogical decisions - to finally becoming a numb, automaton following orders blindly to stay alive.
It is a very well made film. You care about the characters. You feel the emotions. You really understand the implications of the fruitless efforts at the western front. You end feeling how tragic it was. I ended feeling anger for how people were treated like throwaway chess pieces. You've got to be in the right frame of mind!
The war to end all wars. Unfortunately we all know how that went. The German capitulation lead to the rise of Nationalism and The Second World war with even more deaths.
After that came wars in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, the Gulf Wars, Yugoslavia to name but a few. And now Ukraine.
We are to stupid to learn.
Absolutely horrifying, sad, stressful, unforgettable and devastating anti-war film. It's so immersive you just can't look away from the horrors of war. The landscapes and cinematography are so beautiful and realistic. The action sequences are spectacular and some of the best war scenes i've ever seen. It rivals 1917 (which is the latest one I can remember) on every level. It's 2h27 runtime did feel a bit long in moments but once you've finished it you'll wish it was longer. A must-watch for sure, just be in the right mindset for it.
A very strong cautionary tale about people being misled by propaganda in order to fight for useless causes that only lead to emotional self harm and pain. A timeless message, you could make that movie during any time period and it’ll probably strike a chord with audiences, but now especially it seems extra relevant with the worldwide rise of neofascism. The directing and cinematography are both extremely well done. It’s clearly inspired by 1917 colour, lighting and composition wise, though it’s not all edited to look like one take (there are a few great long takes in it, however). I also appreciate the eye for detail and authentic choices its willing to make, I like that everyone in this movie has shitty teeth, which is something often omitted in American war movies. When it comes to the story, I like the contrast the script provides between the soldiers and commanding officers, both parts felt equally as interesting to me. The action sequences are impressive, but so are the armistice negotiation scenes with Daniel Brühl. Emotionally, it packs a strong punch, though its extent is lessened by the fact that most of the emotional beats are build around the arc of the protagonist, who’s simultaneously meant to be the audience surrogate and kind of a wet blanket as a result. It reminded me of Dunkirk in that regard, though a lot of the side characters here are generally more colourful and interesting. I also think the music could’ve been more gripping, but those are the only real complaints I have. An essential war movie for the modern age.
7.5/10
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022): 7.5/10 (Impressive, yet it doesn't quite hit the mark in every respect)
A fascinating film with potential that was never fully achieved. “All Quiet on the Western Front” does not rely solely on shock value to disturb its audience; instead, it uses the horrors of war to sober them with facts and dismal realities. The film's story was worth telling; it left an impression long after the credits rolled. It dealt with many weighty themes, including a young man's journey through war, the difficulties of combat, the cruelty of desperation, and the value of friendship and camaraderie, all of which were handled with grace and artistry. Furthermore, it boasted first-rate production values, breathtaking visuals, a terrific score (although maybe a tad bit over the top), and stellar acting. Although there is much to praise about the film, “All Quiet on the Western Front” is ultimately hampered by its drawn-out length, the plot dragging in spots, and several confusing moments. All the pieces were in place for “All Quiet on the Western Front” to be the best picture of the year, and in some respects, it is. Fans of the genre, or anyone who appreciates a well-made film, should not miss this film despite its limitations.
Simply great! German's cinema love for gruesome details pays off and thank god not in Hacksaw Ridge kind of way. Stronger in it's own message than 1917.
For anyone interesting in impactful antiwar films might wanna watch Come and See.
Crazy to find out that on 11th November 2,738 men have died.
@csbarker - Hindsight is always 20/20, especially in the eyes of young men, looking for adventure, and wanting to prove themselves heroic, gorged on the propaganda of duty, honor, and the notion of fighting for the "Father or Mother-land". However, do not misunderstand my position. Pacifism cannot fly in the face of those who would bring havoc and ruin upon ourselves, our loved ones, and our cherished way of life, as "greater love has no man than this, that he would lay down his life for a friend". (John 15:13) But, being volunteered for the Cuisinart of war at the behest of those "in the rear with the gear", or worse, politicians sitting fat and sassy in their ivory towers, while the blood and treasure of others is spilled in their behalf makes little sense either. After all, "suppose they gave a war...,and NOBODY came?"
All Quiet on the Western Front exposes the devastating insanity of "Modern" warfare, where new instruments of death such as the machine gun, tanks, flame throwers, poison gas and heavy artillery made old tactics like digging a trench and then going "over the top" straight into a hail of bullets to gain a few meters of ground a futile exercise. Nor was digging in and holding ground any better of an option, as eventually, tanks, poison gas, or even enemy tunnellers could eventually breach the held position and kill you anyway. Not to mention the mud, rats, diseases or, as shown, plain old starvation and deprivation, driving men to desperation and madness.
Yet, what was the individual soldier to do, when, refusing an order to run headlong into almost certain death, would result in summary execution. That is the conundrum these men faced. Yes, there are always those who are "professional solders" who would rather go out in a "blaze of glory" than negotiate the peace, but what of those who finally realized they've been hoodwinked, and just want to get back to the wife and kids, or just WANT the CHANCE to have a wife and kids?"
For me, the most poignant moments were those where for Paul, if only fleetingly, the fog of war briefly lifted, and, he regained his humanity, in the one instance, after hand to hand fighting and stabbing the French soldier, then apologizing and trying to save him, and then of course, when he was sent on the final charge, ending up fighting in the trench, and then, face to face with his fellow, yet enemy soldier, knowing the armistice is to take effect in a few minutes, he pauses, and his "warface" slowly relaxes, and they BOTH realize they no longer want to do this, sadly, all for naught.
And yet, 104 years later, it seems we STILL haven't learned.......
The atmosphere is stunning, the fight scenes are breathtaking and the shots are beautifully composed. Electrifying music that runs through your body
Powerful movie about the war that was supposed to end all wars
This one joins a list of great war movies. The cast absolutely hit a home run with their acting perfomances. Combined with strong writing, great make-up and and fantastic audio/visuals this movie is a near perfect experience.
An impersonal, sterile, soulless adaptation that fails to convey the absolute nightmare that was the Western Front, as it omits almost everything that made the novel a classic.
The cinematography, direction and editing is disjointed (with constant shifts of POV) and completely forgettable, even the now famous opening sequence following the dead soldier's uniform is done in the most uninspired manner with no creative flair.
You're much better off reading the novel, or at least watching the original film from almost 100 years ago.
Perfect movie for history class in junior high. As a narrative work or a pure entertainment piece, it felt a little void. In between war sequences, there’s a lot of room to let the characters breathe and focus on introspection, yet they all felt bland and hard to connect with. Not because they’ve been dehumanized by war, it just happens to be an example of not too brilliant writing. The photography also felt a little too neat for my taste.
All Quiet on the Western Front fuses three basic settings to craft one of the most memorable war movies I've ever seen: the well-fed, opulent German high command headquarters, where the commanders are far away from the throes of war but seem to have no problem sending their young countrymen off to die; the muck, mire, terror and futile death along the lines, where units gain ground, only to shortly thereafter lose it, rinse and repeat; and finally, the breathtaking scenes of nature, which serve as a kind of cruel contrast to the waste and ruin on the front.
As with the book, we follow Paul, who was, like his mates, deluded by their commanders into thinking that there was glory and honor to be found in the field, only to quickly learn that little but desperation and misery were to be found there, as he witnesses his friends die one by one.
One scene, in which Paul somehow survived a French assault on the German lines by pretending to be dead and hiding in a crater, was particularly hard to watch. Paul stabbed a soldier multiple times with a knife, but didn't get the job done, so he watched the soldier die a protracted and agonizing death. The camera lingered and lingered and lingered. Watching this unfold on the screen was uncomfortable enough; what of actually living it?
Many movies have brought to bear the realness and terror of war, but this one does it about as good as any of them. Paul's mentor, Kat, like Paul himself, almost survived to see past Armistice Day, but again, we are met with the futility and needless death of war. Kat was killed by the son of a farmer after the two stole a duck egg, and Paul, even after the truce agreement, was forced to go out to the line one last time to sate his commanders' thirst for one last victory. He never came back. Of the German high command, only Matthias Erzberg, played by Daniel Bruhl, showed any redeeming character qualities, as he was at least trying to come to terms for a truce and end the bloodshed. As it happens, apparently both American commanders and German officials sent soldiers off to die even after they heard about the truce. Finally, Felix Kammerer and Albrecht Schick as Paul and Kat, respectively, put in excellent performances, and I wouldn't be surprised if the film brings in an Oscar for either the acting, the stunning cinematography and the oftentimes chilling music.
Fresh POV that provides a clear portrayal of the futility of war and how those on the ground fighting are nothing but disposable, unimportant objects, thoughtlessly discarded & simply replaced as canon fodder. Good Anti- war movie
What a great acting. Great movie, one of the best movies of the year for me. For the first time, a war film talks about German soldiers as human beings and shows bad leaders, whether French or German
Beautiful movie which was made very well. The story was sad, but that's how it went in the first war. I cannot inmagine how bad the circumstances must have been and than realizing it was only for a few 100 meters. 1917 is a good addition to this movie or the other way around.
Well I won't be watching that ever again.. no redeemable qualities.. sad horrific gloomy with a dash of suicide
Having read the novel years ago, this just fell flat. Big disappointment.
Not wanna of the best war films i’ve seen but still a decent film that was very deep with a great picture and cast that all did well together.
Pretty good war movie. Proof that war is always played out with the idiots fighting/dying and the elite planning with complete disregard for the plebs while they continue on with their life unfettered. Only an fool would sign up for the military.
As for the movie itself... it gave a good account of how horrible it must have been for all of the fighters on the Western Front.
4 years, 3 million dead and the ground won on either side was just a few metres... sooo worth it.
8/10
The first 10 minutes are just a promo video for you know what. Ammunition costs money, only the life of enthusiastic romantics, patriots and just fools is not worth it. But they are all People, and no one has the right to do this to them. And war, it does not change. War is Death. Fuck war! Excellent and up to date
The first German-language film adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque's timeless anti-war novel "All Quiet on the Western Front" is a complete success. Director Edward Berger throws the audience right onto the battlefield at the beginning. The hopelessness of the fighting on the western front is clear from the start. Furthermore, the writers found a creative way to immediately show how young people's lives were sacrificed during this war. This new movie is also a rather free adaptation of the original material. The characters are the same, but the story is different, except for a few recurring elements from the novel. For example, the plot starts in 1917, which is much later than in the book.
The 17-year-old Paul Bäumer, played brilliantly by Felix Kammerer, joins the losing war effort along with some of his classmates. The plot as a whole is limited to the final months, weeks, and even minutes of the conflict. This makes the story very compact, and the 148-minute running time flies by. There is also a completely original plot line for this movie. Here, Matthias Erzberger (Daniel Brühl) negotiates a ceasefire with the French in parallel to the fighting. Although I wouldn't have needed it, I wasn't bothered by this part either.
What gets a bit lost is the claustrophobic nature of trench warfare. The atmosphere, however, is fantastic. Berger captures stunning images, and Volker Bertelmann's score adds to the immersion. The intense fight sequences are also impressive; the movie doesn't have to shy away from Hollywood productions. There is a lot going on there, but you can follow the events very well. The make-up is also outstanding. Every time Paul is in the trenches, his face is covered in mud, sweat, and blood. The soldiers also all have yellow teeth because there wasn't much time for hygiene. Everything becomes even more immersive as a result. The final few minutes are particularly tragic. Even though I'm a little bit conflicted about the ending, I can only give a strong recommendation for what is undoubtedly one of the year's best films.
great movie brutally graphic and very intense at times this is definitely the best world war 1 movie I've ever seen really well done and very well acted even though it's 2 hours 28 minutes it's not too long it gives you a real close up view of what these men went through and how unimaginably horrible it must have been
I haven’t seen any other adaptations, but I’ve read the book, and I really don’t feel like the movie is a good respresentation of it.
Some very memorable scenes were left out and crucial character deaths changed, for no reason. If you know the original the movie deaths seem almost cheesy. But even without knowing the original, I would’ve rolled my eyes at Kat’s death. It’s too scripted. And stupid. Why did they go there again anyway?
How should I say it—the movie felt like a movie. Like a fictional piece, put together to make you feel bad about war. But in the end it’s superficial and doesn’t accomplish anything new.
The book is like a diary. It’s a lot more personal. The writing is terrificly horrifying. I think with so many war movies and war in the media people have gotten desensitised to the images. But words go deeper. Please read the book:
“We are forlorn like children, and experienced like old men, we are crude and sorrowful and superficial—I believe we are lost.”
War is hell and so is this epic fail of a movie. Remarque's novel is filled with deep symbolism which was completely omitted in this boring and feeble remake/rewrite of a classic. The screen writer was clearly uneducated and showed a complete misunderstanding of military history and general history. Likewise the novel.
Theres several scenes that look like "moving pictures" with the layout and direction. For most of the film, it felt like the typical young soldiers who become hardened by the atrocities of war (especially this one!). When there wasnt a war scene or the soldiers trying to steal from the farmer, I didnt really care. 1917 was much better than this film IMO, although if you are scrubbing it down to just the action sequences, then sure, its worth watching.
Strongly recommend. Brilliant Movie! Worth a watch!
It’s gritty and well shot, but these type of movies don’t carry much appeal for me.
War is humanity at its worst.
Normal, decent men are turned into murderers. And for what? The pride, ego and greed of the powerful. Family's torn apart, a lifetime of trauma, unimaginable suffering, mass torture and death, all for the stupid intangible feelings of a few.
Is there no other way for an intelligent society to settle it's disputes? Will we always race to hold the biggest stick, and eventually wield it? Will we always be under the tyranny of ambitious, power hungry, selfish men who treat people like pawns in their own little senseless games?
An absolutely brilliant masterpiece I watched it so many times
I wanted to like this movie. I'm a fan of the anti-war war movie and the whole "War is Hell" genre. And I'll say the visual quality, costumes and actors are all top-notch. But right off the bat it felt like a whole Band of Brothers / Saving Private Ryan ripped scene, heavy film grain, except bullets oddly hitting the dirt right where the camera's pointed again and again, but no one’s around. Then the battle starts and is ridiculous; a ludicrously small handful of solders are told to jump the line, but then suddenly there are men all over the place (so they can be seen getting taken out). Followed directly by people getting hit while clearly behind cover simply for shock value.
That might have put me off on a bad start, but I tried to get into the rest, and it did get better. But it really felt like the makers had a bit of tunnel vision to make the 'war is bad' message and by not showing ANYTHING else it feels forced and comes off as disingenuous, taking me out of emersion. Tack on the added inaccuracies that weren't in the book (like the change to the ending that takes away the meaning of the title, and the fabricated last charge at the literal 11th hour – FYI, there was no such crazed order or final raid either in the novel or in the real First World War. ) and it just kind of rubbed me the wrong way.
A Heart-rending anti-war film which is compelling & doninant in its storytelling
All Quiet on the the Western Front is a brutal & relentless reminder of how tragic and harrowing the war was. Its truly admirable how Edward Berger has captured the true horrors and gore even after more than 100 years of its inception. The opening shot sets the tone of the film which primarily is an unflinching account of all the inhumanities of war. Stunning production, brutal long takes of action sequences, exceptional sound design and the humane relationship built between Paul and his comrades are presented with unfiltered honesty and authenticity. Edward has taken a lot of care in building the small things apart from the war, to make this film a lasting memory by including stong human desires such as food, family, human touch and a comforting pillow. Felix Kammerer is truly the soul and revelation of this film. His performance is unwavering and truly phenominal. This is truly an unbiased anti-war film made with lot of earnestness and care.
Instagram @streamgenx
The third adaptation of the book Im Westen nichts Neues arrives in a genre whose blockbusters are few and far between, and where a previous adaptation and a British counterpart (1917) have already set the bar very high. Nevertheless, Edward Berger's old-new classic manages to ponder on the futility of war in a truly timeless manner as it throws you into the middle of a WWI trench to experience humanity firsthand. The acting, photography, and sound design are excellent and delicately pieced together to create one of the most realistically toned and haunting experiences I have seen in recent years.
All Quiet on the Western Front is magnificent. The cinematography, the score, and the production design are all flawless. It's as brutal as you'd expect and a must-see war drama.
The war scenes were nice, probably enhanced somehow by a 35mm projection (not sure whether I would have said the same over a standard projection). The film however was the usual anonymous Netflix production, lacking characters and inspiration, just telling the story in a flat way.
A very good 1st world war movie. Showing the horror and futility of The Western Front. :tired_face: Well worth a watch :thumbsup_tone1:
Great war movie, it has a good script, great action scenes and an incredible setting. The second act is a bit drawn out, but overall it's a great movie, with very strong scenes that show the horror of war.
The movie does perfectly depict how easy is to trick the young and inexperienced to eagerly go and fight for the motherland by fat politicians who know they are sending them to the butcher house as cannon fodder and the utmost disregard that many high officers have for the life of the soldiers under their command. Thank god that nowadays there are cameras everywhere that somehow keeps this from repeating. Vietnam war was the turning point, the first televised war, images of it got young people to realize of it futility.
A very bleak story and film - cannot say I enjoyed it as the story is such a horrible reflection on the whole experience of a world in total horror
"All Quiet on the Western Front" is a hauntingly realistic portrayal of the horrors of war. The film vividly captures the cycle of violence and death that is the reality of modern warfare. It portrays war as a killing factory, where soldiers are trained to become mindless machines, and where one soldier's death is just another casualty to be replaced by a new recruit. The movie powerfully shows the disconnect between the decision-makers and the soldiers on the front line, making us reflect on the true cost of war. The film is a poignant reminder of the devastating effects of war on humanity and an important message about the human cost of conflict. It's a beautiful and moving movie that will stay with you long after the final scene.
Not impressed like the old one
Brutal and brilliant film,superbly acted and great cinematography
Here’s my “Quick and Dirty Review” of “All Quiet on the Western Front.”
War is hell. As with most war movies, including “1917” and “Saving Private Ryan,” this film is about the insanity—and inanity—of armed conflict, which chews up and spits out both the innocent and the warfighter with equal, casual cruelty. The randomness of it all, the “rah rah” chest thumping of the politicians that will never venture anywhere near the front lines, the heartbreaking waste of human life are portrayed beautifully in this film, based on the 1929 book by Erich Remarque.
The best parts of the war are those simple moments between the falling shells and ricocheting bullets: reading heartfelt letters from home. One man meets a female refugee and she give him her scarf and the men of the company pass it around to smell it—it sounds gross but it’s cruel in its hopefulness and innocence. All these men want to do—and all of the soldiers are men, fodder for the war—is return home and make a home and family. It’s a dream that they all share but few will see come true.
Of course, the hopeful scenes are far outnumbered by the somber ones: massive graves full of the dead, mangled bodies in the mud, gas attacks. Dead bodies hang from the trees, and our soldiers find a room of 60 young soldiers, gassed to death. They run into machine gun fire and collect a seemingly endless number of dog tags to be sent to some distant bureaucrat for counting and to notify the next of kin. It makes me think about what’s happening in Ukraine right now and I wonder if we’ll ever learn.
Some of the juxtapositions are perfect, especially the cutting between soldiers fighting hand-to-hand in the mud while the politicians and career soldiers enjoy fine meals and wine in quiet manors far from the front lines. Doctors work to save the injured, and a friend of our main character tries to surrender to soldiers with flamethrowers to no avail.
Much of the cinematography was simply sublime, reminding me of “1917” but lacking that film’s rushing sense of dread created by “single shot” aspect of the film, which through trickery and technology made it appear as if the entire film consisted of one continuous shot. In the end, war is hell, and the victors in their cruel, retaliatory punishment, continue the cycle and ensure another war soon in the future.
Earlier movies based on this story were made in 1930 and 1979, with the later version starring Richard Thomas, pre-”Bilbo” Ian Holm, and Ernest Borgnine. The summary for that film tells you everything you need to know about the story: “A young soldier faces profound disillusionment in the soul-destroying horror or World War I.“ I might have added something about the warrenlike trenches, half filled with rain and blood and bodies, but maybe they didn’t want to scare off their entire audience.
That being said, I’ve seen all of this before. War is cruel, and anyone who doesn’t believe that hasn’t ever spoken to a veteran or walked through a military graveyard. But this film really brings it home. Should be mandatory viewing for anyone enamored with war. I think the film would have been more affective if it were 30 minutes shorter, but other than that, I had few complaints. 8 out of 10.
The first film directed by Edward Berger that I see. A very raw and critical portrait of the First World War on the German side. A discouraging vision that despite giving us hope about the fate of the characters, does nothing but crush those hopes at every step. All the technical elements are spectacularly accomplished: photography, production design, costume design, makeup, hair, sound (mixing and editing), soundtrack. There is not a single moment when the film is not visually and sonically perfect. On top of that, I thought the performances were magnificent, and I'm really surprised that it wasn't considered for any Oscar nominations in this area. It is interesting to see a film about the First World War, especially one that portrays the German side. Highly recommended, but with reservations: it's emotionally strong, utterly dispiriting, but superbly executed.
A remarkable achievement on a technical level that really achieves spectacle while not glorifying war. The film makes you wallow and sit in it
The intensity of this film was something that I rarely feel in films.
Yes, we are already overflowing with war movies and we already have a whole catalog of all and any phase of the various wars we have witnessed, but none of them with the intensity that this work brings us.
A chilling graphic intensity that makes us think and reflect on the true meaning of war, its objective, and the real consequences that it brings not only to societies as a collective but also to people as individuals bearers of humanity.
Many thanks to those who brought and made it possible for us to have this new look at this past stain and also at the stains that we continue to stain on our history.
This one is probably getting oscar
Stories telling the fate of these "bad guys" are rarely created. Here we have an example showing how war is a tragedy for each side.
Like a concussion grenade, All Quiet on the Western Front is breathtaking.
Perfect acting, script, and music...sure why not? But all of that delivering a strong message wrapped in the best cinematography I've seen all year? Unbelievable.
My biggest cinematic regret of 2022 will be not having the chance to see All Quiet on the Western Front in IMAX.
There was a scene where a senior German diplomat is having the finest breakfast while his kin are dying at the front. And if there was a victory, we say the leader won. "Imagine a King who Fights his Own Battles. Wouldn't that be a sight!" Achilles.
It is hard to belive that a 100 years later, trench warefare is happening in Ukraine. An important movie that shows the reality of wars.
As harrowing as you might expect with a final section that packs a hell of a punch. The film is overlong so that might stretch yout patience but if you're prepared to sit it out, this is still worthwhile.
Brutal film that’s well made and well acted. The cinematography alone is worth the watch. Incredible.
Definitive Netflix film. Well acted, well made and good script just missing that extra spark
Absolutely excellent. Exactly the way a war movie should be: realistic, gory, brutal, carnage, no happy endings.
Sobering view of war as it should be. Some incredible set pieces and very good performances. A little too heavy on the evil generals angle and poor innocent soldiers vs seeing how fervent nationalism was at home by non soldiers that shaped the landscape as well. Still, minor gripe. War movies are tough to watch. This is one of the better ones produced. Perhaps could have been trimmed by 10-15 mins. 7.7
Summary: Set during the last stages of WW1. Main character teenageer Paul who filled with patriotic fervor leaves to join the western front. The movie is grim and brutal. There’s initial fighting at the front, the later we follow the maim groups when they’re not on active duty. Then as the negotions over peace is carried through the soldiers are pushed to fight for leverage. All Paul’s friends are killed during the movie. The most senseless is when Kat is shot by a child because they stole food from a farmer. 15 minute to ceasefire they’re forced to attack again. Paul is stabbed by a bayonette and dies.
The movie changes between silence and brtal violence. There’s no space for happiness, even the crew’s moments of laughter and levity has desperate and painful undercurrents. It manages to show how utterly expendable each soldier were. Excellent movie, shows the utter depravity of war.
The film definitely leaves a lasting impression. The despair of the soldiers and above all the disillusionment as the war really is conveyed very well.
Scenes and actors also fit.
I've never read the book so I can't comment on it's accuracy with that, but as a war movie, this is a top tier movie.
The action scenes are top notch with some absolutely AMAZING cinematography with some nice long shots mixed in all over the place. The sound design is also really nice and sounded real good on my average sound system.
This is a movie with not much to cheer for. It aims to capture the horrors of the war and absolutely nails it. It's a bleak movie with lots of sad deaths, horrible deaths, and other deaths to expect in a movie like this. The actors in this do a great job showing all the emotions they are feeling, which also adds to the horror of it all.
For me personally, I put this in up there in one of the best war movies ever made. Netflix really did a great job with this one.
One of the best recent war movies, bar none. And even if the title makes little sense in this version of the story, it's still a haunting account of a war fought over the space of a urban backyard and the woeful difference between brass and boots. Chilling till the very end, but at the same time accenting the banality of a fight carrying on when the war is already fought. It has it's faults, but none detract from the final product in a meaningful way. Well worth the time!
It's amazing. Loved it! In my opinion, it is great war movie to watch if you're looking for one. Highly recommend
Shout by ZephirBlockedParent2022-10-18T23:00:15Z
One of the best anti-war movies of all time. I was shaking and had heart racing the whole run-time.
One of the most memorable cinema-experiences I ever had. After the credits rolled, no one made a move for two minutes. Everyone sat quietly and thought about what they had seen. At one point early in the movie almost everyone had also stopped eating their popcorn.
Watch it in Cinema if you can. Watch it in german if you can. Watch it in german with subtitles if you must. Or wait for it's Netflix-Release. But watch "All Quiet on the Western Front" no matter what. And learn from it.
One of the most intense movies you'll ever see.