All Quiet on the Western Front

I got a big one for you guys today, today I’ll be reviewing All Quiet on the Western Front directed by Edward Berger based on a novel by Erich Maria Remarque, a German veteran of World War I.

The book and its sequel, The Road Back (1930), were among the books banned and burned in Nazi Germany.

Though there have been two earlier adaptations of the film, the first in 1930 by Lewis Milestone which won an Academy Award for Best Director, Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and more in 1930. Which is almost a century ago, and another adaptation in 1979 by Delbert Mann.

I have only seen the latest version which is strictly and proudly spoken in the German language, but rest easy for those that don’t speak German because subtitles are available for most languages out there.

Don’t let the language be the reason you miss out on such a phenomenal movie all because of pride and whatsoever, try it out first, you’ll thank me later.

The movie features some popular names in the filming industry, including Hollywood big names such as Daniel Brühl who has appeared in Marvel Studios – Captain America: Civil War and more.

Sebastian Hulk who I still remember for appearing on one of the greatest German series – Dark, Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, and Aaron Hilmer, prominently made up of German actors.

Straight out of the gate, the film shows you the true horrors of war when a young recruit is ordered to march forward with his friend, comrade and as soon as they pop their heads out of the trenches are met with a bullet in-between the eyes.

Then those same dead soldiers, their clothes are washed, cleaned, and prepared for the next recruit that will wear them without even knowing that probably ten, twenty, or even a hundred people had already worn those same clothes you’re so proud of. It’s none ending cycle.

Paul Bäumer played by Felix Kammerer and his classmates are a young, very eager, full-of-life bunch of boys that are excited to joy in the war even going so far as to forge fake signatures of their parents to be drafted.

At their drafting get-together, they are told about the honors, glory, and pride it brings to the fatherland (Germany) and one’s name for putting your life on the line and the showers of praise one will receive when they return home.

But sadly, what this movie did, in the beginning, tells you all you need to know.

There is no honor to be found in war, there is no honor in killing people day in, and day out. War is the true antagonist because it doesn’t give back anything but takes all.

And all the while, the ministers and generals are sitting in their warm comfortable seats, eating sausage, drinking wine, and smoking cigars while the youth are dying and dropping like raindrops.

Stanislaus/Kat played by Albrecht Schuch is the best example to explain and elaborate how war breaks down the innocence of men, and creates a monster that can no longer live in a civilized society.

I remember how happy Paul and his classmates were when they received their uniforms, talking about women and honor, however, as soon as they got on the truck you could see the light fade away.

There were no women, no singing of honor, it was a complete meltdown of the mind, some even begging to return home as all they hear from morning till night was a constant barrage of gunfire, and missiles.

You had to find a reason to continue living in such a state and some did, some cut out pictures on the wall and imagined the women in the picture as their wives whom they were fighting to return to.

All Quiet on the Western Front is anything but quiet, this movie though over two hours long had my every attention from beginning to end. It’s phenomenal.

No to mention, the outstanding, remarkable cinematography by James Friend that brought realism into this film and most likely the reason I just couldn’t look away from the screen.

As powerful as the message of this movie is, it could not have been done without the incredible camera work and skill that’s been illuminated throughout the entire movie.

You could pause the movie at any point, take a screenshot and you’d end up with a picture rivaling the artworks of Leonardo da Vinci. It’s how highly I rate the cinematography of All Quiet on the Western Front.

It’s not that you’re watching the film, but more about how the film makes you feel as if you are there, in the front lines, hearing every passing bullet, ground shaking on every landing grenade. Its realism is like no other war movie I’ve seen.

Before I go on for too long, I want to address the moment that France decided to use their tanks.

I have never felt so small and intimidated as I did when the French first used their tanks. The tension and suspense before the reveal sent shivers down my spine as if my body was trying to tell me that only death lays ahead.

Overall, All Quiet on the Western Front has quickly become my favorite movie of the year, it uses its characters as a base of reference, war is a living beast in the fact that governments would use its civilians as pawns rather than swallow their pride.

Using the hunger that the youth had to become someone or a hero, and find purpose, governments are willing to sell/use their people if it justifies their means.

Let me know in the comments below what your thoughts on All Quiet on the Western Front are.

I’m giving it the first 5 out of 5-star rating.

Thanks for reading another review of, LSR.