Spoilers ahead...
Plot of All Quiet on the Western Front: War's Impact on Young Minds
Adapted
from Erich Maria Remarque's novel published in 1929, the story follows German
soldier Paul Baumer (Felix Kammerer) and his friends—Albert Kropp (Aaron
Hilmer), Franz Muller (Moritz Klaus), and Ludwig Behm (Adrian Grunewald)—all of
whom volunteer for World War I. They are later joined by the experienced
Stanislaus Katczinsky (Albrecht Schuch), who helps them survive time and again.
A
sub-plot follows Matthias Erzberger (Daniel Brühl) as he attempts to negotiate
an armistice with French General Ferdinand Foch (Thibault de Montalembert),
contrasting with the German General Friedrichs (Devid Striesow), who demands
one final strike before the ceasefire at 11 a.m.
This War Drama Film Explores: Does War Benefit Anyone?
I haven’t
seen many war movies because I generally don't enjoy them. Dunkirk and HacksawRidge come to mind as exceptions. I don't believe in war, which results in
the deaths of countless innocent lives and leaves soldiers shattered, even if
they return alive. The film portrays this war trauma when Kat tells Paul he
would rather stay in the warzone than return to his wife and live a normal
life.
This
movie is a brutal and relentless depiction of war's reality, seen through
Paul's eyes. Like many others, he initially volunteers to show his patriotism,
only to quickly realize the suffering that awaits him and his comrades. The
violence and the 2-hour 28-minute runtime made me feel suffocated at times.
How true
the movie is, I can't say, as I haven’t read the novel or seen the 1930
version. Additionally, I know little about World War I, having been an
inattentive student during history lessons.
War Lovers May Not Enjoy All Quiet on the Western Front
I believe
this film won’t appeal to those who quickly shout "We should go to
war" over minor issues (a sentiment often echoed by news channels). The
movie showcases the bravery of soldiers, but also their fear and vulnerability,
not knowing when death will come. There's a scene where a young soldier,
terrified, just wants to return to his normal life, but it’s too late.
Not for the Fainthearted: Tough Scenes in This War Drama
There are
standout scenes, some extremely hard to watch. One example is when Paul is
stuck in a bomb crater with a French soldier. After initially killing him to
save himself, Paul tries in vain to save the soldier. Other intense moments
include a tank crushing a soldier, flamethrowers incinerating soldiers, and
scenes of men running from airplane bombs.
I was
moved by Kat and Paul’s deaths, particularly because they occurred so late in
the film. They seemed so unlucky—Kat’s decision to raid a farm for a goose
after the war had ended cost him his life, and Paul was only 15 minutes away
from survival when he died.
I
certainly felt there was need of character developments, so that we felt more
sympathy for the many deaths that happens. Maybe the time constrain was the
issue. I did like the use of drums at some places in the sound editing.
Final Verdict: All Quiet on the Western Front
Overall, All
Quiet on the Western Front will resonate with those who enjoy violent war
films. While I didn’t love it, I acknowledge it as a well-made movie.
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