Review of All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) by Daniel S — 24 Nov 2010

Important? Maybe. Entertaining? Not nearly often enough. As an early sound movie even the restored version isn't very clear - I had to use subtitles most of the way through to catch the dialog. I'll be up front and admit that I generally dislike war movies, and this is no exception.

It takes about half the movie for us to tell the characters apart, and although the film generally improves as it goes it feels drawn out and the best scenes are easily the ones that don't take place on the battlefield.

The soldiers drinking and then going after some young French women across the river was easily the highlight. The movie's opening message is that it intends no statement other than to show the lives of those affected by war.

This is clearly not the case and ever since its release people have realized it is strongly anti-war. Nothing wrong with that, per se, but many better movies have been made which illustrate that sentiment.