Wednesday, September 14, 2011

51. All Quiet on the Western Front

All Quiet on the Western Front
1930
 
This is a little embarrassing but I have never read the book.  I know, I know!  It is a classic.  It is probably on my list too.  I will get around to it.  I am kind of backed up right now.  I am reading a war book right now.  I feel like I have a theme!

I kind of expected to hate this movie.  Statements like "war is bad" are so played out now that they are rarely interesting (Catch-22 being an exception).  However, I have to say I really liked this one.  Here in the States, you rarely hear people give the German point of view of any war.  You kind of learn that Germans are Nazis that just like killing and that is about it.  Now, this movie isn't about World War II but you get the drift.  Here, young Germans are fresh-faced, eager, and just loyal to their country.  Do you think this will change at the end of the movie?!?!

This film is pretty similar to The Big Parade, though more serious.  The techniques they used worked just as well here as they did there. 

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Nazis went nuts when watching this and released rats in the theaters.

Wicked prologue.

Most violent film of its time.

Available on YouTube; first part:

1 comment:

  1. Awesome film, and yes, if you had to pick an anti war movie you could do worse than this one. Technically it is a marvel, but it is the emotional impact that really works for me. Glad you liked it.

    ReplyDelete