I will admit my bias upfront: Who doesn't know that war is hell? Who doesn't know that a heroic war film is fantasy? I find the strawman argument that "Nobody shows you what war is REALLY like, but we will!", so tired and ignorant. Even prior to 1930, there were ample novels and movies that broached this topic. This angle may appeal to those who insanely want to pretend all war is bad (as if 'no war' is always an option and nobody ever thought of that), but I don't find this shallow thinking entertaining. In fact, considering the price so many pay, it's depressing.
That being said, I can enjoy a good "war is hell" movie. I enjoyed Platoon, in spite of Oliver Stone's heavy political hand. Good film making is good film making. All Quiet On the Western Front is not good film making. I'm taking into consideration the era and what they had to work with, I'm trying to be fair. I like many films from this era. I even take into account how unnecessary WWI is said to be. Even so, 'All Quiet is simply bad storytelling and not as good as people say.
The opening scene was a harbinger of what was to come; a professor lecturing his class on the glories of war - over the top, on the head, melodramatic - then the reactions of the students had all the subtlety of a monster truck rally - Lets Goooo! I was willing to buy it from John Belushi in Animal House, but not here. An inexcusable fail was the lack of any accuracy in the military training segments. Considering that director Lewis Milestone was actually in the army during World War I, it's hard to understand how that part was so campy and inaccurate. There is a line that can get crossed when things become too silly, and, in this case, it starts feeling like bad propaganda.
Some of the acting is very good, the lead characters especially. The cinematography is excellent, as well as other techs - wardrobe, set design - but the movie drags in many scenes and takes too long to tell simple plot points, like the getting drunk in the bar scene, or the swimming/partying with the girls scene. Then they sell short the very dramatic scenes by hitting you over the head with obviousness.
There is also the issue here with the perceived importance of a film. This movie won many awards, it's old and black and white, and we all know only cool people enjoy those films. It is on important lists as one of the best movies of all time. This undoubtedly influences many to agree with that trend for fear of appearing irrelevant or ignorant. I have no doubt that some do find this movie compelling. After all, Die Hard is considered a classic by many, but, as with here, it's not.
All things considered, it's not a bad movie, and there are some worthwhile parts to it, but it is nowhere near as good as the hype.
That being said, I can enjoy a good "war is hell" movie. I enjoyed Platoon, in spite of Oliver Stone's heavy political hand. Good film making is good film making. All Quiet On the Western Front is not good film making. I'm taking into consideration the era and what they had to work with, I'm trying to be fair. I like many films from this era. I even take into account how unnecessary WWI is said to be. Even so, 'All Quiet is simply bad storytelling and not as good as people say.
The opening scene was a harbinger of what was to come; a professor lecturing his class on the glories of war - over the top, on the head, melodramatic - then the reactions of the students had all the subtlety of a monster truck rally - Lets Goooo! I was willing to buy it from John Belushi in Animal House, but not here. An inexcusable fail was the lack of any accuracy in the military training segments. Considering that director Lewis Milestone was actually in the army during World War I, it's hard to understand how that part was so campy and inaccurate. There is a line that can get crossed when things become too silly, and, in this case, it starts feeling like bad propaganda.
Some of the acting is very good, the lead characters especially. The cinematography is excellent, as well as other techs - wardrobe, set design - but the movie drags in many scenes and takes too long to tell simple plot points, like the getting drunk in the bar scene, or the swimming/partying with the girls scene. Then they sell short the very dramatic scenes by hitting you over the head with obviousness.
There is also the issue here with the perceived importance of a film. This movie won many awards, it's old and black and white, and we all know only cool people enjoy those films. It is on important lists as one of the best movies of all time. This undoubtedly influences many to agree with that trend for fear of appearing irrelevant or ignorant. I have no doubt that some do find this movie compelling. After all, Die Hard is considered a classic by many, but, as with here, it's not.
All things considered, it's not a bad movie, and there are some worthwhile parts to it, but it is nowhere near as good as the hype.