All Quiet on the Western Front

Dir: Lewis Milestone (Of Mice and Men <1939>, Mutiny on the Bounty <1962>)
Cast: Louis Wolheim, Lew Ayres, John Wray, Arnold Lucy, Ben Alexander, Scott Kolk
USA, 1930

Seen: September 30, 2006 via Rogers Direct

Reason to see: It’s on my list of 101 films I can't believe I haven't seen

As a general rule of thumb, I do not watch war movies. I don't tend to like them and I'm more of a 'why can't we all just get along' person. I make exception for submarine films as you don't usually 'see' the enemy, and for really old ones as they tend to be less violent. So, low and behold All Quiet On the Western Front meets my exceptions criteria as it is set during World War I. This film captures the exasperation and futility of war. You see massive amounts of young men in the trenches, and time seems to just go on and on and on. Time begins to blend and the human spirit begins to fade until it's not even clear why they are there or what they are doing any of this for. I find it was very successful in portraying this scenario and making you feel for these people, but since I already agree with the point they expressing I didn't feel overly moved by watching it.

Shannon's Overall View:
I can't say I enjoyed it, but I did agree with it's point of view
I'd not likely watch it again
I recommend it as a war film

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© Shannon Ridler, 2008