All Quiet On The Western Front (2022) – Movie Review
All Quiet on the Western Front is a new adaptation of the 1929 novel of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque. Most people are likely familiar with the 1979 movie adaptation they watched in their high school history class. For those who didn’t, this war drama follows a group of German soldiers at the frontlines of World War I as they battle the horrors of trench warfare.
Director and writer Edward Berger has crafted a powerful and emotional story of the cruelty of war, the camaraderie of soldiers, and the effects of conflict on the human spirit. The film features breathtaking cinematography capturing the gritty detail and brutal atmosphere of the trenches and the destruction of the battlefield. The visuals create a sense of dread as the soldiers are marched across no man’s land and into the heart of battle. Interspersed throughout the movie were beautiful shots of the European countryside, acting in contrast to the desolation of the Western Front.
One scene that stood out compared to the numerous other war movies available was at the beginning of the film when the young men, still in high school, are manipulated into joining the war effort. Promised honor and glory, the young men eagerly enlist and are assigned uniforms that have been patched up and still have the name tag of the previous wearer who died in combat. The young men march cheerfully to the Front, only to meet the harsh reality of rain, mud, and death. The drastic shift in tone successfully portrayed the soldier’s eyes opened to the truth of war.
Even though war movies are never easy to watch, they remind us of the importance of tragic historical events. All Quiet on the Western Front is an emotionally powerful war drama that excels in displaying to audiences the brutality of trench warfare in World War I. With outstanding performances and stunning visuals, this new adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s novel brings the horrors of war to life, depicting the cruelty of conflict and the resilience of the human spirit.
All Quiet On The Western Front (2022) is available on Netflix.