A poster for the Netflix film “All Quiet on the Western Front” shows the movie’s protagonist Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) standing with brothers-in-arms. The Oct. 28 release remade the classic war story of the same name, and delivers a visceral experience in all respects. “‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ is more than the average, over-hyped war film. Instead, it dives head first into the brutal realities of conflict during World War I,” Viewpoints Staffer Mykolas Kumpis wrote. Photo fair use of Netflix
Viewers can expect an unapologetically graphic and gritty depiction of a German soldier’s life during World War I from Netflix’s Oct. 28 release of “All Quiet on the Western Front”.
War movies are hard to mess up. Viewers usually know what they’re in for: graphic violence, plenty of swearing and a plot that’s simple to understand.
However, a truly great war movie needs more. Netflix’s Oct. 28 remake of the classic story “All Quiet on the Western Front” is more than the average, over-hyped war film. Instead, it dives headfirst into the brutal realities of conflict during World War I.
The film drops viewers into the action of eastern France, following German soldier Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) and his three friends as they are engulfed by life in the trenches.
Audiences can forget the heroic tales of brave one-man armies slicing and shooting through endless hordes of nameless bad guys. “All Quiet on the Western Front” brings a heart-wrenching layer of humanity to the characters and victims.
A trailer previews the 2022 movie “All Quiet on the Western Front.” Viewpoints Staffer Mykolas Kumpis wrote that the story is more genuine than the average war movie. “Audiences can forget the heroic tales of brave one-man armies slicing and shooting through endless hordes of nameless bad guys,” Kumpis wrote. “‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ brings a heart-wrenching layer of humanity to the characters and victims.”
The film provides real depth on what it meant for the young men of the German Empire to serve their country in what was then the most destructive war in history. The nauseating realization that the ones fighting weren’t any older than high school students gives the film even more weight.
Aside from the plot, visual effects are stunning throughout the film. Depictions of gore and violence are horrifically realistic, while battle scenes carry all the power and grandeur that they ought to.
The film provides real depth on what it meant for the young men of the German Empire to serve their country in what was then the most destructive war in history. The nauseating realization that the ones fighting weren’t any older than high school students gives the film even more weight.
The soundtrack, composed by Academy-award nominee Volker Bertelmann, is bombastic in parts and powerfully somber in others. This duality is very impressive for a war movie and does wonders for the story.
Overall, the film makes for a stunning watch. The psychological strain and horror of war is shown in grave detail. It provides a viewing experience more exhausting and terrifying than any horror movie, and viewers will be hard-pressed to find a more effective reminder of the true tragedy behind war than “All Quiet on the Western Front”.
