All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

Rating: 8/10 (17 February 2006)

What an amazing film for the period! Even though the movie is at times quite graphic, it is consistent with its message regarding the futility of war and its attempts to uphold the dignity of man. My only criticism relates to the dreadful acting by many of the cast. The poor acting, in my opinion, spoiled much of the interaction between the various characters. Thank goodness people such as Louis Wolheim and Lew Ayres saved the film from relying solely on effects. Clearly, some of the later war epics, such as Deer Hunter, Platoon, Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers have learned from and followed on from 'All Quiet on the Western Front' by similarly attempting to portray the senselessness of war through the medium of cinema.