It still works

Rating: 8/10 (23 January 2006)

Having only recently watched this film for the first time, the thing that strikes me is that it was filmed over 75 years ago, yet it still stands up as an effective piece of cinema, quite amazing.
OK the acting could be a bit better from the majority of the cast, but I can make allowances, they were still getting to grips with sound for goodness sake. The battle scenes can rival any modern blockbuster for the shear power they convey, the moment when a man is blown up in front of Paul leaving just his hands and wrists on the barbed wire, strong stuff.
It shows the growing bond between the old hands and new recruits well, especially in the scenes acted by Louis Wolheim, who I think sets the bench mark for the many gruff ugly soldiers, who followed in countless war films, and take the newies under their wing. There are some real moments of tenderness like Paul visiting his friend in hospital and watching him die and the scenes between Paul and his mother.
That war is stupid we understand, but 75 years ago it was thought of differently by the masses, which makes the success of this film all the more impressive, best film at the Oscars no less.
It is when Paul gets back to the front after his leave to find the regiment is now made up of 16 year olds, who looked so young, but we were right back at the beginning of the film, they were just like Paul and his classmates, nothing had changed, no lessens had been learnt. Except by us, having watched these children turn into men and die one by one, until finally it is just Paul, we understand that war serves no purpose really, that young lives are lost for what leaders want. That Paul dies at the end reaching for a butterfly, a reminder of his life before the war, is both poignant and beautiful.
I would recommend this film to anyone, it surprised me with how good it really was and yes it still works.