|
Rating:  -
I bought this movie to show to my middle school students while doing a unit on World War I. The students enjoyed most of the movie and it really helped them to see what the fighting was like during WWI. It was a great resource to use.
Rating:  -
Erich-Maria Remarque's classic anti-war book was in 1930 realised magnificently as a film by Lewis Milestone. So definitive was this version that it seemed almost sacrilege to even contemplate a re-make. Delbert Mann bravely (or foolishly) took up the challenge in 1979 (an Anglo/American production) with predictably mixed opinions as to whether he had even equalled let alone surpassed the original.
I admit that I resisted viewing it until one of my students offered a VHS copy for me to peruse. I sat down to watch it with little enthusiasm or expectation. However, after half an hour I was hooked! The almost operatic pacing of the story and the superb photography impressed me as did the fine acting from a stellar cast, Donald Pleasence (schoolmaster), Ian Holm (Corporal Himmelstoss), Ernest Borgnine (as a very affecting'Kat' if a little too old) and Patricia Neal.
Crucially though it is the role of the story's youthful protagonist Paul Baumer that makes or breaks the film. In the 1930 version it was played (rather melodramatically) by Lew Ayres. Here we have Richard Thomas, (famed as the charming but rather two-dimensional elder son character from the then popular tv series 'The Waltons'). Inevitably this choice met with derision from some and indeed Thomas initially re-employs his 'John-Boy Walton' persona to portray the sensitive, artistic Paul Baumer. This seems to me perfectly valid. The way he then develops and deepens his character from the wide eyed idealistic student into the hardened cynical squaddie is in my opinion a total vindication of his casting. It is probably Richard Thomas's finest performance on film.
I recently used extracts from this feature in a WW1 history project with my students and the devastating denoument (perfectly judged by Thomas) elicited tears from some (and not just the girls!) They identified totally with Richard Thomas as Baumer (though it has to be said that his large facial mole proved a distraction for some).
A great film which can be unhesitatingly recommended. What a pity that the DVD version has had about half an hour cut from the original film.
Rating: -
The movie All Quiet on the Western Front is a good movie to watch after you read the book. The book does a very good job about portraying in your mind what war was really like. The movie does a very good visual job portraying the book.The movie has the same main points, and although it does follow the book closely, it still does have its differences. The movie shows how Paul is an artist, it also shows Paul having flash backs to his past a lot. It does show the main characters like Paul, Leer, Muller, and Kropp, but they do not show how Behm dies. The movie is definitely worth watching in class. It gives you a pretty accurate visual of the book. Despite some differences here and there, the overall movie is a good illustration of the book.
-David Kroger
Rating: -
When Erich Maria Remarque's popular war novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, was turned into a movie, it lost some of its meaning. The movie's plot is close to the book version. There are some differences however. The book has much more depth while the movie barely touches on some of the important scenes. There are parts left out that show how close the comrades become during the war. I would recommend watching this movie in class after reading the book because it can help to make connections. Overall this movie was good, but it isn't an exact match to the book.
Rating: -
Overall it was an easy experiance! Order, shiped, watched. Good price, contents were in exellent condition, shiping didnt take long!
Overall Great!
Television Show
Collectibles
Movie Searches
|
|
|
Search for posters,
art prints, photos, collectables, merchandise, toys, t-shirts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TV Guide
Program listings, celebrity profiles, industry
gossip, movie reviews, puzzle.
More
Entertainment
& TV Magazines
This site is
Hosted
by Bluehost
Read
my Bluehost Review
Most Popular TV collectibles
|
|
Home
Articles
Images
Forum
Search
Shopping
TV Trivia
Watch TV
Wallpaper
