I was shocked by this movie. Generally when you see a movie this old, the initial intent has long past it's shock value, but this film is different. I was, quite frankly disturbed by it.
http://www.armchairoscars.com/The%2020s/1929-30.htm
War is hell. The message is as clear today as it was when the film was released.
shareWar is hell. The message is as clear today as it was when the film was released.
That's very true. What surprises me is that the movie can still have have that punch after 80 years. It was disturbing.
http://www.armchairoscars.com/
Which is why it's so great, it really has survived the test of time...all that stuff with the amputees, that was GREAT stuff for a movie in a time when their effects were so limited...just thinking about it still makes me cringe. Great job in waking up movie goers 80 years ago as to what really happens when young, naive kids enlist in war.
shareWell, you would expect a movie made in 1930 to have watered down this material. But no, it keeps the horror very close to the bone.
http://www.armchairoscars.com/
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I expected the emotional scenes to be more muted, so I was surprised at the depth in this film. Lew's facial expressions were so real when it came to the scenes Paul felt despair or terror. It really got me, just like the book.
shareI couldn't agree with you more, I was surprised how close to the tone of the book that the film had reached.
http://www.armchairoscars.com/The%2020s/1929-30.htm
I was surprised by the impact of this movie myself - I just watched it last night for the first time. The battle scenes were unexpectedly intense, and without CG. War movies today have trouble mounting that kind of impact, even with decades of special effects experience and computer power behind them.
And I agree with the above poster, that the scene with the dangling hands was surprising/shocking and down right amazing.
Of.course, I was bothered by the story content, which is singularly grim, but by the film itself? No way; it's brilliant!
"Believe not what you only wish to believe, but that which truth demands."