Young Paul Bäumer and his classmates enlist in the Army during World War One believing the idealized propaganda about war pushed by the leaders only to quickly learn the realities and futility of it all in the brutal trench warfare battles on the front.
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Edward Berger directs this multiple-BAFTA and Oscar-winning adaptation of German author Erich Maria Remarque’s anti-war novel All Quiet on the Western Front. It is the first German production of the novel, which has been adapted several times by Hollywood most famously in 1930 as directed by Lewis Milestone.
The story follows the character Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer), a young man who, along with his friends, enlists in the Army during World War One due to the romanticized notions of war the leaders have fed them. Upon arrival on the Western Front of the war against the French, Paul quickly learns the reality and horrors of the trench warfare, as he sees his friends die and the futility of their battles, which garner no gains.
Berger has taken a note from Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, which, at the time, was noted for being one of the most realistic depictions of warfare. This film does not hesitate to depict the brutality of war. We see hundreds if not thousands of young bodies strewn across battlefields, teams of seamstresses sewing back together their torn apart uniforms to dole out to the new batches of young soldiers ready for the proverbial meat grinder. Some of the most stunning scenes take place in the trenches where limbs are blown off and one particularly frightened soldier tries to flee from an underground bunker during a shelling and is exploded on the spot in front of his fellow soldiers.
Berger inserts into Remarque’s story a subplot of officials trying to negotiate a peace. While this is not in Remarque’s original novel, the results of what happens do emphasize even more the futility of war as the military leaders push for even more battles and military surges to squeeze in more pointless carnage before any peace accord can come into place.
One cannot help but think – as multiple wars rage around the world we live in today – that Remarque’s story and Berger’s film continue to resonate over a century after the novel was written. War is futile, yet there does not seem to be any peace to be had. With that pessimistic thought, enjoy the stunning aural and visual experience and powerful message that this film puts forth.
The Video
All Quiet on the Western Front was shot on various Arri, Red, and Sony cameras in 6.5K and 4.5K resolutions. It utilizes a 4K digital intermediate and is provided on 4K Ultra HD in a 2.39:1 HEVC 2160p (4K UHD) Dolby Vision encodement.
It is immediately apparent that the transfer is a big step up over the Netflix 4K stream. This is pure reference, with perfect detail and depth of field. The visual effects are seamless in the overall production and the coding of the Dolby Vision provides beautiful hints of color in the mostly desaturated scenes of the battle and soldiers on the front, the warmer scenes of the negotiations amongst the politicians, and in things such as flames and lanterns, that look almost three-dimensional. The Blu-ray is just as good in the confines of the high definition format, with only slightly coarser artificial grain and less ‘pop’ and color in the highlights.
The Audio
As with the video, the audio mix for All Quiet on the Western Front on the 4K and Blu-ray is a step up over the lossy Netflix stream. The lossless German Dolby Atmos (an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 dub is also included) wastes little time throwing us into the fray of battle with bombastic explosions, sounds of pounding bombs overhead in the trenches mixed into the overhead channels, and the evocative score that spreads across the soundfield.
The Supplements
The on-disc featurettes are limited, but there is an informative and interesting audio commentary by the director, a brief but good making-of, and a few trailers. There is also a print interview with Berger included in the Mediabook.
Mediabook featuring original production stills and interview with director Edward Berger “Sharing the German Perspective”
Audio Commentary from Director Edward Berger
Making-Of (4K; DV; 00:18:27)
Original Trailer (4K; DV; 00:02:19)
US Trailer (4K; DV; 00:02:19)
International Trailer (4K; DV; 00:02:16)
Teaser (4K; DV; 0001:52)
The Final Assessment
MPI provide a magnificent upgrade on disc of this “Netflix Original” film that deals with the futility of war. The. Netflix stream is very good, but nothing beats disc, and this disc is reference all the way. Highly recommended for the film and audio/video quality.
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) is out on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Mediabook March 28, 2023 from MPI Media Group
Rating Certificate: R (for strong bloody war violence and grisly images.)
Studios & Distributors: Amusement Park Films | Gunpowder Films | Sliding Down Rainbows Entertainment | Anima Pictures | Netflix | MPI Media Group
Director: Edward Berger
Written By: Edward Berger (screenplay by) | Lesley Paterson (screenplay by) | Ian Stokell (screenplay by)
Run Time: 148 Mins.
Street Date: 28 March 2023
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
HDR Format: Dolby Vision (HDR10 Compatible)
Primary Audio: German Dolby Atmos
Secondary Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 | French DD 5.1 | Spanish (Castilian) DD 5.1 | Italian DD 5.1 | Czech DD 5.1 | Hungarian DD 5.1 | Polish DD 5.1 | Spanish (Latin American) DD 5.1 | Turkish DD 5.1 | German Descriptive Audio DD 20 | English Descriptive Audio DD 2.0 | French Descriptive Audio DD 2.0 | Spanish (Castilian) Descriptive Audio DD 2.0 | Italian Descriptive Audio DD 2.0 | Spanish (Latin American) Descriptive Audio DD 2.0
Subtitles: German SDH | English | English SDH | French | Spanish (Castilian) | Italian | Czech | Hungarian | Polish | Spanish (Latin American) | Spanish (Latin American) SDH | Turkish | Danish | Dutch | Norwegian | Portuguese | Finnish | Swedish
Notice of Compliance with FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 16 CFR Part 255
In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR part 255 guidelines, this website hereby states that it receives free discs and other theatrical or home entertainment "screeners" and access to screening links from studios and/or PR firms, and is provided with consumer electronics devices on loan from hardware manufacturers and/or PR firms respectively for the purposes of evaluating the products and its content for editorial reviews. We receive no compensation from these companies for our opinions or for the writing of reviews or editorials. Permission is sometimes granted to companies to quote our work and editorial reviews free of charge. Our website may contain affiliate marketing links, which means we may get paid commission on sales of those products or the services we write about. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers or affiliate partnerships. This disclosure is provided in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR § 255.5: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Young Paul Bäumer and his classmates enlist in the Army during World War One believing the idealized propaganda about war pushed by the leaders only to quickly learn the realities and futility of it all in the brutal trench warfare battles on the front.All Quiet on the Western Front (4K Mediabook Review)
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
{"id":"389","mode":"button","open_style":"in_modal","currency_code":"USD","currency_symbol":"$","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/www.theaterbyte.com\/wordpress\/core\/modules\/efb9325b07\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/www.theaterbyte.com\/wordpress\/core\/modules\/efb9325b07\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":500,"top_media_type":"none","featured_image_url":false,"featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Contribute to the TheaterByte Tip Jar","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Pay","payment_request_label":"TheaterByte","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"TheaterByte","form_subtitle":"We are creating Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Movie, and Home Theater electronics reviews.","currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you for being a supporter!","payment_confirmation_title":"TheaterByte","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}