6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
This is the devastating story of a generation destroyed, following the lives of Germany schoolboys goaled by their schoolmaster to join the "glorious" war. Their disenchantment begins with brutal basic training and when they see the crippled casualties being rushed to hospital as they board a train to the frontline they have the first glimps of the grim-visaged reality of war.
Starring: Richard Thomas (I), Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence, Ian Holm, Patricia NealWar | 100% |
Drama | 36% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
World War I was still a relatively recent memory and the thought of a World War II simply inconceivable when Lewis Milestone’s epic (and ultimately Academy Award winning) All Quiet on the Western Front came out in 1930. Some 49 (!) years later, Erich Maria Remarque’s blistering anti-war novel was redone as a made for television film starring Richard Thomas, at that point something of a superstar for his portrayal of John Boy in the long running CBS series The Waltons. In 1979, audiences may indeed have been starting to forget about even World War II and perhaps even the Korean conflict, though the ravages of Vietnam were still an open wound of sorts. Obviously made with the best of intentions, this All Quiet on the Western Front never quite escapes the looming shadow of its iconic predecessor, and is occasionally hobbled by some distracting overacting on the part of Thomas. There’s perhaps a bit more of an epic sweep to this version, with above average production values (especially for a made for television effort), as well as some good supporting performances from the likes of Ernest Borgnine (reteaming with director Delbert Mann, who led Borgnine to an Academy Award for Marty). The teleplay by Paul Monash (Peyton Place, The Friends of Eddie Coyle) hits all of the main points of Remarque’s tale, detailing the initial naïvete of a bunch of German grunts conscripted into World War II, an innocence which is of course quickly dashed against the horrors of trench warfare.
All Quiet on the Western Front is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Timeless Media Group, an imprint of Shout! Factory, with an AVC encoded 1080p in 1.78:1. That aspect ratio may rankle some "purists" who will remember the telefilm was originally broadcast in (or around) 1.33:1, but this, like so many other made for television movies from the 1960s on, received a theatrical release in some overseas market where it was no doubt screened in (or around) 1.85:1. Most made for television films with an anticipated theatrical release were framed with "safeties" intact so that both a 1.33:1 and 1.85:1 aspect ratio would "work." Framings here never really present much of an issue, though occasionally extreme close-ups will shave off either the top or bottom of a head. Elements are in decent by somewhat pallid condition, with a faded palette that skews flesh tones toward a ruddy pink hue. Detail is decent but never overwhelming. Much of this transfer suffers from the same unsightly clumpy yellow grain that seems to afflict a lot of Shout's Blu-ray releases, and that situation tends to mask detail and fine detail even more. Things actually look somewhat better in motion than some of the screencaptures accompanying this review might suggest, but this is a somewhat underwhelming looking presentation.
All Quiet on the Western Front's lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono lacks a bit of punch in the low end, something that tends to enervate some of the battle scenes. Midrange and the high end come through a bit better, though the track's inherent narrowness tends to undercut some of the effects. Dialogue is cleanly presented and is well prioritized even in some of the noisy battle scenes.
Obviously made with the best of intentions, All Quiet on the Western Front delivers its message without much subtlety or nuance, while also offering some disturbing imagery of the horrors of war, but it nonetheless strangely fails to ever build up much emotional heft. Some of this is due to an intermittently faltering performance on the part of Thomas, but the telefilm's length probably also leads to a certain feeling of lethargy. Video quality is a bit on the lackluster side, but audio is decent for those considering a purchase.
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