MovieChat Forums > All Quiet on the Western Front (1979) Discussion > Different Endings...

Different Endings...

posted 18 years ago by golden8357
8 replies | jump to latest

For those that have not only read this book but seen the movie, you know that the endings are different. But which one is better?

Personally, overall I liked the book better than the movie. I always think that. There's just something about the words of a book coming alive in one's imagination that I like, rather than having everything play out right before your eyes. When it comes to the ending, though, I must say that I liked the movie's version better. It was the way that Paul was shot while trying to draw the bird in the tree. It really showed the Paul Baumer was trying to regain his youthfulness. I also felt that the bird and the tree were symbolic. A sign of life on the barren wasteland where the war was taking place. I like that it leaves no questions to be asked. Paul died not of his own accord, like one might argue in the book. I was just wondering if anyone else had an opinion on this.

[–] sleech123 18 years ago

In my opinion, the movie ending was better. Even though the book ending was better written, just seeing Remarque's words put into action was much more powerful than merely imagining it. Also, interpretations on how Paul died in the book are many, and the movie is straightforward on exactly how this happens. I also like the movie ending better because it shared the same opinion as I on the way Paul died. It was much more satisfying than seeing Paul killed in a different manner. Overall, I would give the movie 3 out of 5 stars because other than the ending, I did not enjoy it much. It seemed to jump around a lot and left out many important details that were replaced with events that were not even suggested in the book. The book, however, was powerful in describing the horrors of war and is one of the greatest pieces of literature I have ever read. I would have to give it 5 stars. Remarque was able to weave a multitude of emotions through his words into the reader and give the reader a sense of what war is truly like. I agree with the original post that the book was better overall, but the movie displayed a better ending.

[–] Penguin_5 18 years ago

I thought that the book's ending was better. It left it up to our imagination to figure out how Paul died, and the book lead up to it much better. In my opinion the movie ended kind of abrubtly, whereas the book lead up to the ending with Paul saying that he can face whatever is thrown in front of him.

In just about every aspect, I thought that the book was so much better. Even though the movie could put all the horrors into an image, it left out many important little details. The book allowed us to view the action in our own eyes, and left it up to us to decide, in our own minds, what exactly went on. Personally, I'd much rather read something than watch it, so... maybe I'm a bit biased, but overall... I can agree with giving the movie 3/5 stars, and the book 5/5.

[–] cassie3326 18 years ago

I thought the movie's ending was better because it was a more peaceful death. In the book, you can interpret Paul’s death as suicide, but in the movie it was an accident. I think Paul became his former self at the end of the movie because he drew a bird, and at the beginning of the book, when he had hope, he drew a bird. I think it was a more satisfying ending, instead of wondering if Paul killed himself.

[–] kids-16 18 years ago

I agree that the ending of the book is better.
The ending in the book is Paul sketching the bird and he stands up to get a closer look and he gets shot. Teh movie ending is Paul pretty much taking the role of Kat just looking over the troops and everything. I liked the book ending better because I like to know what happens to the main character. It is clearly shown he was killed and I like that supposed to just leaving him with the troops and looking over them. You never know what happens.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ianprl 18 years ago

I will have to dig up this book and read it again. I read it first in the 1960s and again in the 90s.

As I remember it, the book ending was fairly no-specific as to how he died, merely saying something like " he was killed on one of the last days of the war, on a day when so little was happening that the daily report only said "All Quiet on the Western Front." "

I don't remember any mention of suicide, except that he hardly cared any more whether he lived or died. And that the people they were before, and could have become, were effectively dead anyway.

One thing that may affect our memories is that there have been several different translations of this german book into english.

[–] NoRevisionism 17 years ago

I have never heard that opinion. I re-read the book about a month ago and as I remember it said something like "Paul fell on ......(such & such date) although depressed he is looking toward the end of the war and wondering what life will be like & how others will treat his generation as a whole.

No cause is given for his death. Much can be drawn about "what if he had not died" but I just dont see him killing himself.

[–] PeterBlues 17 years ago

i thought the ending was pretty expected, and pretty abrupt. i'm not saying i thought it was a bad made movie ending though, if it happen to have gotten interperated like that.

now i realise i did wrong,
i'm sorry if i caused you any harm,
i find myself doing the same deeds,
to wich you did to me,
and i react the same way,
after being put in the same place,
it all make sense when i regretfully look at the facts,
looks like i once more come to apologize for my past,
i was too blind to see what i did,
maybe the world would do better without big dumb me in it,
taste of my own medicine.