While watching the 2022 "All Quiet on the Western Front," it's easy to view everything from Paul's perspective, since the film is primarily concerned with documenting his journey from idealistic patriot to lifeless victim of the war. The original film is also Paul's story, but there is a greater emphasis paid to the men he serves with and the connection they form.
The Lewis Milestone film breaks up the violence with scenes of the men getting to know each other, joking together, and just trying to survive. It's an element of the story that poses the argument that the only thing that keeps you alive in times of war is the people serving with you. That camaraderie keeps them all from ending their own lives or turning into mindless killing machines.
Edward Berger chooses to sideline all of that and focus on the misery instead. The Paul of the original film openly mourns the death of every single one of his comrades, while the latter film shrugs off their deaths and keeps barreling towards the ending of the film, making for an utterly nihilistic viewing experience.
