Truly Dreadful Film

Some things I liked some I did not.

All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

You will enjoy watching this one as it depicts wars, humanity and horses from an interesting point of view. If you follow the movie and its story without caring for what was done with the help of cgi or not, if you let yourself go and embrace the story portrayed you will enjoy it.7 out of 10.

I saw the stage version of this story in London a good few years back - it was magnificent, I even shed a tear or two at the end. The only tears this time were those of laughter - I was amazed at the inept script, wooden actors chewing the scenery in embarrassment and the pointless diversion from the original story - this seemed like 4 or 5 vignettes totally unconnected from each other apart from that darn Lassie, sorry I mean Joey. If it wasn't a Spielberg film it would've gone straight to DVD. Dreadful.

Somehow I was able to grind my way through this VERY boring 2.5 hour movie, perhaps because I thought I should see any movie that had been nominated for 6 Oscars, including Best Picture. John Williams score was, as usual, very good and the art production is very good too. However,if one is not interested in either dark war movies (World War I) or horses, there is very little here for one to connect to. A horse is born, goes an odyssey, with hardships and many owners, and is finally reunited with its original owners.This movie is a Steven Spielberg-Kathleen Kennedy production, and one usually is not disappointed with the movies they make. However, I can only say, I'm sure glad it didn't spend the money or time to see it in a movie theater.

Steven Spielberg's "War Horse" does a beautiful job of developing a story through the eyes of a horse with assistance from his talented film crew. The famous filmmaker takes us back into WW I, where young Albert enlists to serve after his beloved horse is sold to the cavalry. Albert's hopeful journey takes him out of England and to the front lines as the war rages on, while his horse Joey experiences the war at full length as well. This idea for a story isn't that unique. It tends to serve almost like it was made for animation. What Spielberg does is take off the sugar-coated toppings and deliver an intense and often disturbing portrayal of a war that most people don't know enough about. This interesting film (though very sow at times shows a war in a different directorial manner, giving both a visually and spiritually beautiful story.