| 
| 
Is it worth $10? Yes
Steven Spielberg knows how to make Oscar winners, and the problem with “War Horse” is that it feels more like he’s trying to make an Oscar winner than a great movie. What’s the difference, you ask? Oscar bait is more maudlin, heartfelt and personal; a great movie would dare to be bolder, not as viewer-friendly but still pack an emotional punch. So sure, “War Horse” is professional, sturdy, well made and moving, but the bad news is it’s no Oscar winner.
Based on the book by Michael Morpurgo and the subsequent Tony Award-winning Broadway play, the story is about a teenage boy and his horse during World War I. If that doesn’t make you yawn, you’ll be interested to know the boy’s named is Albert (Jeremy Irvine) and he lives on a farm in England with his parents (Peter Mullan and Emily Watson). With things tough financially, father sells Albert’s beloved horse Joey to the cavalry.
What then happens is interesting: We follow Joey through the war and across Europe as he’s taken in, traded, and/or mistreated by British and German soldiers. While this is an interesting look at the humanity of war – particularly when opposing soldiers work together to cut Joey out of barbwire – Spielberg and screenwriters Lee Hall and Richard Curtis don’t do much with the premise besides move Joey from one point to the next. As a result it plays a little like a series of sketches rather than a cohesive story; it’s not until Albert joins the army that we get a sense of an eventual reunion with Joey, but even then each gets sidetracked multiple times.
Spielberg is well aware that he’s making an old school war epic here, and cinematographer Janusz Kaminski gorgeously composes many of the shots to present an old-timey, grand feel. It works, as the movie is a marvel to view on the big screen.
That said, the stilted story can't help but leave you wondering how it’s pulled off on stage. Not in terms of fixing the story, but in the sense of visually moving Joey throughout Europe and, in a very literal way, moving Joey. Puppets are used, and to say the least it takes a team of people to make it happen (see below).
“War Horse” is impressive in many ways and yet underwhelming at the same time. No doubt it will hit a strong chord with animal lovers (which I do not claim to be) and those who enjoy Spielberg’s sentimentality, but I prefer my Spielberg a little rougher around the edges (“Minority Report,” “Saving Private Ryan”). When a movie feels like too much of a slam-dunk for a filmmaker to do well (like when Scorsese makes a gangster movie), the standards and expectations are immeasurably higher. And because Spielberg fails to exceed expectations, “War Horse” is merely good.
Did you know?
Fourteen different horses played Joey; eight as an adult, four as a colt and two as foals.
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
jimmygnole
said:
 |
... It was like an old time movie. A little over the top at times, but warm and nostalgic as well. i liked it. |
Taz313
said:
|
... Being an animal lover, i did enjoyed it very much. This is the type of movie where SS writes with the heart ! I agree with you that it was impressive in many ways and I can see the academy award rewarding it moreso if its grading members are animal lover's. Let's see! |
chico13dolphin
said:
 |
... lOVE this movie, it was heart warming and intertaining. will watch a second time with my sisters family. |
chrisjohnston8989
said:
 |
... Hey just thought you would like to know that the stage show is amazing. The puppets have such great and horselike movement that you get completely caught up in the story. I don't think any movie can measure up to how the it was presented on the stage, though I can't wait to find out. |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
