Cast, crew, rating, etc: War Horse on IMDB, Plugged In review
Overall rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
I'll skip the synopsis, since the trailer pretty much says it all. [And yes, that's "Sherlock" at 2:06!]
I was feeling slightly hesitant about going to this film for two reasons: one, that it would be boring (and for 2 1/2 hours!); two, that it would be too scary (I'll admit I'm a bit squeamish). Luckily, it did not meet those expectations.
If you're like me and you enjoy Disney live-action classics (i.e. Treasure Island and 20000 Leagues), and you wish they still made movies like that, then War Horse is for you. I think the reason War Horse has been getting 3 stars and less-than-glowing reviews from some critics is because they were looking for a stellar horse film or a stellar WWI film. To most people, it will be neither. Perhaps the movie would be more popular if it focused more on either the horse or the war. Frankly, though, had that been the case, only half of my family would have gone to see it...
War Horse isn't strictly about a "horse and his boy," or strictly about WWI. Rather, it's about WWI, viewed through the eyes of a horse and the people who care for it. It's a family film that ends happily-ever-after and ties up all the loose ends (or almost all of them). And yet War Horse, unlike some family films, is also intelligent, well-written, and cleverly balanced between drama and humor. There was one part ("Remarkable horse!") where I wanted to scream JULES VERNE, because it just felt like that era (Vernian-style). And, contrary to what the trailer would tell you, there is no romantic subplot. None.
The cast, by the way, was excellent. We recognized most of the British actors, from recent BBC dramas. The script was pretty good. John Williams's soundtrack was less than impressive.
Altogether, while it's not on my list of favorites, War Horse is the kind of film that kept my interest and that I'll probably re-watch in the future. Recommended if you're looking for a decent movie to watch, during Christmas break or any time of the year. :)
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