Steven Spielberg's War Horse - The Review

[Pevenseagull]

I have Starman on VHS and it has helped me get laid twice





with women





nice

 

[Brixton Seagull 2]

Had the pleasure of working on this for a few weeks, and seen it about 40 times. Have to say whilst it has some very powerful moments (the doomed cavalry charge, the barbed wire bit and the German boys in the windmill), I found it too sentimental and schmaltzy for my tastes. Yes, it's what Spielberg does best, and coupled with the John Williams score, it certainly gets you emotionally in all the right places. I found it also too episodic, as Joey gets passed on to new keepers all the time. The worst section being the French man and his grand-daughter. What was all that about? It went on for ages, and didn't add anything of value.
Don't get me wrong, SS is the man. I also worked on Tin-tin and thought it was infinitely better than this.

See the stage play, it's the best thing I've ever seen.

 

[Pevenseagull]

I'm about to start watching Fearless


Alone



I don't know when to wank

 

[Pevenseagull]

anyway, "War Horse" isn't a very good film


Goodnight and pass me the kleenex and LUBE!

 

[Biscuit]

Watched it yesterday. What a load of shit it was. Outrageously cheesy and I didn't connect with any of the characters.

Great plot, great direction but let down by the writing and the actors in my book.

Don't waste your money. 1/5.

 

[Brightonfan1983]

Is it as good as HOOK though?

 

[Mental Lental]

A war horse walks into a bar.

The barman asks "why the long film?"

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Without wanting to give away the ending, Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, who while on the run was treated by a doctor (who knew not what Wilkes Booth had done) named Mud or Mudd. The innocent Doctor Mud was tried for the offence of aiding the assassin, and although he was later cleared, his reputation was ruined and from this little tale comes the phrase "His/her name is mud"

Tks for listening gang.

One of my distant ancestors, Michael O'Laughlen, was a co-conspirator with Wilkes-Booth.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

If this film gets even near best film for an Oscar i'd be disappointed.

The academy needs to make the award mean something again. These kind of films shouldn't be short listed for the final.

Having said that it's not an awful film, just a bit too cheesy an unrealistic for my tastes.

Spielberg got it spot on for war realism with SPR. This though falls well short of that.

Kind of makes me think of what would happen if Black Beauty goes to war.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

If this film gets even near best film for an Oscar i'd be disappointed.

The academy needs to make the award mean something again. These kind of films shouldn't be short listed for the final.

Having said that it's not an awful film, just a bit too cheesy an unrealistic for my tastes.

Spielberg got it spot on for war realism with SPR. This though falls well short of that.

Kind of makes me think of what would happen if Black Beauty goes to war.

Your a very intelligent Man TB so you must know the film adaptation of a childrens book was never going to be anything like SPR. That comment is a little silly with respect. Speilberg wanted to get a 12 for kids to see it with their families and as such went about as far as he could. The battles were still magnificently staged and executed imo.

Don't worry the Academy will snub War Horse. I doubt it will get nominated for more then 2 categories, Score and Cinematography, the same as the GG's tonight.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

Again with respect this film is not going to appeal to the macho, a1 alpha male , deny any emotion, NSC hardmen so I am not surprised at these comments. Go and hire out, the condemned with Vinny Jones instead as that will tick all your boxes.

 

[Meade's Ball]

Again with respect this film is not going to appeal to the macho, a1 alpha male , deny any emotion, NSC hardmen so I am not surprised at these comments. Go and hire out, the condemned with Vinny Jones instead as that will tick all your boxes.

I appreciate your love and respect for everything that comes out of the bearded one, but that doesn't mean anyone disagreeing is a brainless thug. I haven't a film of the year yet as such little has come out, but last year for me it had to be A Separation, with Las Acacias in second place. No violence in either. No gunshots. No shaven-headed louts arguing at fake cockney full blast. Just completely gripping tales of burning affection and sacrifice.
We're all moved differently and individually and there's no harm in that. Even if i feel dismay on oft-occasion at what's rewarded come ceremony time and what i felt love for unappreciated.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

As far as sentimental movies with horses involved go, imo the 1983 film Phar Lap is a better tale.

Similar to the American story of Seabiscuit, but without the typical American Hollywood spin to it.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Your a very intelligent Man TB so you must know the film adaptation of a childrens book was never going to be anything like SPR. That comment is a little silly with respect. Speilberg wanted to get a 12 for kids to see it with their families and as such went about as far as he could. The battles were still magnificently staged and executed imo.

Don't worry the Academy will snub War Horse. I doubt it will get nominated for more then 2 categories, Score and Cinematography, the same as the GG's tonight.

For mine, if one is to craft a sentimental movie it needs to be done without feeling cheesy.

Old Yella is a magnificent example of this in cinema.

Mention the name Old Yella to people of a certain generational demographic and Old Yella will envoke responses which express the emotional mark that film made upon them.

People might not remember the whole movie, but what happened to Old Yella, nobody forgot.

I just don't think War Horse was able to capture what a film like Old yella did.

And that was a from a Disney movie no less.

 

[CliveWalkerWingWizard]

Saw the film today - good family film, didn't think it was over produced and the soundtrack is what you expect from spielberg. A bit disjointed but a solid 7/10.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

Saw the film today - good family film, didn't think it was over produced and the soundtrack is what you expect from spielberg. A bit disjointed but a solid 7/10.

A fair review there Clive. It a beautiful score, the piece below is magnificent, from 3.00 onwards it is just stunning. I get the disjointed view but it built up well for me, but I do agree it went off track with the Grandfather and Girl on the farm for 20 minutes. As it was an important chapter in the book it had to be included but it did take the wind out of the sails of the film for a while for me. It became apparent at the end the importance of this part of the film though. The People and The Independant both gave it 4 stars so thats 27 out of 35 from 7 reviews with 6 out of 7 giving 4 stars or over. Certainly the general opinion expressed by NSC that it is shit does not seem to be backed up with the overall critical reviews.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg5CkihPZgA

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

Saw the film today - good family film, didn't think it was over produced and the soundtrack is what you expect from spielberg. A bit disjointed but a solid 7/10.

From John Williams, Spielberg has not as yet has set his hand to Film scores.

 

[Bwian]

and I have seen War Horse and it's SHIT

I wouldn't say it's shit-not very good is more appropriate. Some excellent cinematography but a very weak film in spite of that.

Way too far fetched and the ending? Effects stolen from South Pacific and numerous other Rodgers and Hammerstein movies. All too twee for me I'm afraid.

Speilberg has made some very good movies-this is not one of them, in my opinion. However, I expect that as more people see it and word spreads, I won't be alone in thinking that.

Disappointing after all of the hype leading up to its release.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

I wouldn't say it's shit-not very good is more appropriate. Some excellent cinematography but a very weak film in spite of that.

Way too far fetched and the ending? Effects stolen from South Pacific and numerous other Rodgers and Hammerstein movies. All too twee for me I'm afraid.

Speilberg has made some very good movies-this is not one of them, in my opinion. However, I expect that as more people see it and word spreads, I won't be alone in thinking that.

Disappointing after all of the hype leading up to its release.

Each to their own mate. 27% of people give it 10 out of 10 on imdb, 4% give it 1. I think the end was in the old style tradition as is all the film really and a tribute and nod to classic films of the past.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

The Guardian tore it apart, The Times wasn't keen, The Torygraph gave it a decent review.