Steven Spielberg's War Horse - The Review

[Nibble]

I saw Claudia Winkleman's review last night and it was as cheesy as the movie. "I cried at least 7 times". Yes, me too but only because I'd wasted a Sunday afternoon watching it. She must be looking for an interview with Spielberg the way she was sucking up to him about War Horse.

She is a f***ing shit TV presenter and knows fucks all about what constitutes a good film. The BBC ruined a great format by putting that horsefaced bint on telly. She giggles, snorts and gushes her way through every review like a girl whose just seen her first cock and the sooner they f*** her off and employ soneone whose favourite film of all time isn't E f***ing T the f***ing better.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

She is a f***ing shit TV presenter and knows fucks all about what constitutes a good film. The BBC ruined a great format by putting that horsefaced bint on telly. She giggles, snorts and gushes her way through every review like a girl whose just seen her first cock and the sooner they f*** her off and employ soneone whose favourite film of all time isn't E f***ing T the f***ing better.

Bit harsh mate ET is magnificent but I agree as a presenter of films she is a f***ing joke.

As usual your post brought a bit of fun into my life.

Hope your Mum is getting better btw.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

War Hrse gets 77% on Rotten Tomatoes which is pretty underwhelming. When there is general agreement that a film is very good, the average is typically 92% or above.

Also a very good cross section of views from critics and real folk - always worth a read if you want a view on a film: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/war_horse/

For comparables, the following scores show you how far behind the current crop of good films War Horse is:

97% The Artist
96% Weekend
95% Moneyball
94% Hugo
93% 50/50
93% Mission Impossible
86% Girl with the dragon tattoo
83% Puss in boots
80% Shame
60% Sherlock

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

War Hrse gets 77% on Rotten Tomatoes which is pretty underwhelming. When there is general agreement that a film is very good, the average is typically 92% or above.

Also a very good cross section of views from critics and real folk - always worth a read if you want a view on a film: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/war_horse/

Your right. I agree 77% on RT and 75% on IMDB is disappointing for a film like this. Its a reasonable score but nothing to write home about. The film has tanked at the US box office and looks like being a Spielberg " flop ", shame, for me anyway.

 

[Nibble]

Bit harsh mate ET is magnificent but I agree as a presenter of films she is a f***ing joke.

As usual your post brought a bit of fun into my life.

Hope your Mum is getting better btw.

Thanks chap

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Your right. I agree 77% on RT and 75% on IMDB is disappointing for a film like this. Its a reasonable score but nothing to write home about. The film has tanked at the US box office and looks like being a Spielberg " flop ", shame, for me anyway.

Odd because it is SUCH a very good play. I really don't like musicals and I can take or leabe horses, but that play was exceptional. As you said way back - if you like Spielberg, you'll probably love it - but it won't convert anybody.

 

[ferring seagull]

Well sod it !

I saw it last night and forget anything else,,

The plot is a bit smulchy but, as entertainment, it was more than reasonably good. Spielberg's plot was somewhat contrived but there were some good representations of the trenches etc., but, as stated in many reviews, the star was indeed the horse.

This my opinion so have not even looked at others point of view so as not to be influenced !

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

FS.

Jeremy Irvine did a fine job as Albert imo.

Well sod it !

I saw it last night and forget anything else,,

The plot is a bit smulchy but, as entertainment, it was more than reasonably good. Spielberg's plot was somewhat contrived but there were some good representations of the trenches etc., but, as stated in many reviews, the star was indeed the horse.

This my opinion so have not even looked at others point of view so as not to be influenced !

 

[Bwian]

*

See the hypocricy ? and you are finding things that people say as it does not fit into you own agenda as mismissed, see post 112 for a classic example.

You have totally contradicted yourself in one sentence. I have put an * to give you a guide.

You're a bit of a plum sometimes. My agenda? It's a f***ing movie for crying out loud.

Where is the hypocrisy? When I said my negative opinion is just as valid? Or contradiction? The clue for you is in the comment "a mystery to me". That is simply my opinion and I didn't declare things closed after I said it.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

Yeah your right. I am totally in the wrong.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

BAFTA Nominations:-

Original Music - John Williams
Cinematography - Janusz Kaminski
Production Design - Rick Carter, Lee Sandales
Sound - Stuart Wilson, Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson, Richard Hymns
Special Visual Effects - Ben Morris, Neil Corbould

Spielberg gets a nomination for Best Animated Film for The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

BAFTA Nominations:-

Original Music - John Williams
Cinematography - Janusz Kaminski
Production Design - Rick Carter, Lee Sandales
Sound - Stuart Wilson, Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson, Richard Hymns
Special Visual Effects - Ben Morris, Neil Corbould

Spielberg gets a nomination for Best Animated Film for The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

Thanks Ed. I think it may win best cinematograpy but expect best Score to go to The Artist.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

BBC News - War Horse charges to top of UK box office chart

 

[Wilko]

I watched it last night and really enjoyed it

 

[jezzer]

I saw it and although I understand it builds up the tension not showing the shark in full, to not see it at all for the whole film was a bit of a mistake and where was Richard Dreyfuss when you need him!

Seriously I went to see it last night with my 11 yr old and enjoyed it, its a bit overlong and a bit schmaltzy but worth at least a 7 out of 10, the battle scenes are superb and how they filmed this without hurting the horses I shall never know, unless the CGI is really that good.

It does convey the bond between horses and humans very well and for that at least it achieves something and I didnt feel the farmgirl scene detracted from it at all. The camera shot through the horses eye in that sequence was pure spielberg/hitchcock, brilliant and the speed shot of the two horses together on the practice charge was superb too.

Wouldnt be bothered to go again at the cinema but will probably get the DVD. Not his best film by any means but very well done all the same.

 

[Pondicherry]

I watched it today and it took me back to my childhood in the 1970's - when telly was shit and after Why Don't You finished we only had Champion the Wonder Horse to watch. Sadly this pile of crap was sub champion the wonder horse - and probably cost a zillion more make. In fact - for all those children of the 70's out there - it is on a par with The White Horses - which i always thought was French - but i have just looked it up and it is Yugoslavian/German - which explains a lot.
Anyway - the film is rubbish probably because of laws regarding horses and filming nowadays. It may as well have been made as a cartoon.

 

[Brovion]

We went to see it on Friday (wife's turn to choose). I'm glad someone told me it was based on a children's book otherwise the whole premise would have been laughable. As it was it was a sort of Black Beauty with guns, and the reference to Champion the Wonder Horse is spot on. Having said that it was reasonably entertaining (just about) for a Friday night and I've definitely seen worse - but I shan't watch it again when it comes on TV.

The bit that really ruined it for me though was the 'French' and the 'Germans' speaking to each other in 'allo 'allo accents. I found myself guffawing and expected at any moment one of them to start talking about the picture of the fallen Madonna with the big boobies. It should have been subtitles or have them speaking in their normal accents.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

It was a tough call for Spielberg but he wanted this film to be watched by a younger audience and subtitles and 10-12 years olds generally do not mix very well. I would have prefered them speaking in their native tongue with subtitles but I am a 49 year old Man with an attention span longer than a Gnat, most of the time anyway. He did Schindler's List in English as well. I am glad some people have enjoyed it as there seems to have a typical Spielberg sabotaging going on , not just on here. I watched it for the second time on Friday and as with many Spielberg films I saw more, noticed more and appreciated it more.

I also took My Dad to it which I had planned for a year and it was a special moment for me . I am glad we shared this film together. His Dad , My Grandad fought in WW1 and was on The Somme. The film resonated with him and he liked the fact Spielberg did not take sides and the tribute made to the Men and Horses, infact he was very moved. I think anyone who is not world weary, cynical and has a heart will find plenty of enjoyment from the film. You just need to embrace the story and go with it. I have upgraded it from 8.2 to 8.7 and War Horse is my 5th favourite Spielberg film. I rate it as one of his Masterpieces. I think the esteem the film will be held in will increase over the years. Just my opinion.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

I watched it today and it took me back to my childhood in the 1970's - when telly was shit and after Why Don't You finished we only had Champion the Wonder Horse to watch. Sadly this pile of crap was sub champion the wonder horse - and probably cost a zillion more make. In fact - for all those children of the 70's out there - it is on a par with The White Horses - which i always thought was French - but i have just looked it up and it is Yugoslavian/German - which explains a lot.
Anyway - the film is rubbish probably because of laws regarding horses and filming nowadays. It may as well have been made as a cartoon.

Do you mean not harming the Horses ?! Damn rules ! The acting he got out of the Horses was stunning imo. It cost $ 66 000 000 to make, fairly small fry nowadays.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

I saw it and although I understand it builds up the tension not showing the shark in full, to not see it at all for the whole film was a bit of a mistake and where was Richard Dreyfuss when you need him!

Seriously I went to see it last night with my 11 yr old and enjoyed it, its a bit overlong and a bit schmaltzy but worth at least a 7 out of 10, the battle scenes are superb and how they filmed this without hurting the horses I shall never know, unless the CGI is really that good.

It does convey the bond between horses and humans very well and for that at least it achieves something and I didnt feel the farmgirl scene detracted from it at all. The camera shot through the horses eye in that sequence was pure spielberg/hitchcock, brilliant and the speed shot of the two horses together on the practice charge was superb too.

Wouldnt be bothered to go again at the cinema but will probably get the DVD. Not his best film by any means but very well done all the same.

Watching it the second time the part with the Girl and Grandfather at the farm went along much better. I agree the scene shot form the reflection in the Horses eye with the Girl coming through the door is Spielberg all over. Stunning filmmaking.