War Horse

[Guest]

I saw in the Torygraph the film described as Saving Private Seabiscuit which is a fair assessment in my view - see here http://www.telegraph...rse-review.html and the reference to the French Farmer resembling a light fingered British chef was mentioned on 16th in another Torygraph review here by Charles Moore. http://www.telegraph...-the-first.html . Thoughts:

1. I wonder if it was deliberate that the CO of the Yeomanry Regiment resembled Captain Darling from Blackadder.

2. One for pedant's corner: the dressing in the ranks of the cavalry charge was just rubbish. Compare to the 1968 film The Charge of the Light Brigade an infinitely better film.

I really do think this thread is far more entertaining than the film. It was so dull it should have been called Bore Horse.

MG

[phil andrade]

Compare to the 1968 film The Charge of the Light Brigade an infinitely better film.

The best war film that I've ever seen.

Phil (PJA)

[Steven Broomfield]

from that, Phil, I can infer only one of two things:

a. You've never seen The Colditz Story and are thus an innocent

or

b. You have seen The Colditz Story and you're a cad, a bounder and a Phil-istine.

[muckandbullets]

I have just seen War Horse today with an open mind and enjoyed the film.. As it is a 12 rating many youngsters may watch it. Youngsters who probably most are only just aware of WW2, as most of that generation have now passed on. So it is great that some poetic insight into WW1 is presented and the youngsters may become interested, who we need to carry on knowing the significance and conditions of WW1.

Some psychological moments were expressed, one being the lad told to remain in the trench to shoot returners. Wether this is history or not, the NCO recognised the lad had lost his bottle and gave him a back door to remain rather than shoot him as a coward if he did not go over the top with his comrades in arms. Poetic licence maybe, but I got it. The other of course the barb wire Horse scene between the Allies and German trench. How could this situation of compassion evolve considering how many horses were treated and how men could become so hard and callous through no fault of their own ,namely WAR. Well there are many examples when the good side momentarily shows it's face and this was one, fair doos with the film.

Another point of psychology was in Schindlers list where the little girl in the red coat kept appearing on the black and white film, she, being the little girl who wore red at Auschwitz, significant again.

Cant think why Charge of the Light Brigade can be deemed to be the greatest War Film if it is the one where Trevor Howard plays Lord Cardigan and David Hemmings the messenger. Give me Waterloo any time to name one, even if an American plays an ageing Napoleon. The film was a great achievement to cram Napoleons 100 days and events into one film.

Regards MN

[Tom W.]

I don't know what radio ads for movies are like in Britain, but in the U.S. they choose lines that are either whispered or screamed. So the radio ad for War Horse sounds like:

(Swelling John Williamsesque score)

Old man's voice: Blsh-hsh-fsh-gsh.

Young man's voice: NO! RUN!

Horse: Eeeeeeeeeeee!

Young man's voice: Msh-wsh-dsh-flsh.

(Explosions; orchestral crescendo)

Young man's voice: NO! YES! MAYBE! RUN!

(Crowd of men screaming; explosions)

Young man's voice: JOEY!

Horse: Eeeeeeeeeeee!

(massive cloud of uplifting orchestral gas)

Narrator: War Horse. Playing now in theaters everywhere.

[mjh]

With a long held interest in The First World War, and as someone who works in the industry, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this film . I haven't seen the play, so I can not base my review on that or make any comparisons. For sure, it is a story wrapped up in a certain amount of hollywood schmulzh, the John Williams score is OTT and there's more than the occasional inaccuracy but I very much doubt that any other film with such high production values will be made about WW1. For this reason alone, I would say that it's worth seeing on the big screen, rather than from the comfort of your armchair. At my local cinema, it only cost £2.75 on a Tuesday night, so it was well worth it.

I also look forward to the remake of All Quiet On The Western Front , being filmed this year. Anything that may stimulate interest in the great war can only be a good thing, in my opinion. It strikes me that whilst this forum is full of many passionate, knowledgeable experts , keen to share their interest with others, it also has a small share, of self righteous cynics, for whom any attempt at bringing the subject matter of WW1 into the mainstream is often met with scepticism and derision. The Hollywood attempt at WW1 might not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you think you can do better, then arm yourself with a video camera, a group of re-enactors, and give it your best shot.

What should also be remembered is that this film was responsible for creating a fair number of jobs here in the UK. It was shot entirely on location and in studios here, and the post-production was done here, all utilising a fair amount of British actors, technicians, crew and talent. Surely this is a good thing. I didn't work on the film myself, but would have loved to have done so !

[muckandbullets]

Deja vu mjh

Back you all the way.

[truthergw]

if animals do not show bravery and courage why do they award the Dicken medal ? and if you state horses dont show courage you should have been back at the yard when Sefton returned from the carnage in the Park.

It's people who award a medal. I assume it is to make themselves feel better about exposing animals to danger. You would need to ask the people who first thought of it. I have seen animals with serious injuries and indeed witnessed them being put down because of them. An animal's reaction to pain is physical, it tries to get away from it or it can attack the nearest person or another animal. Its instinct being that the nearest thing must be causing the pain. It is very easy to project human feelings onto animals. Anyone who is around them a lot tends to do it all the time. I think though, that most vets do not. Animal psychology certainly does not. It ascribes animal actions to the animal's instincts. Horses' actions and reactions are fully explained by the fact that it is a prey animal which lives in a herd.

[maxi]

Saw the film last night and I felt Speilburg got it about right,the battlefield scene in particular resembled the paintings of Paul Nash. The cinematography was amazing an homage to 'How Green Was My Valley' perhaps?

As a result of War Horse, I have noticed that my friends, neighbours and family,who previously had never really understood my keen interest in the Great War, are now asking questions not only about the animals but of the War itself. Now thats not a bad thing.

[Verrico2009]

It'll be showing on Sky Movies Box Office from Monday. Not sure how it'll translate to the smaller screen but glad I saw it at the cinema. As I don't have Sky, it'll be a while before I find out.

[Scalyback]

It'll be showing on Sky Movies Box Office from Monday. Not sure how it'll translate to the smaller screen but glad I saw it at the cinema. As I don't have Sky, it'll be a while before I find out.

Also out on DVD either today or Monday/Tuesday. Tenner at a local supermarket.

[David Filsell]

The last remake was dire, the original stunning. We need another remake of AQOTWF like we need another ................ (choose your own)

[Steven Broomfield]

What should also be remembered is that this film was responsible for creating a fair number of jobs here in the UK. It was shot entirely on location and in studios here, and the post-production was done here, all utilising a fair amount of British actors, technicians, crew and talent. Surely this is a good thing. I didn't work on the film myself, but would have loved to have done so !

I could point out that the porn industry employs a lot of people. Merely employing people doesn't male War Horse a "good" film. It's a Spielberg film and you get what you expect. Well made, certainly, but lacking any soul or heart and covered with the usual Speilberg layer upon layer of saccharine. If you like it, fine, but it's a heartless, cynical exploitation movie.

[JesseM88]

As a result of War Horse, I have noticed that my friends, neighbours and family,who previously had never really understood my keen interest in the Great War, are now asking questions not only about the animals but of the War itself. Now thats not a bad thing.

This is the main reason I appreciated the film. It opened up a dialogue with my family and friends in which I could discuss my greatest interest in life, without it feeling like me speaking into a vacuum like it usually would (not an insult to my family or friends, mind you). But I don't disagree with all the main criticisms of the film in this thread.

My attitude towards modern-WW1 films is usually pretty forgiving, because I find that there are so few of them these days, I'd rather just appreciate what they do reasonably well as opposed to attack their numerous flaws. I enjoyed Paul Gross' Passchendaele despite how self-indulgent the whole thing was. I thought the battle scenes were pretty well done, maybe better than in War Horse, but not as good as A Very Long Engagement.

In summary, meh, it's Hollywood and I don't expect much.

[Guest exuser1]

watched the film last night first time on DVD a mate lent it to me , and must admit very disapointed ,nothing to do with uniforms , or any historical issues but on the point of when will this director come up with an orginal idea and stop copying John Ford ?War Horse was Quite Man , Horse Soldiers ,Searchers , Darling Clementine and a bit of Gone With The Wind ? am suprised he never managed the Rio Bravo scene of throwing a shot gun and the horse catches it and clears out a Geman trench ?

And how many times can Andy Robertshaw appear in one fim ?

[Pighills]

We bought the dvd on Friday (at youngest daughter's request - she loved the play and quite liked the film when we went to the cinema). James and I watched it on our (fairly big) widescreen tv - it wasn't as good as at the cinema for the visual effects, but I noticed several tings I hadn't first time round (underage soldiers for one) so was glad to have watched it again for that. I expect youngest daughter will now claim the film as hers . She does disappoint me though, after her history exam last week she admitted she'd forgotten what the Schiffen plan was, but gave a very comprehensive reply to the reasons for the start of the First World War

[madraf]

Just my two cents worth, I enjoyed the film I didn't look at it as a WW1 film but more of a movie about a horse set in a time that I am very interested in (I think I read this somewhere else on here but I feel the same way) . I agree that there were quite a few over dramatized scenes but what film doesn't these days. At the very least my two teenage step daughters got a little understanding of what my granddad went through during his time in the calvary in the first years of the war, now when I go into a ramble of how lucky they are to live in a time of moderate peace they don't just look at me with that WOW your old look & I feel that they seem to understand a little more.

[ph0ebus]

Just saw War Horse, and as a Hollywood film, it was enjoyable enough...

(ducks)

Daniel