OMG, just seen the film War Horse..

I actually really enjoyed it, cried buckets. I spent the first part wishing I could train my horse (who is Joey's double) to come to a whistle, and the second part crying more about the effects of the War. The 'charge of the light brigade', and the shooting for cowardice, and the bit with the German and the Brit working together to cut Joey out of the barbed wire were all sad for different reasons.

I don't for a minute think it was realistic, it was very Black Beauty-esque, but I loved Black Beauty! It's a movie, and with some suspended disbelief it was a very good film. Some cracking SFX.
 
Ah, come on guys - it's a MOVIE, not a documentary about horses. Of course it was daft in a real life context, that's what movies are for. But unfortunately most non-horsey people base what they "know" about horses (and a lot of other things!) on what they see in the movies.
 
I enjoyed it and sobbed. ok not most realistic film in places but it happened but far far worse. OH took great delight in nicknaming me "snot bubble " as we watched it lol
 
Shysmum said:
:eek: Oh dear. Lassie meets Saving Private Ryan. We got one hour into this, a much anticipated film for me, and I had to switch off. I had really, really wanted to enjoy this film (and cry buckets)

It was (to me) truly smaltzy and sickly. Totally unwatchable. :rolleyes:

Did anyone like it ?
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Total **** compared to the play.
 
To be fair though, the movie is based on a children's book, so it was never going to be the most emotionally insightful movie in the world.
 
I have always enjoyed the book. I've never seen the play but would love to. I was very disappointed by the film, I was more emotional watching the trailer than the film. The only bit that got me was when topthorn died, but that was because the stallion at the yard I worked on at the time had just been put down.
 
Instead, read Michael Morpurgo's book, on which the film is based. It's a children's book, but, as he always does, it is so beautifully written and moving. Both the stage show and the film have avoided the truly moving part when the grandfather and grand-daughter are looking after the post-battle traumatised horses. Read it to my son many times and could never get past one part without welling up. It also gives a good account of war without being mawkish or graphic.
 
khalswitz said:
I actually really enjoyed it, cried buckets. I spent the first part wishing I could train my horse (who is Joey's double) to come to a whistle, and the second part crying more about the effects of the War. The 'charge of the light brigade', and the shooting for cowardice, and the bit with the German and the Brit working together to cut Joey out of the barbed wire were all sad for different reasons.
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This were some of my favourite parts too. I cried ridiculous amounts of tears when Joey and his boy were reunited, it would be so lovely if that happened. I'm soppy when it comes to films though, I put myself in their shoes and end up in tears! War Horse and Les Mis have been the worst so far!!
 
ChestnutTinker said:
I watched it and was prepared with tissues. Didn't cry once!
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Me too! I cry at anything remotely tear jerking (I only have to look at the book cover of The Incredible Journey or Ring of Bright Water and my eyes start leaking) and went prepared with paracetamol for the headache I get through crying and an industrial sized box of tissues and nothing, not even a sniff.

I felt about it exactly as Shysmum so eloquently put it. It was just a schmaltzy, disneyesque disappointment.

I lost interest with the ploughing fiasco...........
 
Love said:
It is the one and only film to date that has had me in floods and floods of tears. I think the horses in it are beautiful and did very well indeed
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But I think a lot of the horse scenes were computer generated graphics? I think that's what pissed me off because I've seen better films where real horses were used. Ooh National Velvet, My Friend Flicka - they brought tears to my eyes.
 
DabDab said:
To be fair though, the movie is based on a children's book, so it was never going to be the most emotionally insightful movie in the world.
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have you ever read the book? it has to be one of the saddest books i have read.....

i saw the film a few days after it came out...thought id cry but not one tear

however to those of you who are going to see it on stage...take your tissues.....i cryed within the first 5mins and didnt stop the whole way through. the horses become real and you forget the puppeters......there is a 'relationship' between owner and horse...truly incredible to watch! they have done the book credit and if you are a horse owner it will really resonate with you!
i think they put the puppet horse with a real horse and the real horse actually responded to the puppet as a horse should/would..... its amazing the puppeters are that good!
 
TandD said:
have you ever read the book? it has to be one of the saddest books i have read.....

i saw the film a few days after it came out...thought id cry but not one tear

however to those of you who are going to see it on stage...take your tissues.....i cryed within the first 5mins and didnt stop the whole way through. the horses become real and you forget the puppeters......there is a 'relationship' between owner and horse...truly incredible to watch! they have done the book credit and if you are a horse owner it will really resonate with you!
i think they put the puppet horse with a real horse and the real horse actually responded to the puppet as a horse should/would..... its amazing the puppeters are that good!
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Erm, no: the real horse was freaked out and not at all impressed.
 
TandD said:
have you ever read the book? it has to be one of the saddest books i have read.....
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Yes. It is a children's narrative though, it just happens to have been written by an amazing author and movies are very good at showing a narrative, but not necessarily the magic generated by the author's words.
 
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