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Plot Summary
From legendary director Steven Spielberg comes the epic adventure War Horse, a tale of incredible loyalty, hope and tenacity. Based on the Tony award-winning* Broadway play, and set against the sweeping canvas of World War I, this deeply heartfelt story begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and his young trainer Albert. When they’re forced apart by war, we follow Joey’s extraordinary journey as he changes and inspires the lives of everyone he meets. War Horse is a “Genuine Movie Masterpiece” (Rex Reed, The New York Observer) and one of the most powerful and moving stories of friendship ever told.
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Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
77%- Reviews Counted: 213
- Fresh: 164
- Rotten: 49
- Average Rating: 7.0/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: It's almost a great war movie in one direction, and almost a piece of irredeemable cheese in the other, and there you have it.
Rotten: It's not that a film can't be lighthearted family fare, a gritty war epic and a weepie all at once; the problem is that here, those elements feel strictly compartmentalized -- and calculated.
Fresh: The material sometimes feels oversugared, though it's also guaranteed to raise a lump in your throat.
Fresh: A film that may stay in the mind's eye longer than it lingers in the heart.
Customer Reviews
A SPIRITED, EMOTIONALLY RESONANT DRAMA!
As soon as I saw the trailer for Steven Spielberg's long-awaited directorial return to the big screen, "War Horse", I could hardly contain my excitement. With its breathtaking cinematography, beautifully-conducted score by John Williams and enchanting character-driven story, it set itself up to be one of the most captivating films of the year. And thankfully, it was. Still, just because it was directed by Spielberg himself doesn't mean it was without its flaws. Based on the revered Tony award-winning Broadway play, the movie takes place against the sweeping backdrops of rural England and Europe during World War I. The story follows the friendship between a horse named Joey and a teenage boy named Albert (Jeremy Irvine). When the war forces the two of them apart, Joey goes on an extraordinary journey from battlefield to battlefield, changing and inspiring the lives of those he meets-British cavalry, German soldiers and a French farmer and his granddaughter-before the plot reaches its emotional climax in No Man's Land. Although the story is admittedly heavy-handed, improbable and completely predictable, it's told in an emotionally stirring way. The horse is basically a device used in order to examine both sides of the war, as well as those who are affected by it. Even though most of the people Joey runs into aren't given much exposition or screen time, they're still significant in the way that they represent the human spirit in the face of adversity. The movie's main protagonist, Albert, is certainly a character worth rooting for in his own right. Irvine gives a commendable, albeit straightforward performance as the horse's owner, who is quickly drafted into the war. At times, his portrayal of the boy can come across as almost too sappy and sentimental, but nearly all of us can relate to his friendship with Joey in a similar way, so it evens out. As for the visuals, they're technically superb. Every scene is filmed with a strong attention to detail, from the luscious landscapes of the European countryside to the harsh battlegrounds of the war in action. Now, like I said earlier, not everything in this film is spectacular. It does suffer from an overly long pace, melodramatic acting and an unrealistic, yet inevitable happy ending. For what it is, though, it's still a beautifully filmed, profoundly affectionate and thought-provoking tribute to movies of the past. All in all, "War Horse" may not be the most memorable or accomplished flick in Spielberg's canon, but for any fan of classic, old-fashioned cinema, it's definitely a film worth seeing.
Amazing!!!
I read the book before I went to see the movie and I have never seen anything follow a book so well (Besides the last Harry Potter). This movie was phenomenal!! Stunning landscapes, beautiful horses, good looking men, and heartbreaking true war scenes. (WAR HORSE FACT: The sunset at the end of the movie is a real sunset, it took 2 weeks to film that one scene because you only got a few minutes of sunset everyday) This movie has it all and I would reccomend it to anyone because it is just, wow! One of my favorite films of the year, I cannot wait to have it in my hands!!!! I don't care what is holding you back when deciding to see this movie, just watch it and you won't regret it.
My war horse review
It shows n touches every major emotion.....my grandma was so touched she started cryin n my 7year old neighbor loved the movie and thought it was interesting the whole time. It is an amazing movie and I recommend that u see or buy it if your interested
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