Steven Spielberg's War Horse - Trailer

[Goose]

Production on this one has been very low key. Many figured Lincoln was next for Spielberg but he managed to film War Horse first while keeping an eye on the Tintin post production work as well. In fact, War Horse opens just five days after Tintin in December. For now here's the official blurb along with a trailer, which looks like a studio leak so expect it to vanish pretty quickly.

From director Steven Spielberg comes "War Horse," an epic adventure for audiences of all ages. Set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War, "War Horse" begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets—British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter—before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man's Land.

The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse—an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. "War Horse" is one of the great stories of friendship and war— a successful book, it was turned into a hugely successful international theatrical hit that is arriving on Broadway next year. It now comes to screen in an epic adaptation by one of the great directors in film history.

Starring: Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullan, Niels Arestrup, Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irvine, Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby Kebbell. Written by Lee Hall and Richard Curtis

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/50203

[Varnsen]

Embedded what looks like a link to the official youtube trailer.

[Simmy]

So the horse is going to get shot at the end, and it's death is going to bring the Germans and British cavalry together for a brief moment... Right?

[little che]

Errrr no.

My boy brought this book home from school recently, and I ended up reading it as well.

It's an excellent book, not without a fair few emotional scenes. if Spielberg nails the futility of the battlegrounds (and who would bet that he doesn't) thn it should be a very good film.

[Jonathan_Kerr]

Went and saw this at the theatre, they had amazing animatronic puppets (for want of a better word) - I was spellbound. I think the boy who played the lead is now Jon Snow in Game of Thrones?

This could be a really good family-friendly movie.

[Goose]

New trailer

and poster..

[noizu]

They really missed a trick not setting that to My Lovely Horse

[PopeSmokesDope]

Watched it, bit dull, not enough war.

Marley and e is a better weepy animal film.

[Capwn]

saw this tonight, full of cliches and old fashioned directing with slightly hammy acting but damn Spielberg can make movies

***

[Fusty Gusset]

Meh.

LESS MARE, MORE WAR!

[Harsin]

I'd have gone to watch this if it was about a proper War Horse like this.

[lordcookie]

That reminds me - when are we going to get a BraveStarr film?

[Harsin]

They really missed a trick not setting that to My Lovely Horse

Your wish is my command.

http://tubedubber.com/#6_SSuwTqcUU:jzYzVMcgWhg:0:100:0:0:1

Works surprisingly well.

[El Pibe]

Looking forward to seeing this if just for the parts filmed on Dartmoor!

[Jimmyzilla]

I saw this tonight and thought it was a bit rubbish...too soppy and silly and the cinematography really bugged me at times with the fixed camera angles and framing of certain shots.

The first half wasn't that bad, just up until

Joey escaped the tank.

After that it was just too ridiculous for me, I couldn't enjoy it...

[sandman]

Er, why do people not like this or are indifferent to it. I thought it was amazing, Spielberg back to his very best with amazing cinematography and tears in my eyes at the finale.

Nobody else can hold a candle to Spielberg and this film shows why.

Only film Ive seen in ages which was sold out at the cinema too.

[MrEPotato]

I really enjoyed this movie too, it was very sentimental and not the usual movie that I go and see but it was my wife choice this time, and I really liked the classic style and Dorset looked beautiful only Spielberg can pull your heart strings this much and I had tears in my eyes a few times and i'm not afraid to admit it.

[El Pibe]

I really enjoyed this movie too, it was very sentimental and not the usual movie that I go and see but it was my wife choice this time, and I really liked the classic style and Dorset looked beautiful only Spielberg can pull your heart strings this much and I had tears in my eyes a few times and i'm not afraid to admit it.

Dorset? Dorset? DORSET?

Devon

[MrEPotato]

No offense intended sir

[El Pibe]

Finally saw this this last night.

First thing, Dartmoor looked gorgeous! Kermode had mentioned that it was an idealised Dartmoor landscape but I disagree with that and, as someone who spends a lot of time walking on the moor, it was great to see it on the screen like that. I imagine the Devon tourist board must be pleased.

As for the film itself, I was left a little disappointed. I think it was far too long and could easily have been trimmed down to make a much better film. I went in hoping that Spielberg would pull the right strings and have me in tears but it just didn't happen. I found the lead character a little annoying - was he supposed to be a bit simple? - and it was a little overly sentimental. Almost screaming 'CRY!' at you.

That said, it was beautifully shot and the war scenes was terrific and looked fantastic. I think I'd have liked to see more of them.

***

[lordcookie]

There was a time when I would greet a new Steven Spielberg film with feverish excitement but after a decade of mediocrity and disappointment I can no longer say that is true. However, even with low expectations I was not expecting War Horse to be quite so excruciatingly awful.

It is an overly sentimental and syrupy mess of a film and so revoltingly corny I almost wonder if it is an elaborate joke on the poor audience. How anybody involved could make this saccharine filled twaddle with a straight face I do not know. The first hour is, without exaggeration, one of the most overblown and downright stupid hours of a film I have seen. Not only am I appalled that the movie is made by the same director responsible for Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark et al, but an impressive cast are criminally wasted delivering pantomime and cloying performances. Nobody comes out of this film with their head held high, not even the poor horses.

Due to its episodic structure none of the human stories are meaningfully developed which means the story relies on overblown and unbelievable melodrama and a script with such offensively bad dialogue I felt violated just listening to it. The opening story is perhaps the worst offender with Mullan and Watson slumming it in roles way beneath them and I hope I never have to endure the acting of newcomer, Jeremy Irvine, ever again. His creepy, faintly inappropriate, relationship with his horse left a taste of vomit in my mouth.

When the war finally makes an appearance things improve ever so slightly, but mainly because I didn’t have to watch Irvine’s simpering simpleton routine. Sadly, the film still suffers from all the same critical problems; crude characterisation, overbearing sentimentality and a general ineptness in every department. Technically the cinematography by Janusz Kaminski is accomplished, but just like the horribly suffocating musical score (the worst I’ve heard from John Williams), it is so heavy handed as if it was solely inspired by the paintings on your grandparent’s favourite box of chocolates. The film lacks any sort of subtlety or deftness of touch to the point that it frequently borders on parody.

In the end War Horse is no better than those risible Sunday teatime dramas you’d see on TV, but at least you’d have sense to turn those off rather than endure two and a half hours of such nauseating piffle. It’s off to the glue factory for all involved.

(AVOID)

[sandman]

Blimey Lord Cookie, you really didnt like that one! What did you think of Tintin?

I would avoid Dark Shadows if I were you.

[lordcookie]

Blimey Lord Cookie, you really didnt like that one! What did you think of Tintin?

I would avoid Dark Shadows if I were you.

Tintin was a million times better than this but still a bit disappointing (my review).

When I saw who was directing Dark Shadows I knew to give it a miss.

[Loik V credern]

*goes looking for Lordcookie reviews of films I disliked to see if he agrees*

See, I really disliked We Need to Talk About Kevin.

*does a search for Alice in Wonderland*

[lordcookie]

Not sure there is a review for Alice but I'll save you the bother: I hated it.

[Loik V credern]

I think even Tim Burton hated it.

[sandman]

Tintin was a million times better than this but still a bit disappointing (my review).

When I saw who was directing Dark Shadows I knew to give it a miss.

Not a Burton fan I take it?

[lordcookie]

I was once but I haven't enjoyed anything he has made since Ed Wood and his last few have been downright bad.

[Jack Walsh's coffee shop]

Anyone watch this on Sunday?

Think whether you enjoy this or feel like lordcookie did, depends on your frame of mind at the time you end up watching it.

Full disclosure: my cousin worked on this as a production assistant. Said it was one of the hardest shoots she'd ever worked on.

Mind you, that's because she usually likes to look cool at the expense of wrapping up warm. You'd think she'd learn after the first nightshoot.