I didn't think I was going to like this at all because I thought it looked really corny but I ended up loving it. It had a really good story, good actors, and great cinematography. I not a big horse person, (I'm not even much of an animal person) but I loved this. I don't know why people keep saying that it was awful and it's only for animal lovers. Give me your thoughts.
shareThe actors weren't really that great. But it did have great cinematography, music and all that jazz. Where it really failed though was in the script. I thought the script let it down hugely.
shareCinematography doesn't make a film, I think most will agree especially when it comes to films like the Twilight franchise.
shareThe Twilight films have rather forgettable cinematography.
shareWhile it's not the best, you can't say that it's bad either. Just saying that just because a film has good cinematography (in War Horse's case) doesn't by any standard make up for everything else that failed with the film.
shareTwilight does have horrible cinematography. But agreed, War Horse has good cinematography but it doesn't make up for everything else it fails at (acting and script).
shareme
shareI honestly love it. Completely swept me away in a great, classic, Doctor Zhivago/Master and Commander-esque way. I cried, lol. I try not to read these forums because the Internet is absolutely vicious towards this film. It doesn't deserve it at all, I would argue.
sharei didnt expect to find so much hate for war horse. esp when something like the artist gets so much undeserving love
shareI was watching the Academy Awards last night and I felt sad that War Horse didn't win anything. I know this movie has flaws, but it was a visually stunning and fantastically composed film, it should've won best cinematography or best original score, if not the cinematography, then deffinately the score, The Artist? The Artist had sequences that had unoriginal music added in, while that film is great for what it is, War Horse should at least be idolized for its fantastic score.
I realized Moneyball didn't get anything either or any of the other films, but War Horse was right up there with best original score and best cinematography, but it didn't win anything, not a scrap. I know I came down hard on this film as well for its lack of character depth but it was a film that should've got at least one thing.
"You know what's funny? People. People are funny."
The score was the part I really didn't like. It made it feel like a disney channel movie.
"Oh, this goose is going to do something cute let's play whimsical music"
Saw it tonight at the cinema, and was greatly disappointed. For me it was a cliche. I just hate feeling played, you know like when you feel that the director wants you to cry at certain moments, and are working too hard to make it happen. This whole film was like that for me, and that honestly makes me tiffed, and instantly lose interest in the film. Gave it only 4*, I may raise it to 5* in a few days, or not. Still tiffed.
Remember to always be yourself... Unless you suck!
I wonder what the horse would've said if he watched this movie ?
He probably would've said, 'No sir, I didn't like it'.
Lol.. I don't know if anyone got that reference.
~~thinkstance.com~~
Yeah, I was waiting for the Royal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen to show up.
Quand le doigt montre le ciel, l'imbécile regarde le doigt.
I didn't like it. As a horse film it takes the Milo & Otis route and is pretty unrealistic. As a war movie it's very obviously based on a children's book and feels like very dishonest. As a story it felt corny and manipulative with characters who lacked charm. As a piece of film I felt the acting was weak, the music intrusive, and the cinematography too obviously over-lit (and I normally like Janusz Kaminski). What does that leave? The Directing? Oh yeah, that, I guess, is at fault for most of the above. Not to mention Spielberg ripped numerous shots and ideas from his other films (Empire of the Sun, Lost World, War of the Worlds, Schindler's List) leaving this one feeling like a soulless 'greatest hits' reel. I'm sure it worked well as a children's book and would have been an interesting spectacle as a stage play, where the dialogue that I hated so much in this film probably worked fine. But on the screen it felt hollow and forced.
I'm a huge animal lover, I'm interested in the First World War and I like Spielberg, Kaminski and Williams. But I can't overstate how much I think this film has damaged my opinions of all of the artists involved. I get why people might have liked it but it is very superficial on numerous levels.
Well said.
shareWow you hit the nail on the head for me...
shareI'm going to guess that you haven't ever built a trusting relationship with a horse, as actually, the behaviors of the horse(s) in this movie were extremely real. If anything, imo, they didn't take the reality far enough. One scene that didn't go deep enough into their actual behaviors in real life was the scene where the black horse died. Horses DO form incredible bonds, and they DO stay with fallen friends. If anything, I know horses that would have tried to charge the tank instead of running away, protecting the body of their friend! Seriously.
I am extremely critical of excess schmaltz in movies, and tend to get really sarcastic when movies get too mushy. But, while the end made me smirk (a wee too Gone With The Wind for me), I LOVED this movie.
But I will admit, most of why I love it is because it touches on the real bonds that can form between horses and humans, if the humans just open themselves up to it.
I agree with many that the horses were amazing actors. I read an interview with the trainers and another with Spielberg where it's mentioned that Finder's Key (as Joey), in particular, expressed such accurate emotion in many scenes that he awed the humans on set.
Yours is one of those "Yeah, what HE said" moments. You could almost hear the click of the "cry now" buttons Spielberg tries to push. Like you, love horses and heroes and choke up for kindness and soldiers' sacrifices; plus I generally like Spielberg [tho' thought Schindler's was also a bit "push buttonish". Almost amateurish in its hackneyed portrayal of war and noble animals, everyone but the horse acted as woodenly as the script, as if it was a carpenter rather than a director in charge. And nothing made sense: the poor farmer risks his last red cent to buy an impractical horse; even a city kid knows you can't plow a field BEFORE you remove the rocks; the farmer almost shoots the horse, his last remaining asset. And so on. I did amaze myself by not walking out; perhaps in some forlorn hope the last part of the film would redeem the treacle of the first part. Nope. In retrospect, I can't believe some of the positive reviews; did they seem the same movie?
shareThere's certain boards on imdb that develop into nothing more than a stomping grounds for people who hate that particular movie. More and more lately too. Imdb can be a pretty negative place at times.
But yeah, there's lots who like this movie. It did well in theaters and got great reviews.
Visit my site! http://www.hesaidshesaidreviewsite.com/
Agree with you fully, poster Kuato ... ^^^
about boards being "stomping grounds" for haters of particular movies, like here in War Horse.
I'm one of those who like this movie, very much.
Didn't mind at all the old-fashioned sentimentality, and all the other flaws it did have.
Waiting for the release of the dvd, will definitely have my own copy.
Truth inexorably,inscrutably seeks and reveals Itself into the Light.
I like it. I haven't seen The Descendants and Extremely Loud yet but among those best picture nominees, this is my vote. It has it shares of corny moments but I thought it's the better movie. I was heartbroken and suprised that it didn't get any award, of course I was just speaking about my preference.
share"Played to" or not, I loved this movie. I saw it twice and would have gone for a a third time tonight if it were still showing near me. Big Spielberg fan here and this is one of my favourites.
shareI thought it was brilliant. The beginning had me laughing (who didn't laugh at that goose?), the rest of it had me in tears! Not many movies make me cry, but this one did. Sorry if anyone is reading this before they watch the movie, but when the black horse just lay down and died, my eyes we're streaming!
The acting is excellent by all. The horses we're amazing, it must have been quite a challenge to get them to behave as they did. The visuals and the soundtrack are fantastic also.
I don't often rate a 10/10, but this one's getting it!
I did not laugh at that goose.
Spielberg at his worst.
Some scenes were good, can't expect anything else.
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I do not believe you, or anyone. I hate having my feet on the ground. I like to fly paraglider :-)
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