MovieChat Forums > War Horse (2011) Discussion > Black Beauty Revisited? SPOILERS

Black Beauty Revisited? SPOILERS

posted 12 years ago by urbisoler-1
11 replies | jump to latest

Warning:SPOILER ahead.
I have just seen this film. I hate to say it but I was disappointed. I was looking forward to some spectacular feats of bravery from the War Horse. Instead he gets himself tangled up in some barbed wire after which the war stops while a German and a Brit(?) untangle him.
As far as the basic plot is concerned I consider this a rewrite of "Black Beauty". Yes, all the details change but it's still the same story idea. "Beauty" was far more emotional probably because it was told from the horse's viewpoint. I'm thinking in terms of the book, not necessarily the filmed versions. I gave the War Horse a rating of 5 on a 10 scale.

[–] Jules26 12 years ago

I'm do glad that I'm not the only one who thinks this.

There are no stupid questions, only stupid people.

[–] brandy_walker82 12 years ago

That's all I could think of, is that this is Black Beauty set during WWI instead of in Victorian Britain

[–] sandbardiamond11 12 years ago

i thought the same thing.
1) ginger died in b.b./joeys friend the black horse died

2) b.b. had several different homes (some good some bad) and eventually went back to his original owner/joey was passed along and eventually ended up back with albert

3) b.b. pulled a heavy cart until he couldnt pull anymore/joey pulled the tanks or whatever they were until he was supposed to die

[–] svenrufus 10 years ago

I watched BB (the '71 version) a few weeks ago with my daughter, so that the comparison was inescapable to me too.

Both films were decidedly and equally lacklustre, but I think I'm more disappointed by WH as I had higher expectations of it. I'd been wanting to see this for a while, and borrowed the DVD from a friend tonight (the fact that they owned it giving me an even greater sense that it must be a quality film), but oh...!

I'm a serial blubber when it comes to films - in fact in the right circumstances I can cry at a shaving advert (don't ask) - and I expected this to be a real tearjerker, but not once did I get even a remotely moist eye. I really don't get why there was so much hoopla around this when it came out. 4/10 from me.

[–] rspear61 12 years ago

Not having seen BB, I was struck by the parallels with a book I read when I was young (Conquistador), now a movie I think, which i have not seen, called Littlest Outlaw. the horse is mistreated and has different owners yadda yadda yadda and comes back to the original kid.
"We're going to need a bigger boat..."

[–] WindowBird1 12 years ago

Yes, exactly what I thought.
Except whereas Black Beauty was actually a good film, this one was pretty terrible. Cheesy to the max.

[–] touser2004 12 years ago

Just watched it and have to say it is a poor rip off of Black Beauty.It wasn't convincing in any way - poorly written with totally unconvincing scenery ,even the acting was poor.

[–] Prismark10 12 years ago

Even I sort of felt the same, especially the way the film was shot. All that was needed was the narration by the horse!

Its that man again!!

[–] LindaY 8 years ago

Actually, Joey is the narrator of the book.

[–] Synetech 11 years ago

I was looking forward to some spectacular feats of bravery from the War Horse.

I guess you missed that he saved the black horse at least twice.

[–] Clemencedane 10 years ago

I thought the same.