MovieChat Forums > War Horse (2011) Discussion > Strange film, not very enjoyable and her...

Strange film, not very enjoyable and here's why?

posted 11 years ago by owainhealey80
13 replies | jump to latest

There's something off about this film. I've watched it twice and i cant put my finger on why it left me so cold. I'm a huge fan of Spielberg but i can't see his usual quality in this...

The film seems disjointed and well, cheesy. The dialogue is so odd, it stops you from engaging with the film and its characters. It lacks a sense of realism throughout and i think the problem, like many films that were originally plays and then adapted, is the strange need for the dialogue to over emphasize a sense of place and time. on stage this works but on film we have more visual clues to establish the scenery that the dialogue needs to be adjusted. The dialogue sticks out so much that it become distracting.

I felt manipulated throughout, that my suspension of disbelief was forced and not natural, that i was required to make the film work in my brain. It's so unlike in Munich or Scindler List where the visuals and dialogue connect to create a sense of realism.

Any one agree or disagree? I amm i right about the diaglogue?

[–] wwestar 11 years ago

It was a book first. A book for children. The stage play became a huge hit not because of the story which had been kicking around since the 80's and was considered a publishing flop, but more the puppetery the likes of which had never been seen before.

[–] Synetech 11 years ago

There's something off about this film. … The film seems disjointed and well, cheesy. … It lacks a sense of realism throughout … to over emphasize a sense of place and time. … I felt manipulated throughout, that my suspension of disbelief was forced and not natural, that i was required to make the film work in my brain.
It was a book first. A book for children.

Bingo. It feels “strange/off/odd” because it is a film adaptation of a children’s book. If you keep in mind that it is a children’s book while watching, then suddenly it seems perfectly normal and exactly as it should, and all of those qualities that the OP complained about make sense.

Look at other film adaptations of children’s books like Where the Wild Things Are; they all have a sort unusual feel to them that makes them seem a little disjointed (at least for adults) compared to other films.

The reuniting scene at the end of War Horse is a perfect example of how it feels strange for a “real-life” movie, but makes perfect sense as a children’s book. You wouldn’t watch a movie about Cinderella and complain that it doesn’t feel right that several birds would happen to bring just the right piece of her clothes exactly when she needed them would you?

[–] Yucahaor 11 years ago

This guy knows what he's talking about. It makes sense.

[–] the_la_baker 9 years ago

Bingo. It feels “strange/off/odd” because it is a film adaptation of a children’s book.

Sure wish I knew that before so I could avoid this film. What a massive let down. I feel gypped.

[–] Ari97 11 years ago

Thank you, sir or madam! I watched it last night with my family, and that's what I told them at the end of the movie. Dialogues were forced, it seemed to me like they tried too hard to get you emotionally involved with the film... but it did not, for me.

It was a good attempt to make a point about war, but the movie did not succeed in that. I don't know about anyone else, but too much of luck and karma in movies is just not my cup of tea!

[–] bcherkaski 11 years ago

I have to agree. It was not what I expected, and felt very childish to me most of the time. Reminded my a bit of "Black Beauty".
It wasn't emotionally engaging and I couldn't care about the characters one way or the other. I seriously wouldn't have cared if Albert or the poor horse died in the end.... Just didn't do it for me. Too cheesy, too "Hollywoody", not enough good film making, storytelling, or acting.

[–] gabypanama 10 years ago

Agree. Im not sure if its the dialogue, but I also felt like being told a fairy tale.

[–] AtoZ2014 10 years ago

To be honest, I liked the movie. I saw the play at Lincoln Center. I was reluctant to see the movie, but I thought I would give it a shot. This movie feels a bit awkward at first, but I thought the third act held together very well and was moving. I was reluctant to see a WWII movie because it was such a horrible war for the enlisted men, but, this movie, focusing on Joey the horse and the "children's story" plot made the war scenes bearable to watch.

[–] LittleNiniel 9 years ago

Yeah there's something off about it. I don't hate the movie, but there's just something about it that's very jarring.
Not to mention that everyone speaks english. Germans between one another, french between french. Why?? Because people can't afford to read subtitles so everything has to be in english? It doesn't help making everything more believable. It's as if I'd sit with my friends and speak english to them for no apparent reason when we're not even english.

[–] wwestar 9 years ago

Because it's a family film aimed more at children then adults.

[–] VidaBoheme 9 years ago

I'll echo what most here have said. I watched War Horse for the first time last night and I agree that the film feels disjointed. It had many flaws - the dialouge, the inexplicable German/French accents in English and the lack of emotional attacment I felt to the main character, his family and the horse.

Their reunion at the end should have had me bawling my eyes out and yet, I could barely muster up a few tears.

Not sure what happened here?! Spielberg is one of our finest directors, but this missed the mark for me big time.

[–] HarlemEagle42 (16225) 2 years ago

Only saw it once and that was enough. he first twenty, twenty-five minutes aren't bad. But once the war starts, things like you said become disjointed. Horse gets separated, found by someone, repeat 3x.

[–] rnmboon (381) 2 years ago

Spielberg was phoning it in. There were bits and pieces in this film that reminded me of his style but for most of the film it seemed as if he was letting his production team do the directing. It looked great but it never felt like a real story was taking place. Much of he film felt like a 60's/70's style British war drama. To the extend that it almost felt as if they were trying to remake an existing film. Not a bad film but very unremarkable.