Spielberg's War Horse

Sad Professor

This will be out in the US in time for the Oscars and should be out here in mid-January.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6Ru9Y9Xwjg

A boy and his horse story.... we'll see. Although I am happy to know that the horse is real. As silly it sounds now, there was a fear that it might be CGI.

DrumSteve

Father Ted Crilly: So what do you want to write about?
Rabbi Steven Speilberg: How about... a lovely horse?

rossc007

If I was ever sure of anything after watching a trailer, I'm sure that horse will die (in the film)

Marty McFly

I usually like Spielbergs films, but my god that looks laughably bad. A film all about a horse. Yeh lets cut to panning out with sun setting in the backround with horse looking of into the distance:pac:.

Me thinks Spielberg might just have lost the plot shocking trailer.

johnny_ultimate

I tend to dislike both war films and horse based films :pac:

Again, wait and see, but the trailer doesn't fill me with any sort of confidence.

If I want horse-based emotion, I'll just replay Shadow of the Colossus!

Sad Professor

I'm very optimistic about this after seeing the trailer. It's the same sorta territory as Empire of the Sun. And even if the script sucks, it is still guaranteed to have some gorgeous filmic photography from Kaminski and probably another classic John Williams score. That's enough to make it a must-see for me.

xalot

I presume it's based on the play that was running in the West End a couple of years ago to rave reviews. The play (and novel) is meant to be fantastic. Looks a bit sentimental though.

Goldstein

What if Lassie was a horse?

Boy grows attached to horse
Horse forced to go off to war
Boy misses horse
Horse is hero thanks to near human intelligence
Horse and boy finally reunited
Only for horse to break its leg rescuing somebody in the last 20 mins
Tearful goodbye

That'll do horse. That'll do.

God I hope I'm wrong.

losthorizon

xalot wrote: »

I presume it's based on the play that was running in the West End a couple of years ago to rave reviews. The play (and novel) is meant to be fantastic. Looks a bit sentimental though.

The play itself won rave reviews and was a huge success but critically and comercially. However, that doesnt convert to a good film. If it works it could be great. Its actually a play I wanted to see.

BlitzKrieg

xalot wrote: »

I presume it's based on the play that was running in the West End a couple of years ago to rave reviews. The play (and novel) is meant to be fantastic. Looks a bit sentimental though.

it's still running. I pass the theatre for it every morning.

Phony Scott

Sad Professor wrote: »

This will be out in the US in time for the Oscars

Oscars? Why not call it Bravehorse? I'll get my coat.

pixelburp

Sad Professor wrote: »

[...]As silly it sounds now, there was a fear that it might be CGI.

There's definitely some CGI - look at the scene at 0:42 minutes, the horse looks computer generated to me. I imagine if this is set in the trenches of WW1 there'll be a lot of CGI for when they can't use a stunt horse

As for the trailer overall; well, we all know Spielberg has a schmaltz'y side to him, this just looks like he's letting it go wild.

Kess73

Goldstein wrote: »

What if Lassie was a horse?

Boy grows attached to horse
Horse forced to go off to war
Boy misses horse
Horse is hero thanks to near human intelligence
Horse and boy finally reunited
Only for horse to break its leg rescuing somebody in the last 20 mins
Tearful goodbye

That'll do horse. That'll do.

God I hope I'm wrong.

Closer to an equine The Littlest Hobo than an equine Lassie if it plays out like the play.:)


I loved Hidalgo, so will probably see this as well.

krudler

Looks gorgeously shot anyway, I was wondering what Spielberg was directing next he's been mostly producing stuff these days his last movie was Crystal Skull

uncleoswald

Saw a trailer on the telly yesterday. I had no idea it was from Spielberg and barely gave it much attention beyond thinking "well that looks like dull and worthy Oscar bait."

Sanjuro

Kinda torn on this one. On one hand, I'm pretty stoked to see Spielberg tackle WW1. Can anyone say harrowing?! On the other hand, this looks all kinds of sugar-laced schmaltz. With the way Spielberg's been directing over the last decade, I'm unsure. At the very least, it'll look amazing.

Zubeneschamali

xalot wrote: »

Looks a bit sentimental though.

Sentimental? A Spielberg movie?

Shurely not! :pac:

S.M.B.

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

it's still running. I pass the theatre for it every morning.

Which reminds me I may go to it before it finishes up.

Acutally, looks like it's going to be on there foreeeeeever. May still go.

MagicMarker

This film looks retarded.

the whole year inn

Seen it,I dont like horse movies at all,but this was ok,it was shot nice but overall Id give it 6 out of 10,too long and not really that interesting.

Every person in the movie that seen this horse went fecking nuts for it.It was shot nice tho.

Riddle101

My first thought when I saw the trailer.

"It's a film about a "horse". Steven Spielberg has lost his marbles. He must be trying to win over the academy awards, with one of those lame soppy movies that always get's nominated. I definetely won't be going to see this. I'll wait a couple of years till it comes out on tv and watch it then.

Pink11

Undecided on this one. Hmm, we'll see I guess. Might give it a go.

constitutionus

have to be honest this looks like aload of mawkish bollocks to me so i wont be going .

i know thats unfair as you should judge a film on its content but it just comes off as an incredibly cynical looking film and i really dont give a toss about horses.

constitutionus

luvbulmers01 wrote: »

I usually like Spielbergs films, but my god that looks laughably bad. A film all about a horse. Yeh lets cut to panning out with sun setting in the backround with horse looking of into the distance:pac:.

Me thinks Spielberg might just have lost the plot shocking trailer.

maybe he's been hanging around micheal bay too long !

keep an eye out for a 360 degree panning shot.

Technocentral

constitutionus wrote: »

have to be honest this looks like aload of mawkish bollocks to me so i wont be going .

i know thats unfair as you should judge a film on its content but it just comes off as an incredibly cynical looking film and i really dont give a toss about horses.

Not much of an animal lover myself, now that I think of it don't think I ever saw a good film about an animal or where one was at the centre of it, can any one name one?

Kingp35

Technocentral wrote: »

Not much of an animal lover myself, now that I think of it don't think I ever saw a good film about an animal or where one was at the centre of it, can any one name one?

This is a great film.

Hachi: A Dogs Tale

Anyway War Horse looks incredibly uninteresting.

Sad Professor

constitutionus wrote: »

i know thats unfair as you should judge a film on its content but it just comes off as an incredibly cynical looking film and i really dont give a toss about horses.

Cynical? How? If anything it looks like an attack on cynicism.

Duggy747

While I think it probably has good cinematography the trailer just does not sell the film to me. I'll probably watch it down the line but definitely not a film that'll make me want to see it in the cinema.

I'm never one for these emotional, tug on the heart strings stories set against the backdrop of something terrible like war. I also couldn't give a rat's arse about horses, either :pac:

Mr. Presentable

Technocentral wrote: »

Not much of an animal lover myself, now that I think of it don't think I ever saw a good film about an animal or where one was at the centre of it, can any one name one?

Jaws? :pac:

Technocentral

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

Technocentral wrote: »

Not much of an animal lover myself, now that I think of it don't think I ever saw a good film about an animal or where one was at the centre of it, can any one name one?

Jaws? :pac:

Of course! Silly me. Now if the horse in this starts killing random punters I may give it a look. Though I suspect he's one those do gooder "hero" horses.

JP Liz V1

Black Beauty goes to war

uncleoswald

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

Jaws? :pac:

Jaws would actually be scarier with a horse, I fecking hate horses!

Sam V Smith

I auditioned for this - pointlessly, as I can't do a Devonshire accent worth crap. The theatre version is very very highly regarded, I know that much.

OldeCinemaSoz

i just know i'm going to cry at this f**king thing when i bring the little lad tomorrow...

and he'll be laughing...

duckysauce

saw it yesterday entertaining , but no blockbuster 6/10

The Princess Bride

Sam V Smith wrote: »

The theatre version is very very highly regarded, I know that much.

Husband and son saw it 2 years ago,brilliant.

Saw film tonight,thoroughly enjoyed it,ticked all the boxes.
Would definitely recommend it.

Zombienosh

Thought this was the most overly sentimental tripe i've ever seen, cheesy and predictable, poor crap for mammys to watch.

p.s also the whole time i thought i was watching lord of the rings, he speaks just like sam.

The King of Moo

I saw this earlier: it's not bad, definitely quite sentimental but for me it didn't cross the line into over-mawkishness too much.

It didn't anthropomorphise the horses too much: they're still animals and acted fairly believably overall, with the bond between the boy and horse fairly realistic.

Having said that, it is a bit predicable, but I still found it a pleasant way to pass two hours and a bit.

Be warned: if you're the type to get very emotionally invested in a film, you might get sucked into this. I don't think I've ever heard so many audible gasps and "Oh my gods" at the cinema. And it also contains the biggest emotional reaction I've seen to a bunch of turnips in a film.

It's probably a collection of great moments mixed with some overwrought moments, rather than a great film.
Being an animal lover probably makes me biased too.

Some high points for me:

An injured horse gets shot and a whole group of horses all react simultaneously with a start at the sound.

Joey's wild gallop through the battlefield, including the moment when he runs on top of the tank and jumps off it. Definitely over the top and maybe not realistic, but I still found it hard to stop myself shouting "COME ON JOEY!!"

Colin and Peter, the English and German soldiers, having a mini-truce as they try to free Joey and wish each other well.

The silly comedy goose: definitely out of place in the film, but seeing a silly comedy goose running after Peter Mullan and nipping him in the leg for slipping off to the pub is just great anyway.

Technocentral

The King of Moo wrote: »

Be warned: if you're the type to get very emotionally invested in a film, you might get sucked into this. I don't think I've ever heard so many audible gasps and "Oh my gods" at the cinema. And it also contains the biggest emotional reaction I've seen to a bunch of turnips in a film.

I think British Army is the correct term your looking for.:D

expectationlost

not that bad, bits without the lead character were best, noticed lots of lit like westerns used to be shots at the start.

Mickeroo

I loved the old fashioned feel and cinematography, really felt like a film from a by gone era. Overall it was a good film, not great, I would consider Tin Tin to be a much better film.

I think it had a few problems holding it back from being great:

1: Fair enough they didn't anthropomorphise the horse too much, but I actually think that kept me from properly being emotionally involved with the horse as a character

2. As a by product of the above all the human roles were too transient to give the film enough weight, Hiddleston and Cumberbatch in particular were woefully under used.

3. The main human character and his buddy came off as total simpletons, to the point it felt like parody in some places, seriously a few times I was wondering if spielberg had meant for them to be mentally ill or something.

Rabidlamb

It was fine for what it was, I found the first hour to be the strongest.
They could have easily trimmed away the 30 minutes with the deserting German brothers & the Grandpa/Grand Daughter.
The English Officers were criminally under used, no mention of what happened to Sherlock Holmes once he became a POW.
For a "War" Horse he did one battle charge & hauled some German artillery, hardly that busy really.
The no-mans-land charge through the barbed wire was really well shot & you felt for the horse at that point.
The rescue was a bit pipes of peace but the dialogue was strong so it played out well.
Not enough explanation of the mustard gas for my liking, does it make you blind or what ?, Wiki is down today !!!.
Are we to assume the grand daughter died ?, thought I caught that.
Stop bidding stupid, if someones goes 29 your next bid doesn't have to be 100.

Some good acting held this together, notably Peter Mullan at the start & Emily Watson.
The true hero of course was the horse, his interaction with the black horse was very touching.
I felt Speilberg needed to up the PG here to get the most out of the film, had it been grittier & less Disney at the end it could have been a classic.
Nonetheless, 6/10 is fair.

The King of Moo

Rabidlamb wrote: »

It was fine for what it was, I found the first hour to be the strongest.

They could have easily trimmed away the 30 minutes with the deserting German brothers & the Grandpa/Grand Daughter.
The English Officers were criminally under used, no mention of what happened to Sherlock Holmes once he became a POW.
For a "War" Horse he did one battle charge & hauled some German artillery, hardly that busy really.
The no-mans-land charge through the barbed wire was really well shot & you felt for the horse at that point.
The rescue was a bit pipes of peace but the dialogue was strong so it played out well.
Not enough explanation of the mustard gas for my liking, does it make you blind or what ?, Wiki is down today !!!.
Are we to assume the grand daughter died ?, thought I caught that.
Stop bidding stupid, if someones goes 29 your next bid doesn't have to be 100.

Some good acting held this together, notably Peter Mullan at the start & Emily Watson.
The true hero of course was the horse, his interaction with the black horse was very touching.
I felt Speilberg needed to up the PG here to get the most out of the film, had it been grittier & less Disney at the end it could have been a classic.

Nonetheless, 6/10 is fair.

I was curious about Cumberbatch too, but I think they didn't show what happened as it was all from the horse's point-of-view and he wasn't around for that (as you say, the horse is the hero). That's also why we spend time with the German brothers and the French guy and his granddaughter. It does feel weird as we expect to follow these characters who seem quite important, but it's still not as extreme as it is in the original book, which is narrated by the horse.

As for the gas, I'm pretty sure it just blinds your man temporarily: he could see fine from the auction onwards.

Cupcake_Crisis

I saw War Horse tonight and...... I actually found it quite difficult to watch. It's beautifully shot, brilliantly acted and the story is very sweet, but I was forcing myself to stay in my seat at parts, particularly

the barbed wire part

. Now I'm an animal lover, and a bit of an emotional wreck to be honest, and I found myself feeling pretty overwhelmed at parts.

I'd give it 8/10.... but won't be watching it again for a loooong time. The fact that that horse wasn't nominated for an Oscar breaks my heart

duckysauce

Cupcake_Crisis wrote: »

I saw War Horse tonight and...... I actually found it quite difficult to watch. It's beautifully shot, brilliantly acted and the story is very sweet, but I was forcing myself to stay in my seat at parts, particularly

the barbed wire part

. Now I'm an animal lover, and a bit of an emotional wreck to be honest, and I found myself feeling pretty overwhelmed at parts.

I'd give it 8/10.... but won't be watching it again for a loooong time. The fact that that horse wasn't nominated for an Oscar breaks my heart

the horse is dead

Sad Professor

I went to see this yesterday and, honestly, I thought it was brilliant. I mean, you need accept a film like this for what it is. It is shamelessly old-fashioned, optimistic and, yes, sentimental. But what else would it be? It’s a film about a boy and his horse. If you walk into a film like this then you should know what you are signing up for and have no reason to be complaining afterwards. In any case, War Horse thankfully has more in common with Empire of the Sun than it does with Hook or Always. Unlike those two films, there’s a strong sense of tragedy lurking behind every moment of luck or victory that prevents the film from feeling too syrupy.

It’s become cool to bash Spielberg in recent years. He’s terribly under-appreciated and taken for granted by audiences today. Which is unfortunate because he’s not only a magnificent entertainer and storyteller, but also one of the great visual filmmakers and this film is no different. The camerawork and composition is sublime. Spielberg is able to move the camera, frame a shot and design a set piece in in ways that put many contemporary Hollywood directors to shame.

Anyway, to sum it up, It’s a sweeping epic in the best tradition of John Ford and has a gorgeous score from John Williams. If you can put away your cynicism for 2 hours it’s pretty much essential cinema viewing from one of cinema’s greats.

Cupcake_Crisis

duckysauce wrote: »

the horse is dead

:eek:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Edit: you liar!!

Jonny7

Couldnt watch it all.. just didn't like it

Seems like a completely unrealistic fairytale that tries to send a serious message, but fails in either department

Make Das Boot or make Bambi.. dont try a make a hybrid doesnt work (for me anyway)

Mickeroo

the only problem I had with it was the lad who raised the horse(and his friend) came off as too much of a simpleton, borderline mentally ill even. I also think the transient nature of the human characters in general let it down a bit too. Overall though it was a really good film, loved the old fashioned feel and the cinematography was amazing.

karma_

Wasn't impressed at all by this, it's basically about a horse who brings bad luck, death and destruction with him wherever he goes.

Mickeroo

karma_ wrote: »

Wasn't impressed at all by this, it's basically about a horse who brings bad luck, death and destruction with him wherever he goes.

it was WW1, I'm pretty sure all that stuff was happening regardless of the horse.....