An Equine Epic – “War Horse” from DreamWorks Pictures

In World War I, 1 million horses were recruited for battle. Of those 1 million horses, only 62,000 returned. War Horse was inspired by the bravery and contribution of those horses. When I first saw the preview for the new Spielberg film, War Horse, I knew it was going to be one of those movies that would tug at heart strings, bring a tear (or two or ten) to my eye, would probably make my cry, while loving every minute of the film. I was not wrong.

About War Horse

DreamWorks Pictures’ “War Horse,” director Steven Spielberg’s epic adventure, is a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity 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 Review

Inspired by the novel, War Horse, by Michael Marpurgo, the movie follows the life of a young horse, born in the English country side, trained to be a farm horse, and then facing the dangers of World War I. It begins in the town of Devon, where a colt is purchased at auction to work on a farm. The young boy on the farm, Albert (Jeremy Irvine,) proceeds to train the colt, “Joey,” to become a farm horse and plow a difficult and rocky field. Considered a “gentleman’s” horse, the odds are stacked against Albert and Joey.

World War I begins, and when the farm falls under hard-times, Joey is sold into service and becomes a war horse for the British Army. The film proceeds to follow Joey through World War I – through moments of courage, bravery, affection, and honor – yes, all from a horse.

Top acting awards go to Finder and the other supporting horses that were used to play the role of Joey. While I’ve seen many actors express and emote to connect with the audience, I’ve never before experienced a film where a horse could both uplift your heart while making you cry. The human cast did an excellent job as well, seeming to truly connect with the horses on film.

The film is brilliantly directed by Steven Spielberg, who is so successful in capturing the emotions and the essence of such a story on film. The cinematography was amazing as well. The war scenes, the country-side, “No Man’s Land” all were filmed in a manner to really put the audience on location. You could feel the chaos, the danger, and the fear of battle while watching.

From start to finish, I was completely immersed in the movie. The scenery, the acting, the horses, and the plot all worked together to create a captivating movie that will leave you wanting more. War Horse has a little bit of everything – it will make you laugh, make your cry – it will make you feel and you will love it.

War Horse opens in theaters on Christmas Day, December 25th,  and is a great family film to watch during the holiday season.

War Horse Online

• Visit the War Horse Website
• “Like” War Horse on Facebook
• Follow War Horse on Twitter

Disclaimer: This post consists of my (and/or fellow tester) opinions only. Your experiences may be different. No compensation was given for this review. I did attend a free screen of War Horse for the purposes of writing this review.