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Film of the Week: War Horse
Jan. 19th, 2012 02:15 amDespite having reservations about the book, the film was lovely. Spectacular camera work. My eyes leaked all the way through it, of course, but horses get me every time.
Kudos to the seven horses who played Joey. Thanks to good makeup they were indistinguishable from each other.on screen. I assume 'no horses were harmed in the making of this movie' (the usual disclaimer) in which case I'd be really interested to know how they managed some of the shots, especially one where the horse jumps a trench, misses his landing and falls backwards into it. Stunt horse? Very clever CGI? I don't know, but it was certainly extremely realistic.
My main reservation about the book was the horse point of view, very Black Beauty with not even a pretence that the horse is anything less than human in outlook and knowledge. The movie, of course, removed this completely. The horse is a horse and we see everything through the eye of the camera not the horse.
So for those of you who don't know, it's the story of Joey, a thoroughbred-type horse who is raised by Albert on a farm in Devon and sold to the cavalry by Albert's impoverished dad when the First World War breaks out. Albert swears to find Joey again once he's old enough to join up. The film follows Joey through the war and the lives of the people he touches on both sides of No Man's Land.
There are a few diversions from the book, but the movie plot is pretty close in feel and the major events are in there even if they are arrived at in a slightly roundabout way. I haven't seen the stage play so the movie might be closer to that than the book. The story highlights the horrors of war and the small kindnesses that emphasise humanity. Yes, it's got a sentimental streak a mile wide, and even in its darkest hour you just know that it's not going to end up with Joey as meat, but there are plenty of twists and turns before Albert makes good on his promise.
My one disappointment was that I had hoped that some of John Tams' music might have made it from the stage play to the movie. Sadly, it didn't. I'd love to see the stage play if it comes on tour.
Kudos to the seven horses who played Joey. Thanks to good makeup they were indistinguishable from each other.on screen. I assume 'no horses were harmed in the making of this movie' (the usual disclaimer) in which case I'd be really interested to know how they managed some of the shots, especially one where the horse jumps a trench, misses his landing and falls backwards into it. Stunt horse? Very clever CGI? I don't know, but it was certainly extremely realistic.
My main reservation about the book was the horse point of view, very Black Beauty with not even a pretence that the horse is anything less than human in outlook and knowledge. The movie, of course, removed this completely. The horse is a horse and we see everything through the eye of the camera not the horse.
So for those of you who don't know, it's the story of Joey, a thoroughbred-type horse who is raised by Albert on a farm in Devon and sold to the cavalry by Albert's impoverished dad when the First World War breaks out. Albert swears to find Joey again once he's old enough to join up. The film follows Joey through the war and the lives of the people he touches on both sides of No Man's Land.
There are a few diversions from the book, but the movie plot is pretty close in feel and the major events are in there even if they are arrived at in a slightly roundabout way. I haven't seen the stage play so the movie might be closer to that than the book. The story highlights the horrors of war and the small kindnesses that emphasise humanity. Yes, it's got a sentimental streak a mile wide, and even in its darkest hour you just know that it's not going to end up with Joey as meat, but there are plenty of twists and turns before Albert makes good on his promise.
My one disappointment was that I had hoped that some of John Tams' music might have made it from the stage play to the movie. Sadly, it didn't. I'd love to see the stage play if it comes on tour.
