War Horse

The story of a horse who is taken from his home in Southern England and through amazing determination survives the great war.

At the start of World War I the British Army decided that domestic farm animals (especially horses), could be requisitioned to be used in the fighting. This is the story of of a horse which was taken into some of the worst battles in this horrendous conflict and the spirit he shows to survive. The film focuses not only on the horse, but also on his various short term owners and the young man who will always love him.

It encompasses the true horrors of war as it was between 1914-1918, the plight of the common man, and the breaking down of the social classes when faced with life-threatening danger and also, shows the lives that went on during the war, the sacrifices which were made and the pain which was felt by those whose animals (often pets), were sent off to war.

The film brings to life the characters of the multi award-winning stage productions which have had lengthy runs in both London and the US, showing a side to the conflict which many of us would never have even thought about.

The genius that is Steven Spielberg once again does not disappoint, delivering yet another epic in a career which has spanned nearly forty years and has brought us some of the most iconic movies in film history. This film brings us the full horror of the great war, from the point of view of the animals involved, a really unique outlook.

The action is explosive, the feelings of dread and fear all too real, almost giving the viewer the experience of what it must have been like in the trenches during that time. At the same time the viewer is exposed to the feelings of not only the officers, but also the average soldier on both sides, caught up in a conflict that they felt obligated to fight, but had more in common with each other, than many realized.

Although the equine stars are the truly amazing ones in this film, the human ones do fairly well also. 22 year old Jeremy Irvine, is his first major motion picture, does a phenomenal job as the horses' original owner "Albert Narracott". He gives a truly sublime portrayal of the young man who is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the survival of the horse that has become his entire world. If this performance is anything to go by, then we may well have a future superstar on our hands.

Peter Mullan and Emily Watson, give truly sublime performances as "Ted" and "Rose Narracott", showing the full desperation which so many families were forced to face in the early years of the 20th century. Tom Hiddlestone and Benedict Cumberbatch (He of Sherlock Holmes TV series Fame), both give stunning showings as privileged British army officers, showing the true naivety of so many of these ranked men, who thought the war would be over in a matter of weeks.

In a cast of literally thousands, it is so difficult to pick out those who shine. Suffice it to say that the pace of the film is intense, the action and emotion non-stop,  and the acting is of such a high standard that you will not be sure where to look next. The script is powerful and tragic, taking you from highs to lows in the brief light of a powerful explosion.

This film is a true classic, and will leave you sitting in the cinema after it finishes, contemplating that you have just seen something truly special. It is incredibly brutal in places, and may well easily upset the more sensitive of viewers, but try to look past this to the true beauty of the film. This will have you rooted to your seat for the full 2 hours and 22 minutes and truly is something to behold

8.5/10