By Perla Arellano
Ranger Reporter
War Horse, directed by Steven Spielberg, is a 2011 film that tells the story of a horse that faces a dangerous journey through World War I.
Although at first I was unsure about the film, not knowing how good a war movie centered on a horse was going to be, I am glad to say that soon afterward, I was convinced.
The film centers on two main characters, a horse named Joey and a young boy named Albert Narracott, played by Jeremy Irvine. The story begins with a boy and horse that become best friends, but because of the economic instability Albert’s father (Peter Mullan) faces, Joey is sold off to the army as a cavalry horse.
Soon, Joey begins his journey throughout the war ashe passes from owner to owner.
War Horse has a little bit of everything: joy, tears, blood and war – just enough to keep everyone in the family satisfied and either bursting into tears or smiling when the credits roll. Not because it’s a bad movie, either.
On the contrary, the dialogue fits the characters of the movie, while the actors sell their performances with their body and facial expressions, making the characters believable. Even the horses in the film seem to be talking, their eyes conveying every emotion they feel.
Spielberg did his job by going from the illustrious green fields of England to the dark scenery of “no man’s land” during the war.
There aren’t any crazy transitions from scene to scene, and as the film went on, I felt like I was watching history as it happened.
Not only are the costumes accurate, but the actors playing their perspective characters are as well.
There are no bad accents throughout the film, because the casting was done appropriately.
There wasn’t a time in the film when I wanted to get up off my seat, unlike other movies that bore me to sleep.
But like every other movie, War Horse is not perfect, although very close. For instance, this movie is not for people who view every single detail and start analyzing the improbability of events, such as how a horse still can be alive through an entire war.
After all is said and done, I gave this film five out of five stars, because I’m still trying to learn how to do the owl whistle Albert Narracott uses to call Joey in the film.
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