
Variety
This beautifully composed picture brings a robust physicality to tried-and-true source material, but falls short of the sustained narrative involvement and emotional drive its resolutely old-fashioned storytelling demands.
Full reviewSpielberg directed war-drama, based on both the children's novel and its stage adaptation, about a British lad who sets out on a journey to rescue his horse from the battlefields of World War I.
Albert's (newcomer Jeremy Irvine) pet horse and best friend, Joey, is sold to the calvary at the outbreak of the first World War. Heartbroken, Albert heads to France to find his friend, despite being too young to enlist in the British army. The film follows Joey's journey across Europe and through the war, as well as Albert's search.
Also stars Tom Hiddleston (Thor), Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC's Sherlock) and Oscar-nominee Emily Watson (Breaking the Waves).
LessThis beautifully composed picture brings a robust physicality to tried-and-true source material, but falls short of the sustained narrative involvement and emotional drive its resolutely old-fashioned storytelling demands.
Full reviewWar Horse shows Spielberg back in the saddle, in full command of story, setting and characters.
Full reviewIn the end, while you can't doubt Spielberg's commitment to telling a putatively heartwarming and emotion-wringing tale, War Horse is just too calculated to do what he wants to do.
Full reviewWar Horse is bold, not afraid of sentiment and lets out all the stops in magnificently staged action sequences.
Full reviewWar Horse left me strangely and definitively unmoved on every level, with a cheesiness factor alienating me from the characters and robbing me of any connection with the story.
Full reviewA grandly made, tear-jerking film for all audiences, the way Hollywood used to make them.
Full reviewThis is a beautifully built, classically framed movie, shot with the unshowy natural expressiveness of a John Ford Western.
Full reviewWar Horse is bold, exquisite family filmmaking in the grandest Hollywood tradition.
Full reviewWar Horse (2011) is available to stream in Australia now on Google Play and Apple TV.
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