War Horse (2011)

[Marian Schwaller Carney]

We rarely go out to movies, but my husband really wanted to see see War Horse on Christmas Day. I had some trepidation, but read some reviews as I found the times at the theater in Harvard Square where he wanted to go.

I can recommend it, with a word of caution for those like me. I found it emotionally excruciating to watch and physically exhausting (from my sobbing thru much of the film). If you plan to see it and feel you might have a similar reaction, read several reviews first so you know what is going on and can be prepared. I suggest you go on a day when you have not been so busy that you are too tired, and that you leave time free afterwards to be quiet - such as just go home or go out for a quiet meal. We went out for dinner in a nearly empty restaurant (Jade on Mass Ave in Arlington - excellent!) and had a two hour drive to get home, so that helped. The movie will haunt you. But I must say, it has given me much to ponder and may change me in some positive ways.

I also found myself taking the movie personally on two fronts: first, my great uncle Cecil who did not make it home from WW1, and my grandfather a gentle soul who had to teach bayonet technique to his men. He alone survived a grenade to their fox hole. As a result he suffered "shell shock" (aka PTSD) and it really crushed him - my grandmother become the bread winner for the family as Grandpa slipped into alcoholism and resulting diabetes (he recovered from drinking and was an excellent grandfather to us kids, and taught us about Jesus). Second, my dad, a radio man in the US Army, stateside, went north from NC looking for my Uncle John (his younger brother and only sibling) the night before John's company shipped out for Normandy. He found him among hundreds of other GI's sleeping on the docks near their ship. Uncle John survived D Day. There is a scene with two German brothers that brought this to my mind. So maybe I had some extra emotional factors at play here that you won't have to deal with.

The ending is the only ending it could have and not make me a basket case.

[Charlene Clevenger]

The National Army Museum in London has a special exhibit about War Horse.

British National Army Museum

[Marian Schwaller Carney]

The National Army Museum in London has a special exhibit about War Horse.

British National Army Museum

Great link, Charlene, thank you! I wondered how the stage production was achieved, had not had a chance to look into that yet.

[Dennis M. Scott]

Saw War Horse last evening, with Jeff's father-in-law, Ron Willey, who has raised horses for years. Although I thought I enjoyed the movie, I afterward learned that I understood less than I thought. I will take Linda to see it.

I can't believe that the obvious love story didn't play out, however.

[Marian Schwaller Carney]

Saw War Horse last evening, with Jeff's father-in-law, Ron Willey, who has raised horses for years. Although I thought I enjoyed the movie, I afterward learned that I understood less than I thought. I will take Linda to see it.

I can't believe that the obvious love story didn't play out, however.

Oh! I know it. That was frustrating, but I suppose kept the story very real.
I'm not sure what you might have missed, Dennis, (maybe I don't know what I missed) but I think I would have been lost without having read one or two very helpful reviews ahead of seeing it.

[Mike Schutz]

Esther and I saw it tonight, and we both thought the direction and cinematography were more interesting than the story itself - as if Spielberg wanted to show that he could make a movie like all those old movies that we comment "Why can't they make movies like that anymore?"

[Marian Schwaller Carney]

Esther and I saw it tonight, and we both thought the direction and cinematography were more interesting than the story itself - as if Spielberg wanted to show that he could make a movie like all those old movies that we comment "Why can't they make movies like that anymore?"

Yes, Mike, I agree, there seems to be an element of that.

[Susan Unger]

We rarely go out to movies, but my husband really wanted to see see War Horse on Christmas Day. I had some trepidation, but read some reviews as I found the times at the theater in Harvard Square where he wanted to go.

I can recommend it, with a word of caution for those like me. I found it emotionally excruciating to watch and physically exhausting (from my sobbing thru much of the film). If you plan to see it and feel you might have a similar reaction, read several reviews first so you know what is going on and can be prepared. I suggest you go on a day when you have not been so busy that you are too tired, and that you leave time free afterwards to be quiet - such as just go home or go out for a quiet meal. We went out for dinner in a nearly empty restaurant (Jade on Mass Ave in Arlington - excellent!) and had a two hour drive to get home, so that helped. The movie will haunt you. But I must say, it has given me much to ponder and may change me in some positive ways.

I also found myself taking the movie personally on two fronts: first, my great uncle Cecil who did not make it home from WW1, and my grandfather a gentle soul who had to teach bayonet technique to his men. He alone survived a grenade to their fox hole. As a result he suffered "shell shock" (aka PTSD) and it really crushed him - my grandmother become the bread winner for the family as Grandpa slipped into alcoholism and resulting diabetes (he recovered from drinking and was an excellent grandfather to us kids, and taught us about Jesus). Second, my dad, a radio man in the US Army, stateside, went north from NC looking for my Uncle John (his younger brother and only sibling) the night before John's company shipped out for Normandy. He found him among hundreds of other GI's sleeping on the docks near their ship. Uncle John survived D Day. There is a scene with two German brothers that brought this to my mind. So maybe I had some extra emotional factors at play here that you won't have to deal with.

The ending is the only ending it could have and not make me a basket case.

Well, you've saved me the trouble of wondering if I should see it. I am too gentle hearted to even watch the commercials.