war horse film review

War Horse is a heartfelt movie based on the best-selling novel by Michael Morpurgo that tells the story about how hope is never absent, no matter how horrid the situation is. Directed by the talented Steven Spielberg who did a marvelous job with E.T., Saving Private Ryan, and lots more, he recreated the story with the help of Albert, a young lad, and Joey, his hardworking horse. 

Placed in the alluring town of Devon, the story begins when Albert, the son of a drunken farmer, sees the birth of Joey and is intrigued by the origin of life in front of him. As Ted Narracott— Albert's father —takes home the wrong breed of horse, his family experiences an economic collapse. A thoroughbred clearly wouldn't plough land, would it? How was he supposed to pay rent if he can't even use the land he's paying for? Nevertheless, Albert trains him and makes the impossible happen. When Captain Nicholls who was going to war, buys Joey from the Narracotts, the two were split apart leaving Albert devastated. 

Through endless struggles and amazing breakthroughs, the separation of the two has touched a million hearts all over the world. This film reveals the talented yet unpolished acting of a young Albert Narracott who was played by Jeremy Irvine, a Chopard Trophy winner, and has successfully reflected genuine emotions as if it is real. Not forgetting the fact that Joanna Johnston's costumes were precise and the shocking truth that it was all hand sewn down to the very last detail. All the hard work certainly paid off with the construction of an actual windmill and the naturalistic sets throughout the movie. The combination of these factors has definitely brought the movie to life! 

Follow Albert and Joey through an adventure beyond expectation and wonder. You'd want to see the moral values hidden behind every action of this movie, the small little snippets of happiness that was eventually taken by the war. This movie of faith, loyalty, courage and the never-ending friendship between two individuals who worked very hard to get to where they are. Fans of historical fiction will be thrilled by this extraordinary movie, don't miss it!

war horse

What good would a thoroughbred be to the Narracotts? A family of three who's been struggling for a peaceful living, paying for land that can't even be used. When Albert – the only son of the family – saw a foal's birth when he was a kid, a bond was formed between the two parties. Ted Narracottt bought it  at the auction and Albert raised him ever since, giving him the name Joey.

One day, the struggle to pay their rent was harder than ever before, counting the fact that their land needs to be ploughed in order for them to be able to plant crops. Albert though, the hard working lad he is, trained Joey. Taught him to be able to respond to calls and to be obedient. But when the day came for Ted to pay the rent and they had nothing, Ted was forced to auction Joey off to a wonderful man called Captain Nicholls.

While Joey was going to be rode on in the surprise attack the British had planned on the Germans, it was a shock to all of them when the British lost due to the machine guns the Germans had hidden near the borders of the forest.

Joey and Topthorn, a black horse that was in the war too, was taken and was cared for by many people. First they were taken by Michael and Gunther, the German brothers that defected the war, then Emilie and her grandfather who were French and lived in the midst of the war. The horses were taken again by  the German private Heiglemann and were told to drag heavy artillery for the war which caused the death of Topthorn.

Joey who was left alone, overcame his fear of leaping when the tank threatened to kill him. He ran to No Man's Land and miraculously survived with the help of Peter from Edinsburg and Colin from Britain. When Colin brought Joey back to the British Camp Base, he was almost killed. Luckily, Albert who was there realized it was Joey and he was tended to.

When the war ended at 11:00, because Joey wasn't a captain's horse, he had to be auctioned off. All of Albert's friends helped him gather the money even though he lost Joey to Emilie's grandfather who gave Joey back to Albert because he knew it was the right thing to do.

In the end, Albert came home from war safe and sound, getting Joey back in the process too.