I went to see War Horse last week with high expectations of seeing a Spielberg classic and having read several reviews which all gave it high praise.
Well, what a disappointment! This film was so bad I wondered if maybe there were two versions of this movie out and I was watching the wrong one. This was overblown, mawkish, sentimental tripe. It was full of sad old stereotypes and clichés, bad dialogue and worse acting.
After a very boring start, the story was galloped through, giving no time to build up interest in anything that was going on.
The lead character Albert, while supposedly appearing young and naïve just came across as moronic. Taking nothing away from the horrors of WW1, I actually felt relieved when him and his friend were gassed, hoping it would put an end to the misery but, unfortunately, Albert survived. It got so bad in the trenches that I actually couldn't stop from laughing and half expected Dougal to appear and give us a verse or two from My Lovely Horse.
There are only two characters who come away with any credit from this film and that was the horse and Sherlock himself, Benedict Cumberbatch.
I think Spielberg has been in Hollywood too long. This is a film for children only. Not recommended at all.