War Horse

How long has it been since we had a corny, sentimental, melodramatic, seven-year-old girl, horse movie? Not long enough. Disney's Secretariat came out just a year ago.

I had such high hopes for War Horse because I had heard of its success on Broadway. apparently, the puppet horses caused audiences to "become entranced by the mean of making the spectacle, an absorption that, aided by menacing sound and flashing light, focusses attention on the devastation of war and, contrast, the horsiness of a horse - the rearing, twitching, and nuzzling through which its nobility and affection pour out" (The New Yorker, January 2, 2012). Unfortunately, the film lacks the inventiveness of the stage production, making it a predictable bore.

In its defense, War Horse contains some of the best WWI scenes I've seen on film. They are not necessarily original in form, but they are beautifully filmed. However, the film-makers should have kept in mind the fact that a film about WWI doesn not need to be over-dramatized - the war itself is dramatic enough for a thousand Oscar wins. If one cuts out the long dramatic pauses, melodramatic facial expressions, and unrealistic staging, one can almost make out the bones of a really interesting story. 

There are a few little scenelettes which really capture the humanity of WWI through the experience of a horse. This is a unique perspective through which we haven't heard the story told. I don't think many young people today are aware of the role horses played in WWI; the first modern war the world had seen was conducted with some very old-fashioned methods.

To be honest, I left the theatre feeling angry. The sticky sentimentalism of War Horse made me feel sick. The characters are so shallow, you almost forget they're there - the worrying earth-mother, the drunken father, the clown of a friend (although his final scene is touching), the tragically ill little French girl and her quaint grandfather, the vicious German officer, the bumbling German stable man, the courageously frightened but kindhearted British cavalry officer, the crusty grumpy army doctor who is willing to leave his hundreds of human patients to tend a random horse.... Get the picture? I just wanted to smack my forehead and say "Puh-lease!"

Watching this film was like watching the SNL or French and Saunders spoof ofthis film. I would say it's the type of story kids would like, except I don't know if I'd want my kids to see some of those war scenes, not because they were graphic, but because WWI is just a really psychologically stressful patch of our history. Overall, I feel cheated by this film. I don't want to recommend it to younger audiences but it's of no value to an adult audience - it completely fails to find its place. I will remember certain scenes, specific shots, which appealed to me visually, and I think the story is a good one. But I would not pay to see this movie, now do I ever wish to sit through it ever again.

The Adventures of Tintin

When we were kids, my brother and I loved reading the Tin Tin comic books. We were drawn in by the action and mystery of the stories.

The new Steven Spielberg film, The Adventures of Tintin, more or less lives up to the original stories. Unfortunately, the action and speed of the picture overwhelm the mystery itself. The film fails in the first half to grab the audience's interest with the mystery of the Unicorn. For most of the film, the viewer doesn't quite remember why we're so keen to find out more about the ship. The antagonists are not very frightening, mostly because we don't know why they pose a threat to Tintin or his quest. There are actually very few moments when the audience is scared. Any suspense is spent quickly as the pace of the film keeps moving. Indeed, the movie goes so quickly that one can get caught up in the pace of adventure without remembering the motive behind the action. Or one is simply bored.

Each character lacks the sort of depth that would give the story richness. We know little about Tintin's background except that he's a journalist who just happens to be curious about things - not too off the mark from the books. Drunken Captain Haddock's personal history is fairly shallow but it provides the only known motivation for the quest of the Unicorn. We don't know anything about our adversary until the very last scenes of the film.

To be honest, there's not much to say about this movie. It's visually enjoyable, especially in 3D and I think it's the perfect weekend movie for kids who don't need a reason to be swept away in a simple treasure hunt sort of adventure. The comic relief provided by the two bumbling detectives, Thomson and Thompson, is indeed humorous, if a bit annoying. The kids I took to see the movie loved it, but I wonder if they'd enjoy it as much the second or third time, without the 3D glasses.

Super 8

A few days ago I went to see Super 8 - bad title, great movie. The title is one of the few things wrong with this movie. I actually don't even remember what it refers to in the movie...[I have since been informed that Super 8 is a type of film and that this movie is a nod to the filmmakers Spielberg idolized as a kid]

The film is about a group of boys and one girl (the love interest) in Ohio making a movie for a film competition. During a midnight filming session, the youngsters witness (and are nearly killed by) the derailing of a US military train. Although the kids try to carry on with their normal lives, strange things begin to happen in their town, causing panic. The military is being something less than cooperative with the townspeople. The town is evacuated as the military troops in the track down and kill the thing which is causing people to go missing. When Alice (love interest) goes missing, the boys involve themselves trying to find her (again risking their lives).

Although the overall plot of the movie may sound a bit clichéd, there is a strong realism throughout the film which sustains the audience's credibility. My family is from western Pennsylvania and the town in which this movie was filmed is just spot on. From the looming industrial plant to the houses to in interior decorating, I nearly believed I had crash landed in my dad's 1970s kid-dom.

The five or six child actors are absolutely superb. Part of it is due to their talent. But an even bigger part of the credit must be given to the writers and director who allow their kid-ness to shine through naturally. The script is so realistic and natural that one forgets that these kids have actually memorized their lines from paper. The way they communicate is just as if we were watching them squabble on the playground or on the phone.

The overall filming of Super 8 is very well done. I'm not usually one for pyrotechnics and things just blowing up for the sake of it, but the train crash scene was AMAZING to watch. I don't know if it was the timing, the special effects, the sound, or a combination of all three, but I know every person in that theatre was gripping their seats and holding their breath for the entire length of the scene.

The film also had a very strong message to convey to audiences. The film represents many things: it is an alien film, yes. But it's also a father-daughter/father-son story, a "my-mom-just-died" story, a friendship epic, and a romance. It's all of these without being to scattered or confusing. A strong thread of just natural, unaffected, unassuming love holds the film together and yet it never threatens to become to sickeningly sentimental.

I would strongly recommend this film. If you've seen previews or heard about it but you don't really think that it's your type of movie, think again. This movie does not fall into any specific "type" or genre. It's just a good all-around film which will really engage any viewer. In some ways it is similar to E.T. but you would have to see it and validate the comparison for yourself. It might be a little much for kids but I think anyone older than 12 or 13 would probably enjoy it.

If you see this movie, comment on this blog to tell me what you thought! I'd love to hear about your experience, even if you disagree with my review.