by Billy LePage

Humor Editor

Steven Spielberg’s film adaption of War Horse by Michael Morpurgo has grossed 57 million dollars to date since its opening on Christmas Day. That number should grow with the arrival of the Academy Awards due to War Horse’s success this awards season. It is likely that the film will be a contender for an Oscar this February.

War Horse tells the compelling story of the bond between a boy and his horse during the first world war. When the two are separated, Joey, the horse, survives countless battle and overcomes all kinds of adversity to be reunited with his owner. The film is unique, unlike many of today’s popular movies. With mind-numbing movies like Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve coming out more frequently, spectacular movies like War Horse remain unappreciated. Movies should leave you with something to think about because, for $10.25, we deserve to be entertained and inspired in every sense, emotionally and intellectually. 

War Horse has it all. First, aside from a few minor missteps, the historical references and depictions are accurate. As an AP United States History student, War Horse broadened my knowledge of the time period of WWI. Also, the overall theme of the film is that every single action has a reaction; what you do affects others. War Horse had me reflecting honestly on my actions and what I could do better in the new year. 

In addition to being thought provoking, War Horse offers spectacular battle scenes and superb acting on the horse’s part. It is widely known that Spielberg is not a fan of computer-generated imagery (CGI), saying, “audiences can tell when there is CGI. War Horse is no exception; over 100 horses had to be trained for the battle scenes. 

Literally, the sweat and blood of the actors were put into this film, and it definitely shows. Many of the actors even acquired “trench foot,” an actual condition that WWI soldiers suffered from, caused by standing in muddy water for too long. Nevertheless, all their hard work paid off. War Horse received great reviews from critics and will hopefully be making a statement at the Academy Awards this February. I sincerely encourage everyone to go see War Horse because it offers a fresh perspective on WWI and it is thoroughly entertaining.

(Sources: IMBD, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Times.)