The hits don't stop coming if one goes all-in and gets the four-disc Blu-ray set. The package comes with a DVD and digital copy (thereby eliminating two discs), the feature film on Blu-ray as well as a Blu-ray disc with more extras. Just like the film itself, it is bloated nearly to the point of laughability. The full-length (longer than an hour) behind-the-scenes piece on the second disc is entitled "A Filmmaking Journey" and, like the main feature is incredibly highly produced. Outside of its sweeping score and dramatic, Hollywood feature-esque openings and closings to scenes, it really is little more than a typical piece that one finds on DVD, it's just been overly-extended. Shorter featurettes like ones on editing and scoring, sound design, the work of an extra, a couple of round tables with cast and crew, and Kathleen Kennedy going through photos she took while on set (and other producer-y things) work far better for their leanness.
War Horse has an incredible team behind it, one which has one numerous Academy Awards and while it succeeds on many levels, it fails on the most important one – telling its tale in an interesting fashion. The film is hugely interested in showing that the people behind it know all the tricks of the trade, all the things little and big which go into filmmaking, save for how to tell a story. Perhaps with a drastically reduced runtime, perhaps if it chose to focus itself a little more, perhaps were it reined in somewhat, it could have reached far greater heights. More is not necessarily always better and War Horse is the perfect example of that.
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Article comments
1 - Betty
Have to whole-heartedly disagree with the idea that this movie does not stir one's soul. You must have watched a different "War Horse" movie than I did. I don't understand where reviewers like you are coming from when you pick apart this movie. It was beautifully done in every way! I think you have to have that same feeling that the character Albert had for his Joey and know what that feels like to get this movie. You obviously don't have that feeling.
2 - Dr Joseph S Maresca
The film needs some editing. First, a two hour run time is in order. There should be fewer owners depicted with more focus on the movie highlights. The story should lead to a conclusion that the audience expects and wants.
3 - awol
I found the first part plain and stupid. Why would you plow a field full of stones? The reason .. they would loose the farm, just does'nt make sence.
Darn it what were the dad, mother and son doing before they decided a horse was needed? BTW the son plows in the rain, they could have also removed stones in the stones. Did they ran out of space for the stones? i.e. some fences were also made with stones.
In my book, this whole thing killed my "true" interest in the film.
Too much time spent on that sequel. What could have been a very great film, turned out to be ... a good film
4 - awol
to add to my previous comment: Always in my book, the stupidity of plowing a "field of stones".
If so many people CAME to watch how the kid was making out with the plowing... would'nt make sense TO HAVE these same people pitch in to clear the rocks? This would shorten the build up, make more sense and turn a good movie into a great one.
The sheer fact of training a horse of that nature, to plow WAS A FEAT in itself.