The Descendants

We all go to tropical islands for holidays. But when we do we can sometimes forget that people live and work on these islands and they have the same problems as all of us, despite living in a beautiful looking place.

I have been a fan of director Alexander Payne since his first film 'Election'. He is an excellent director who takes seemly ordinary and common stories and makes them feel fresh and new with a quirky sense of humour. While this film lacks some of the really quirky humour we've come to expect, it is still an excellent film. There is the common story of a parents, in this case a father, who must reconnect with his family after a tragedy. He must learn who his kids and wife really are. Matt King comes across as a very relaxed character. He does not always show his true emotions but has little explosions of emotion occasionally. These can provide some of the humour in the film. There is also the tension of how Matt is going to react when he meets the man with whom his wife was having an affair. There is also the tension of what he will be doing with his families land. Matt has so much going on in his life that it keeps the film interesting and you are never bored because there is always one of these many plot elements coming to the fore.

Everyone is praising George Clooney's performance in this film and saying how remarkable he is, and I think it is very true. I don't like to judge an actor's performance based on their real life but sometimes I think you need to. We all know that George Clooney is a perpetual bachelor. He is always dating beautiful women and has not settled down, gotten married and had kids. Most of his roles have been men who are not family men. Which is why this film is so significant. George is brilliant at playing father. He is a kind of absentee father so he is constantly struggling to become a father. He seemed convincing to me. As his daughters Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller are excellent. Shailene plays the typical sullen teen but has enough wit to make her character interesting. Her dirty mouth was a constant source of amusement for me with the mostly older audience when I was the film. Nick Krause has a difficult job of playing a character who starts off as an idiot but then you come to like. He has lots of goofy charm to make his character fun. I like to see the normally comedic Judy Greer doing something more dramatic. I think that Patricia Hastie has the toughest job in the film as Matt's wife in the coma. Despite just lying in a bed and being in a coma, Patricia has a big presence in the film.

Not your typical George Clooney movie. He is playing against type in more ways than one. Definitely worth checking out.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

The world's greatest literary detective has been revived with a film and TV series. The film franchise continues with this sequel.

A few years ago I found a box set of all the Sherlock Holmes novels really cheap at a book shop. They are really excellent stories and have come in handy as inspiration for the detective film script that I have been writing. Guy Ritchie has brought back the character with some modern sensibility but kept the setting in the original period. I think he has managed to marry the period film with some very cool film making techniques to make it feel more modern but not be set in modern times. The first film was a very thrilling, action packed adventure. Guy has managed to keep the fun with the sequel. He has also chosen to being into the series Sherlock's major nemesis, Moriarty. Much like the first film, this one has a very strong political thread. This time it is international with the effects reaching to Europe. This makes the story more grand and thus a great deal of fun. Moriarty is certainly a great villain for Sherlock to play off. They are very equally matched and therefore Holmes must resort to drastic measures to out do him. Guy is certainly great at action scenes too. While the slow motion way he shoots them can get a tad monotonous it does make them seem very dynamic. I also liked the way the ending mirrored the ending of the novel's story that features Moriarty.

It seems Robert Downey Jnr can do anything. While this version of Sherlock Holmes comes across a little bit like an English Tony Stark. In previous incarnations Sherlock was more prim and proper but here he is far more relaxed and gritty. Robert is perfect at playing the larican and intelligent sides in equal measure. As Watson Jude Law is a perfect counter balance. He is the prim and proper side that Holmes needs. Jude is excellent in this role and I think has great chemistry with Robert. Noomi Rapace hit the cinema screens with great impact in 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'. Here she makes her Hollywood film debut. While I would have liked her to have a bigger role in the story, I think she does an excellent job. Jared Harris is certainly not the big name you would have expected to take on a role like this, but I think he is an excellent choice. He has the deadpan and subtlety in his performance to make him seem like a very formidable foe without actually doing very much. Of coarse he has a henchmen to do most of his dirty work. I think Stephen Fry was a brilliant choice as Holmes' brother Mycroft. He's the more prim version of Sherlock and Stephen bring his hilariously dry wit to the role.

A great deal of fun as Sherlock tackles his greatest foe. An excellent action film with a clever and witty plot and script.

Young Adult

In 2007, director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody teamed up to bring us the delightfully funny 'Juno'. Now they team up again to bring us a film that is far from delightful.

Diablo Cody is a very clever writer and has come up with some really interesting characters. I'm a big fan of hers because of this. This is probably one of her more interesting characters. Up until now she has created characters that are likable but she has now given us Mavis Gary. Even her name is not that nice. No offense to other women called Mavis but it is not a name you expect to be given to a good looking woman like this. Her actions in this film do not make here terribly likable either. I can understand how people can find her unappealing. But I think that you don't always need to have a protagonist who is likable if you understand why they are the way they are. This is a woman who has been living vicariously through the characters that she writes in her books. Mavis was popular in school and so she has managed to keep this good feeling going with the books. But now it looks like that good feeling is coming to an end so she must try to find a way to keep it going and resorts to a desperate measure. Because of this the film is very much a black comedy. You are laughing at things that you know you shouldn't. I'm a huge fan of black comedies and comedy that is a bit dark. Which is why this film appealed to me so much.

It is great to see Charlize Theron back on the big screen again. I think she is an excellent actress and it is good to see her doing a comedy. It is also brave of her to do a role where she plays someone so nasty. But she does such a good job of it that you don't care. Patton Oswalt is one of those actors that we see quite a lot of in supporting roles. While he is excellent in all of them, I think that this is by far his best. He is so wonderful in this role and plays his character brilliantly. He is the only one who I think understands Mavis and what has happened to her. Patrick Wilson is very good as the object of Mavis's affection. But he is not given much to do except look good. Elizabeth Reaser who most of you know from the 'Twilight Saga' does a very good job as the woman standing in Mavis's way.

This is not a very appealing film in a nice way. If you like dark comedies and something a bit different, then you should check this out.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

When ever a foreign language film becomes hugely successful, Hollywood will try to remake it. When it is based on a hugely successful novel then that's even more reason to make an English language version.

It is a sad fact of life that when people go to a movie they don't want to work too hard to enjoy it. Most of the time they just want to sit back and relax and let all the work be done for them. I'm fine with that. But enjoying the occasional foreign language film would be good for people. Especially when it is as good as the original Swedish version of 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'.

I know it is wrong for a critic to have 'baggage' when watching a film but it is only natural to compare different versions of the same film. I'm a huge fan of David Fincher and I've loved every film he has done. In some ways I feel he was a little bit of an obvious choice to direct this film but if anyone can do a good job then I know he can. David has made an excellent thriller. But for me it lacked the impact of the original. This new version felt too clean and slick. Where as the original had a grittiness to it that made it feel a bit dirty which suited the story. On the good side though this film moves along at a quicker pace, especially in the first half of the film. Being an American film the violence has lost its impact as well with certain scenes being tamer than the original. The ending ha been changed a bit here too. One aspect I was not very pleased with but the other I did not mind.

Poor Rooney Mara had the tough job of filling a role which was made a significant impact on the original film. Noomi Rapace was so incredibly good that you could not imagine anyone else doing such a good job. For me Rooney give an excellent performance and suits the role in that aspect. The one thing I did not like was her look. The bleeched eyebrows make her look plain and a bit androgynous. Noomi looked gorgeous and sexy despite the hardcore outfits and make up. Rooney does not. Daniel Craig is an excellent choice for Michael Blomkvist. He gives one of his best performances here. A little understated but very emotive when he needs to be. Christopher Plummer gives another wonderfully dignified performance as the patriarch of a crazy family. Stellen Skarsgard is nicely creepy in his role.

An excellent thriller and well worth seeing if you have not seen the original Swedish version as a first step. Then go see the original to see how it should be done.

Hugo

The legendary director Martin Scorsese has made many violent and very adult films. Now he is making something for the kids and trying his hand at 3D in the process.

The use of 3D has been abused by Hollywood lately, with most films not being worthy of having been made in that way. It is one of those things that needs a skilled film maker to really be any good. Which is why it is used so well here. Martin is a skilled film maker who fully understands how films are made. Which is demonstrated with this film in more ways than one. On the one hand he has used the 3D process brilliantly. The way he makes the environments stand out are simply breathtaking. The film is set in a clockwork like environment so there are many cogs and wheels all over the place. I've always been fascinated by clockworks and how all the cogs can fit together to make something work so precisely. Which is why I loved the look of this film so much. The way the camera moves through the various sets is a thing of magic. One of the few occasions where the 3D process is worth the extra price of admission.

Martin also shows off his mastery of cinema with his integration of the early days of cinema into the plot. I found this part of the film fascinating. It was a very good lesson in simple film techniques which prove you do not need flashy special effects to tell stories. Back in those days they used the most basic skills to make magic on screen and still make it seem wonderful. Granted it would have wowed audiences back then and most audiences these days would find it quaint, but it is still great to see how simple things can have the biggest effect. To many people the film making process can be very boring. But on all the film sets I've been on I've always found it fascinating to see how things work and what goes into getting each shot. Which is why I loved this part of the film so much.

I only had one minor problem with the film, that I found it a bit too long. There were a few sections that dragged a bit and could have done with some tighter editing to make them move the pace of the film along a bit quicker. Other wise this is a wondrous piece of film making.

Asa Butterfield is one of those young actors we will be seeing a lot of in the future. He is very skilled at giving an emotional performance as a troubled young man. It is nice to see Chloe Grace Moretz making a film that suits her age group. She is delightful and so wonderful in this film. Ben Kingsley gives a nicely understated performance as the classic film maker. Many people only know Sacha Baron Cohen from his crazy characters like Borat, Bruno and Ali G. What many tend to forget is his skills as a comic actor in less wacky roles. Here he hilarious as he plays a role that reminds you of the comic performers that were around when the film was set.

Perhaps younger film makers need to go back to school and have some lessons from these older film makers in how to really use the 3D process to make wonderful films. Definitely a film worthy of the extra money to see in 3D.

Happy Feet Two

In 2006, director George Miller made a film which made penguins even more popular. He returns with a follow up story.

What I find most interesting is that George Miller directed what is widely regarded as one of the best sequels ever made, 'Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior'. This film many consider to be even better than the original. However lately he has made two sequels which are two of the worst films of all time. While this film is not as horrible as the abomination that is 'Babe: Pig In The City' it is still really bad. There are times when I am opposed to sequels. I think that there are some films, like 'Babe' for example, that did not need to have a sequel made. However if the makers can come up with a good story then it can be good. 'Happy Feet' I did not think needed a sequel to be made but it may have worked if a decent story was made. Having the penguins trapped by ice burgs was not a good story to me. While I understand in some ways why it was used because it let dancing save the day, but I don't think it was told in a really fun way. There was however one part of the film which angered me more. There is a scene where Mumble and his son Eric encounter an elephant seal and his family. I thought this was one of the most badly written scenes I've seen in a while. It almost made me want to walk out of the film. It may not be the scene its self that is bad just the motivation of the elephant seal. He is unecessarily mean and nasty which I did not see the point of. This nasty streak is then repeated at the end of the film which upset me more. Included is a subplot involving two krill which was completely unnecessary. I think George was trying to copy the 'Ice Age' films and include a fun side story like they do with Scrat. George however forgot to make his characters interesting and/or fun. Even the musical numbers are nothing special. None of the songs I found to be as good as the first film. The film however is not all bad. The animation is beautiful and the attention to detail is awesome. The 3D helped to make it look even better.

The cast make a decent job with their vocal work. Elijah Wood still has his sweet and innocent tone which makes you fall in love with Mumble. Pink makes a good replacement as Gloria. Robin Williams is his typical manic self. Brad Pitt and Matt Damon do good vocal work with boring characters. The only one that helps make the film bearable is Hank Azaria. He is quite funny and certainly makes his character more interesting.

George Miller has done it again. He has taken a wonderful film and made an incredibly bad sequel. Someone needs to stop this man.

We Bought A Zoo

Hollywood loves a true life story. And the type they like best are the ones where a person changes their lives completely to start a new one.

This film is based on a true story which took place in England but has been transposed to America. It is a factor which does not make much a of a difference to the story. Cameron Crowe is a director which I've had mixed reactions. The only one of his films I've really liked is 'Almost Famous'. The others have been either ordinary or terrible (and you can probably guess which one that was). Here he seems to be aiming more for the family friendly, mainstream audience and he succeeds. You have a story with lots of animals for the kids to enjoy then you have a heartwarming story for the adults. It is full of cliches and is very predictable but it is full of charm that you can't help but like it. Benjamin Mee is the type of character that has a single-minded determination to succeed in the face of overwhelming odds that you can't help but like him. As with most of these types of stories, I can't help but think of money and where it comes from. I would like to have known how much the house that Benjamin bought cost considering there was a zoo attached. Then there is the costs of running the zoo which does not seem to worry him. There is a point in the film where he gets help which seems a little too convenient. But as long as you don't think too carefully it should not bother you. I did think that Crowe played the 'dead wife' card a bit too much. I admit it got emotional but got too much after a while.

Matt Damon is brilliant at being so versatile an actor. He can play larger than life, hero like characters in the Jason Bourne series, then play everyday types in films such as this. It is also nice to see him playing a mature fatherly role as well. I have mixed feelings about Scarlett Johansson. There are a few moments in the film where I thought she was giving a terrible performance but other times she was quite good. Perhaps she was not well cast. Thomas Hayden Church gives another brilliant performance. I wish we saw more of him. Colin Ford does a decent job as the sullen teen. But Maggie Elizabeth Jones as his younger sister steals the show from everyone, even the animals, in every scene she is in. I also liked Elle Fanning's really delightful performance.

A nice sweet film that you can safely take the whole family to see. The story line might be a bit boring for the younger kids but older ones should enjoy.

Puss In Boots

Dreamworks Animation are not above milking a franchise for all that it can. After making the last in the Shrek series they have decided to keep it going by focusing on a supporting character with a spin off series.

This film was originally supposed to go straight to DVD/blu-ray but they decided to give the film a cinema release. The story does not quite have that big screen feel to it but is still much better than the plots they had for the last couple of Shrek films. It is fairly predictable and you know where it is going but it is still a lot of fun. I liked the way they have cleverly woven fairy tales and fables into the story. This is especially true of the 'Jack And The Beanstalk' story. There are several great action sequences in the film which looked really fun and exciting.

Antonio Banderas is perfectly suited to play this cool feline. While he has played a similar character in Zorro, Puss is a more light hearted character. Antonio gives a wonderful performance that makes you think your really watching a cat in boots. He has a great partner in Salma Hayek. Kitty is basically a female version of Puss but Selma brings a nice distinctive quality to her performance. The real star of the film is Humpty Dumpty. as played by Zach Galifianakis. He has proven himself in live-action films to be a great comedy character and now shows he can do great vocal work too. Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris make a nice duo as the villainous Jack and Jill.

This is the type of plot they should have used for one of the Shrek films. A great animated film that continues the Shrek franchise.

Tower Heist

Those in the world who are badly done by like to dream of taking revenge on those who put them in that situation. Luckily we have Hollywood to help us enjoy what these schemes might look like.

The heist is one of the more interesting genres and one of those that can go both ways. A lot hinges on the scheme involved and the characters. Generally it must involve a very elaborate scheme. This film offers a fairly simple scheme and is all the better for it. While I could quite easily pick some of the smaller problems with it, it is a very sound idea. It does get a bit out of control and some of the final stages get silly. Despite this I was able to go along for the ride and really enjoy the film. As mentioned the characters have a lot to do with it. Our central character is a little bit bland but he surrounded by some more interesting people. They have some very funny characteristics which make the movie lots of fun.

I want to spend some time talking about Eddie Murphy. Eddie used to be a highly respected comedy actor who did many great films. Lately he his career has not been going too well and I can tell you it all came down to one bad decision, to make the film 'Norbit'.Aside from the fact that it is a bad film, there is the fact that it was released at the same time as members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were voting for him for his performance in 'Dreamgirls'. I am confident that members did not vote for him because of 'Norbit'. If he had of won then his career would have been a lot better than it had been. This film I think will go along way towards remedying the situation. He is very funny and is given the chance to be the kind of wacky character he used to play. Ben Stiller gives a good performance as an everyman type character. I did not think he was anything special. I always love to see Tea Leoni in films and she is delightful. Alan Alda plays a good villain but I think he could have been a bit more creepy and/or menacing. It is also great to see Gabourey Sidibe doing something light. She is quite funny too. Matthew Broderick nicely plays the nerdy character we have come to love him for.

It may not be the greatest but it is still a great fun caper movie. Worth seeing for a welcome return to form for Eddie Murphy.

The Muppets

It's time to play the music. It's time to light the lights. It's time to meet the Muppets on The Muppet Show tonight. It's time to put on make-up. It's time to dress up right. It's time to get things started.

I am of the generation that grew up watching Muppets. Be they on 'The Muppet Show' and on 'Sesame Street'. I firmly believe that my constant watching of 'Sesame Street' formed my education and helped me to learn more at an early age. I also believe that 'The Muppet Show' formed part of my education in comedy. Growing up I was always attracted to children shows that had sophisticated senses of humour. Ones that while on the outside seemed to be aimed at children had a clever and witty undercurrent that appealed to adults as well. 'The Muppet Show' was one such example.

It is always a gamble when something beloved from your childhood makes a return. Will it ever be as good as you remember it? I am pleased to say that Jason Segel and his co-writer Nicholas Stoller are an excellent choice to bring these beloved characters back to life. Jason and Nicholas obviously care about the Muppets and, I feel, have created a film that is true to the characters and something that all fans will love. It is also a film that I'm sure will bring some new fans as well. The script is very clever and witty with an excellent plot. The greatest thing though is the wonderful self referential nature that it has. The way characters know they are in a movie and break the fourth wall. The plot is the ultimate reference with it being about the return of the Muppets to prominence.

There are also the brilliant musical numbers which punctuate the film so nicely. They also bring back some classic Muppet songs too. 'Rainbow Connection' is one of my all time favourite songs. It never fails to being a tear to my eye when ever I hear it. Which is very much the case here when the whole Muppet cast sing it. Part of the reason I get so emotional over the song is Jim Henson. When he died the song was played quite a lot. He is one of the few famous people whose death has made me cry. So hearing the song is a constant reminder of a genius who was taken before his time. I did like how his spirit is in the film in the form of banners that line the street where The Muppet theatre is set.

Kermit The Frog is one of those characters that you can't help but like. He is so charming and delightful and sweet with a touch of innocence. As mentioned above his rendition of 'Rainbow Connection' is a constant reminder of his beloved creator and Kermit is his crowning achievement. Miss Piggy is her old diva self but also shows how sweet she can be, not only to the love of her life but to her friends as well. I loved the subplot that they give Animal here. It was one of the film's best elements. The rest of the Muppet cast are their usual wonderful selves. Jason Segal leads a delightful human cast. It was nice that he did not try to hog the limelight and let the Muppets have centre stage. Amy Adams is so sweet as his girlfriend in the movie. Chris Cooper, while once again playing a bad guy, does it so well that you don't mind. Who knew he could sing and dance too. Being a Muppet movie there are lots of celebrity cameos. My favourites were David Grohl and Jim Parsons, whose appearance got the biggest reaction in the screening I saw.

Fans of the Muppets should be happy with their return. If you don't know who what a Muppet is then you need to get yourself to a cinema as soon as you can and be charmed by some of the greatest characters ever created.

My Top 10 Films of 2011.

2011 was a good year for film for me. A few disappointments at the more expensive end of town. None of the big blockbusters were really very exciting. Except perhaps for 'X-Men: First Class'. It looks like 2012 will make up for that.

My biggest disappointment I think was Pixar's effort. I recently watched the film on blu-ray and was not very impressed by a second viewing. In my opinion I think they have finally made a dud film.

Aussie films were really impressive this year. Not only did we have the financially successful 'Red Dog' but there were some brilliant smaller films two. I've got two of them in my Top 10.

As usual I saw lots of brilliant films at the Sydney Film Festival. I only had one bad film at the festival with three of my Top 10 films being from the festival.

It was also the year that I got to see lots of classic films on the big screen. I'm so glad that cinemas have finally realised there is a market out there for this. Perhaps modern films no longer impress people.

2012 looks to be a very exciting year with 'The Dark Knight Rises' sure to be the major highlight. The footage I've seen already with the Imax trailer looks very impressive.

So here they are. Let me know what you think:

10. Moneyball.

For many this is a long boring film about baseball statistics. But for me it is a fascinating look at a man who is determined to make a difference to the game that he loves.

9. Crazy, Stupid, Love

The year's best romantic comedy. An excellent story with some brilliant moments. Very well written and featuring another brilliant performance by Ryan Gosling.

8. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

It is rare that we get such a clever and intelligent thriller which does not explain every little details to its audience. Some of the information is given subtly so you have to think and pay attention.

7. Snowtown

A powerful Aussie film about one of the countries darkest events. It comes across as dark and depressing but still powerful storytelling. And a brilliant central performance.

6. The Iron Lady

Another film with a brilliant central performance. While it is mostly Meryl Steeps amazing performance that carries the film, it is still a fascinating look at one of the most influential political figures in recent memory.

5. Trollhunter

By now we have all become pretty sick of these 'found footage' films. Then along comes something like this where they reinvigorate the genre with something fresh and original. And it took the Norwegians to do it.

4. Tree Of Life

This was also the year where we were reminded that films are not just entertainment but an art form as well. This is pure visual poetry. Highly recommended if you want to be challenged by what you see rather than have it all explained to you.

3. Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil

The years funniest film. Another invigoration for a tired old genre. While not a send-up or parody, just a different take on the 'teens being terrorised by hillbillies' genre. Very cleverly done.

2. Burning Man

An amazingly powerful film that is told in a a brilliant way. It is a story we have seen before but it is told in a unique way that makes the film amazing. Aussie too which is an added bonus. But intimidating for someone like my trying to make films as this is the level I have to achieve.

1. Rabbit Hole

I think that because I know someone who has gone through a similar experience that this film had such a huge impact on me. You would think a story like this would be a heavy dreary drama, but it is full of funny moments. It is also the best performance that Nicole Kidman has ever given.

There was not really one film which I thought was the worst. Just lots of disappointments. I think most of the time I knew they were not going to be great so I was not surprised when they turned out to be bad. dis-honourable mentions in this category include: 'The Way Back'; 'How Do You Know'; 'Your Highness'; 'Sleeping Beauty'; 'Bridesmaids'; 'Cars 2'; 'Larry Crowne'; 'The Change-Up'; 'Abduction'; 'What's Your Number?'.

Thank you to all my new followers who joined me throughout the year. I look forward to hearing all your comments on my reviews. Make sure you tell all your friends so I can build up some more followers. Never be afraid to be honest and tell me what you think.

Movie Moose.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

A couple of years ago, after some public displays of affection, Tom Cruise left Paramount Pictures. But never let a good franchise go to waste. All is forgiven as Tom returns as Ethan Hunt.

Brad Bird is one of my all time favourite directors. He has only been working in animation but has now branched out into live action. He began by working on the greatest animated TV series of all time 'The Simpsons' before directing his first feature film, 'The Iron Giant', which is one of my all time favourite movies. I think however his direction of 'The Incredibles' was what got him this gig. He certainly knows how to do live-action action. This is a spectacular action with some brilliantly directed action sequences. He has also got a more light hearted approach to the film, which makes it more enjoyable and does not take itself seriously. The other MI films I have enjoyed but not really loved. I really loved this film. It has a nice simple story with a few great twists. I saw it in Imax so I think that might have added to the enjoyment. The Dubai sequence on the side of the building makes for awesome viewing in Imax. You really feel like you are there and looking down the side of the building with Ethan. I also really enjoyed the final fight in the car park at the end.

Tom Cruise has not always been my favourite actor. There have however been a couple of roles lately which make me more of a fan. Here he is only required to be the action hero. There is not a lot of emotional depth to the character. Except maybe at the end. But he makes a fine punching bag that gets thrown around a lot. Some scenes seem a little impossible but you don't mind. Jeremy Renner has made a few action films already and he does a good job here. He is not as in control of the situation as he normally is which makes a nice change. Simon Pegg is brilliant as always. His role is essentially to be the comic relief, which he does wonderfully. Paula Pattern is excellent as the female lead. I liked how she was not a romantic interest but an excellent member of the team who gets involved in the action. I'm a little disappointed with Michael Nyqvist. Once again he is playing a bad guy. He does not have to do much except look mean and shadowy. Many complain he is not a very versatile actor so perhaps he is playing to his strengths.

Probably one of the years best action films. It has a greater impact on an Imax screen, so if you get the chance then that is the place to see it.

War Horse

In the second of Steven Spielberg's films for the season he makes another war film but this time about World War I.

Steven has covered World War II pretty extensively with films and TV shows. He now moves onto another war. I had not heard of the story before I saw the film and I think because it was being directed by Steven, I expected something more. The first half of the film is pretty conventional and cliched. It is the typical story of a family on a farm unable to meet payments and forced to sell a beloved animal. I know that this story has been told many timed before and I probably would not have minded if it was told in an interesting way. Perhaps Steven's direction is conventional and not dynamic enough t make the story interesting. It was not until the second half of the film when the action starts that the story gets interesting. I'm not sure if Steven works better when he has lots of action to work with. I think I was expecting a bit more war action as well. So these earlier scenes did not feel as interesting because I was expecting a bit more action. I did find the ending really emotional though so it did get to me in the end.

The horse that plays Joey is an exceptional horse. He manages to show lots of emotion and a real personality. Which makes you care about him more as a character. This is a good thing as he is the central character of the film. I'm sure that at several times in the film he looked like he had human qualities. Jeremy Irvine makes a decent human hero for this film. He is a bit bland but he is still good. Peter Mullan makes a nice gruff farmer. Emily Watson is good as the loving and supportive wife and mother. Niels Arestrup makes a good grandfather trying to take care of his granddaughter.

A good drama about a non-human's experiences during World War I. Maybe not at dynamic as you might expect but still very moving.