Like a painting by an Old Master, "War Horse" is rich in color and detail, exquisitely composed, full of emotion, and although its subject is a horse, keenly observant of the human condition. Steven Spielberg is the master here, of course, drawing on his extraordinary grasp of the medium of film to present a touching story that feels like a classic. All of elements are superbly, beautifully rendered. This is not to say, alas, that "War Horse" is a great movie. It's a bit too self-consciously constructed and rendered, too referential, derivative, and unoriginal. But it is a perfectly good big screen entertainment with all the trimmings, with great cinematography (by Janusz Kaminski), a stirring, tuneful score (by John Williams), and gritty, repulsive scenes of war. This adaptation of the beloved book by Michael Morpurgo, somewhat incredibly also a hit play on Broadway, faithfully presents the themes of love, friendship, perseverance, honor, courage, duty, and the futility of war. It's a film to enjoy. And take a hankie.
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