War Horse

It's 1914 and the world is being catapulted into chaos as World War I breaks out. In England a young man named Albert lives with his parents trying to scrape a living so they can continue to pay the rent and not be thrown out onto the streets. The war hasn't reached England yet, but everyone can feel the tension as it draws nearer. As a last ditch effort to keep their farm, Albert and his father go to the local market to buy a sturdy plow horse for the fields. When they get there, Albert's father gets drunk and also into a bidding war with a rival farmer, but not for a plow horse. Instead they bid on a beautiful stallion, one not built for plowing. Albert's father wins the horse in the end and must figure out a way to make the stallion work in the fields. Albert makes a promise to his father that he will train the horse and get the fields planted in time so they won't lose their house. Unfortunately the war soon catches up to England, and Albert must give up his beloved horse to the English army.

"Battles are ugly affairs" - Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

That line was said by Father Christmas when he met the Pevensie children in the film adaptation of the beloved children's series, but it could have easily been used in War Horse. What's interesting about War Horse is it is not only a story about a horse and his master, but it is ultimately a criticism on the effects of war. It is also told from the perspective of  the horse (who Albert has named Joey). Joey is taken from Albert to be used on the frontlines of World War I. The audience watches as Joey travels across Europe and experiences firsthand the pain and agony of war. War Horse is a well acted, fantastically well-made film reminiscent of films such as Black Beauty, Where the Red Fern Grows, and Old Yeller. It is a little slow in the beginning but once it gets past the first 15-20 minutes then it begins to pick up speed and gets much better from there. Jeremy Irvine, who plays Albert, gives a fantastic performance as the wide-eyed teenager that falls for Joey. If you have not had the chance to check out War Horse, I strongly encourage you to.