Christmas Day is a very common opening day for big films. Or at least it used to be. It also happens to be the latest day in the year that a movie can be released and be eligible for the Academy Awards for that year.
Spielberg's War Horse
- Thread starter Batutta
- Start date
Christmas Day is a very common opening day for big films. Or at least it used to be. It also happens to be the latest day in the year that a movie can be released and be eligible for the Academy Awards for that year.
Eric Boellner
Well-known member
Oh, I see. It still seems weird, though - War Horse will only get a one-day gross for an opening weekend.
Also, I wasn't aware that Christmas was a big movie holiday. I had studied the 4th of July as a box office holiday, and it's a predictably down day for movies, I thought I'd come to the same conclusion about Christmas, but I must not have even studied it. <grin>
Also, I wasn't aware that Christmas was a big movie holiday. I had studied the 4th of July as a box office holiday, and it's a predictably down day for movies, I thought I'd come to the same conclusion about Christmas, but I must not have even studied it. <grin>
ManofWords
Active member
I used to think the same, but a lot of families head to the movies on Xmas day...
Batutta
Major Contributor
Titanic and Avatar were both released during the Christmas season, although not on Christmas Day. While most studios worship at the altar of the opening weekend, when a movie becomes a must see hit during Christmas, it basically can run uncontested until the Spring (while the studios dump their crap films) and rack up a massive gross. Titanic had an unimpressive opening weekend (34 million), but then just kept pulling in 25 million dollar weekends for months on end. Avatar followed a similar pattern.
thelateshowwithsanjuro
Active member
I lol'd at your comment, very true.
ManofWords
Active member
lol!... good shout..
The trailer does seem to lay it on a bit thick, especially with the music, but I trust Spielberg not to create a movie as saccharin as that trailer makes it look.
It's hard to tell from that trailer what the actual narrative is going to be. Is it following the horse, or the people who become acquainted with the horse over the course of the war? The film could go a lot of ways not obvious from the trailer.
It's hard to tell from that trailer what the actual narrative is going to be. Is it following the horse, or the people who become acquainted with the horse over the course of the war? The film could go a lot of ways not obvious from the trailer.
thelateshowwithsanjuro
Active member
Batutta
Major Contributor
Ok. This damn movie made me cry. Mission accomplished Steve...This is a very old fashioned, sentimental tear jerker. There isn't a cynical bone in its body. It doesn't rank among Spielberg's best nor his worst. The film of his it most reminds me of is AI actually. The structures are very similar. Some echoes of Empire of the Sun as well. AI is the more interesting film because of its subject matter, although this one feels more complete as a story. Whatever shortcomings War Horse has stem mostly from its source material, which seems designed solely to manipulate the emotions. That it does very well. A better movie of this particular story probably couldn't be made, and Spielberg makes it look effortless. I put it in the same category as movies like Titanic or The Green Mile. If you like those kinds of films, you'll probably enjoy this. If you don't, and you know who you are, don't bother.
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Eric Boellner
Well-known member
I've been on the verge of going to see this for the last 3 days. Still can't decide.
Batutta
Major Contributor
I went through the same thing. Couldn't muster up the enthusiasm. Finally went just because I was bored..All I'll say if you need to kill some time, it's a pleasant enough diversion. Wouldn't call it a must see.
Curtis Mack
Active member
If not for this thread, I would not have seen the film. I agree with the early comment about lighting, especially on the father's face during the auction. It just looks ridiculous. The sunlit scenes were harsh with rough shadows- at this level of proficiency it could not be a technical error, but it is an artistic error. The first two-thirds of this film was pure hackwork, down in the pits with Lucas. The last third was master work, especially the run across no man's land and followup. I cannot think of another director who could have accomplished it. A great touch was right at the end, when the major is washing the horse's head to find the white patch and the captain offers him more water to wash with. As usual with a Spielberg film, one sees occasional flashes of brilliance in a film filled with cliche. Too bad that at this advanced stage of his career, Spielberg cannot make a film without his characteristic child's point of view. If he grew up, he would be in the same league with Ford, Hawks, Kazan, Carol Reed, and Hitchcock.
Batutta
Major Contributor
No way. Spielberg on his worst day is nowhere near as inept a filmmaker as Phantom Menace era Lucas. The shot selection was always dead on, the acting good and the dialogue serviceable. The nature of the story is just what it is. Simplistic and sentimental.
I think it was the right point of view for this particular story.