I saw my first Steven Spielberg film when I was 14 – “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” I still remember the shot that made my friend and I turn and look at each with goofy grins. At that moment, “CE3K” was the coolest movie we’d ever seen, cooler than even “Star Wars.” As I grew into adulthood, my love of Spielberg’s movies deepened, and to this day, the release of a new Spielberg-directed pic stirs up youthful excitement in me.
So, you can imagine how I was feeling in late December as two Spielberg movies arrived in theaters: “War Horse” and “The Adventures of Tintin.” While it’s unlikely either movie will be regarded as a classic on par with “Jaws,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” or “E.T.”, both are well made and worth seeing in a theater.
I’ll start with “War Horse.” Upon seeing the movie, I told my dad to do likewise. He said he wouldn’t see it unless the horse survives, as he didn’t like “Old Yeller” or “Where the Red Fern Grows,” because the animals died. While I won’t tell you what I told him, I will say “War Horse” is vintage Spielberg: it wears its emotions on its sleeve, it’s beautifully photographed, and it’s exceptionally well directed.
The story follows a horse named Joey as he’s purchased by a farmer in Devon, England, develops a bond with the farmer’s son, and is then sold off to a soldier who’s leaving to serve his country in World War I. With Joey as its anchor, the movie has a broad, sweeping scope that takes viewers through the French countryside and into the trenches of the war.
“War Horse” contains scenes of considerable power, including one in which British soldiers attack a German garrison that’s camped in an open field, only to run into a row of chain guns as they pursue their enemy into the woods. The way Spielberg reveals the presence of the guns is masterful. In another scene, an English and a German soldier leave their trenches and join forces to untangle Joey from barbed wire.
Spielberg showed us the inhumanity of war in “Schindler’s List and “Saving Private Ryan,” but here, he brings the humanity to the surface, including sympathetic characters in the German army.
The casting, acting, writing and score are superb throughout, making “War Horse” a wholly satisfying experience. Some critics dismiss Spielberg movies like “War Horse” as pabulum for the masses, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. (If you see it, tell me which classic movie the cinematography in the final scene brings to your memory.)
I also liked “Tintin,” although it’s a horse of a different color. Instead of being a sprawling historical epic, it’s a 3D animated movie based on the classic comic strip by Hergé. While the movie doesn’t tell audiences much about Tintin, other than he’s a journalist who gets caught up in grand adventures with his dog, Snowy, it gave Spielberg a chance to make a movie free of the physical limitations of the real world.
And does he ever make the most of it. In one scene, Spielberg’s camera follows an insane seven-minute chase without cutting away. The action is breathless, and Spielberg’s knack for choreographing a scene translates well to the animated world. I especially like how he frames his shots in a way that allows viewers to choose where to look.
My only gripe, other than the lack of character development, regards the use of the motion capture technology used in “A Christmas Carol 3D” and “Polar Express” to render the facial expressions. While the animation is remarkably lifelike, Tintin’s smile looks creepy.
The story involves Tintin’s search for a treasure of unimaginable worth, and his attempt to foil the bad guy who wants to get to it first. In style, it’s close to “Raiders,” in that it has the same pulpy, adventurous feel.
Spielberg is currently filming his long gestating movie about Abraham Lincoln. From there, rumors abound about his return to science fiction or Indiana Jones. Whatever he does next, I’ll be there, youthful enthusiasm in tow.
“War Horse” is rated PG-13 for scenes of intense war violence. Three-and-a-half stars out of four. “Tintin” is rated PG for action adventure violence, some drunkenness and brief smoking. Three stars out of four. Email David Laprad at dlaprad@hamiltoncountyherald.com.