'The Adventures of TinTin' and 'War Horse'

'The Adventures of TinTin' (PG) (2 STARS)

Writers: Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish based on comic strip
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis, Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, Toby Jones

I didn't think the great Steven Spielberg would fall in the latest movie trap! My latest pet peeve gets stirred up again with the cold and too busy "The Adventures of TinTin". This is another movie with cardboard characters I didn't care about and endless action scenes that were all over the place. I am shocked for Steven Spielberg is usually focused even if he makes something lame like "Hook". The latest trend of animated films not sitting still for a minute to develop characters or a story has crippled Spielberg. In the press Spielberg has told us that he made this movie in the spirit of "Raiders of the Lost Ark". This is far beneath that movie and Spielberg shouldn't have even directed it.

I get why he has mentioned Raiders when speaking of TinTin for this tries for that same sense of adventure and non stop action as TinTin looks for buried treasure. This is a movie based on a comic strip series I had never heard about until now and I don't have a desire to go find it and read it. TinTin is a boring character and his cohorts are I guess Pirates but they would be kicked out off any ship that any of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" characters would be on. The movie is like one extended chase as TinTin and others flip, crash, swordfight and hit each other. None of the action scenes are clean, effective or thrilling. Even "The Goonies" (which I was reminded of watching this) was a thrill ride compared to this. This is an action, adventure movie wirth no thrills or suspense.

I think the major blame should go to the stop motion animation genre that creeps me out. That is where the faces of the people have eyes withdrawn and don't look animated but look deformed. That style of animation here has improved a little bit from the weird looking "Polar Express" and "A Christmas Carol". I am just not into that style of animation and I am definitely not into this boring, messy and cold lackluster movie.

P.S. For better movies than TinTin check out again "The Goonies" and the first "Pirates of the Carribean" movie. Also I was reminded of the Spielberg produced "Young Sherlock Holmes" from 1985 which is much more fun!


'War Horse' (PG-13) (3 STARS)

Writers: Lee Hall and Richard Curtis based on novel Written By Michael Morpurgo
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, Peter Mullan, Niels Arestrup, david Thewlis, Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Celine Buckens

All filmmakers are influenced by certain legendary directors from Hollywood's past. You can tell that Steven Spielberg was greatly infleunced by the great John Ford with his latest "War Horse". Those who don't know John Ford might find this movie corny and it is but I was entertained. This is not Oscar caliber but it is old fashioned, grand entertainment and it is like they used to make them. This is a movie full of cliches and a lot of dialogue you could hear if you watched an old Ford movie. But if you love horses you'll fall in love with this and if you don't you might be bored.

"War Horse" tells the story of young Albert whose parents own a farm that is in danger of being foreclosed. His father Ted drinks and his mother Rose is a loyal wife and mother. Albert's father buys a horse at an auction and Albert becomes close to the horse. Ted sells the horse to the Army to be used for battle in World War I so he can get the money to pay the land's owner. When Albert enlists in the Army he tries to track down his horse. From then the horse takes over as the main character that we will follow through on a journey and that is good because Albert is not that interesting of a character.

What you have in this movie with a huge heart is a lot of war movie cliches and a horse story that will remind you of "The Black Stallion". The horse is beautiful and I had fun watching the horse and his adventures in war. The movie pulls at your heart strings and I guess lately that is wrong. With this movie and last week's "We Bouight A Zoo" I can't understand the backlash this movie is getting from certain critics. Seriously critics, it is time to get the collective sticks out of our butts. I had some problems with this movie but sometimes you have to go with the flow and let the movie wash over you and have fun. There is terrible corn (New Year's Eve) and there is good corn like "War Horse".

The movie is beautiful to look at, Spielberg takes care and shows a lot of heart and warmth with his direction. The horse is amazing and sometimes you will scratch your head trying to figure how they filmed some scenes without hurting the horse. The human characters are sometimes cliches and not many are memorable but I loved Emily Watson as the mother and Tom Hiddelston will make some women's hearts swoon as an English soldier. One of my favorite moments in the movie that captivated me and took my breath away concerned a grandfather and his granddaughter who take part in the horse's journey. I wish they were in the movie longer and Niels Arestrup as the grandfather has a beautifully acted scene and his dialogue is the only time in the movie I felt like real people were talking. Plus Celine Buckens as the granddaughter is a natural and young girls will love this segment as should everyone else.

"War Horse" is a charming and very fun time at the movies and like I said if you love horses this won't dissapoint. I did have another little problem which are the war and battle scenes. They are really all well filmed but sometimes I found them lackluster though I do love a particular scene where the horse is hurt and in danger. Spielberg has made two war movies I am not a big fan of in "Saving Private Ryan" and "Empire of the Sun". They both have great battle scenes but their war stories I found too cliched and corny. I think "War Horse" could have done better in dealing with the war stuff but I will take this movie over "Ryan" and "Empire" any day. Most importantly this is a beautiful love story between a boy and his horse and in that way it is a winner.