Finally, something that isn't sarcastic or ironic on the horizon! Yes, investing yourself in the fate and wellbeing of a horse in one of the most horrific wars mankind has had is a bit loopy on paper, but I think the subject of human suffering during the Great War is... Well covered, to say the least.
All things considered, I think it's refreshing that we lend a thought to all the animals we've dragged with us into manmade hell throughout history, espescially considering that I've been conditioned by mediocre fantasy and tireless World of Warcraft aether-mounts to reguard them as soulless automatons, ment to get people from point A to B. Possibly also stand on its hind legs and neigh dramatically for a heroic moment. Humans dying in stupid wars is an awful thing, but it's very well covered. Animals being dragged into concepts they can't even understand by the thumbies is rather covered as well, but usually not very well.
Furthermore, I haven't had a good, whimpering cry in a good while, now. Last time was the London National Theatre's Frankenstein, and honestly... There's nothing quite like sobbing in a seated theatre while failing to pretend you're not.
I honestly don't see why it's such a transgression to attempt to tug a few heartstrings. Well, alright, it's irritating when it all falls flat because it's poorly executed or just cramed into something that doesn't warrant it. But for War Horse and the like (All together now; Toy Story 3!) I don't really see the problem. You know full well what you're getting in to, you know you will be asked to sympathise for something or other at some point. And honestly, at this current moment in pop culture where we are all too jaded and detached to fall for their pathetic attempts at evoking our feelings, that is very welcome indeed. Nothing to hide, just a cute horse that's miserable and lots of people dying.
"Oh, for heaven's sake, someone just give the poor thing a bleedin' apple already!" D:
