War Horse (12A) 146 mins

THIS epic adventure story about the friendship between a horse and a young man, currently showing at Stratford Picturehouse, comes with a guarantee to have the audience emotionally involved right from the start.

Director Steven Spielberg created an overwhelming picture set in immense beauty in the sceneries of Devon and rural France contrasting the horror environment of the First World War.

It has been suggested that Finder, the real horse that starred as Joey, should be nominated for an Oscar if there were Oscars for animals, and in fact he, together with horse master Bobby Lovgren and his team deserve highest praise for their performance.

The story begins with young Albert (excellent, Jeremy Irvine), a poor farmer’s son who befriends a colt that he tames and trains.

When war breaks out, Albert’s father has to sell Joey as a war horse and we follow his remarkable journey starting with a friendly Captain (Tom Hiddleston) under the command of an unwise Major (the outstanding Benedict Cumberbatch).

As luck alters, Joey changes hands to two young German soldiers, a little French Girl (well done, Celine Buckens), a German artilleryman (remarkable Nicholas Bro) until the story reaches its emotional climax in no-man’s-land.

Albert, now old enough, has joined the army and undergoes the terror of the trenches, shell-shocked and blinded by gas, still always in search of his equestrian friend.

In an odyssey of emotions, friendship and adventure, the overwhelming message is the call for humankind to start behaving as such.