WAR HORSE

War Horse is a beautiful work of art with overt Christian content and strong moral values. It honors God, country, parents, stewardship, loyalty, honesty and bravery. Its acting is superb, and some scenes are incredible.

The cost is its pace. The script has no central premise, so the story meanders from one episodic sequence to another. Three of four people who screened it could not sit through the whole movie, even though they were film aficionados.

If you value the film’s faith and artistry and can be patient with its slow movement, it may reward you. For most families, however, this is better watched at home, where you can control the experience.

In England, teenage farm boy Albert urges his father to buy a beautiful thoroughbred horse they helped bring into the world. Albert names him Joey, but the family’s financial troubles soon send the horse to fight in World War I.

Joey passes through the hands of British, German and French individuals and survives one danger after another on both sides of No Man’s Land. Meanwhile, Albert enters the war himself, and their paths eventually draw toward one another.

Three stars means a visually beautiful film with superb acting and some incredible scenes, but one whose storytelling keeps it from becoming great.

The movie is more of a work of art than a dramatic story, despite its setting in the very dramatic period of World War I. Its episodic structure and lack of a central premise make it extremely slow and cause it to meander. Still, the filmmaking is beautiful, and the performances give the material weight.

War Horse presents a strong Christian worldview through its respect for God, country, parents and stewardship. It also honors the faith and values of people who served in World War I, while respecting the British, Germans and French rather than reducing one side to caricature.

The film commends loyalty, honesty and bravery. It rebukes bad behavior, gambling, debt, greed and a lack of charity. Its moral vision is overtly Christian, and its treatment of war emphasizes the humanity and values of those caught on opposing sides.

The film’s central picture is a miraculous horse whose survival connects people across national lines. That sense of providence and endurance can point viewers toward God’s care, even as the film remains a work of art rather than a fully developed theological statement. In the valley of suffering, Scripture says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4).

War Horse offers beautiful images, superb acting and a respectful Christian moral vision. But its extremely slow pace and episodic script make it a better choice for a patient teen or adult at home than for family movie night. Our verdict is WAIT FOR HOME — TEENS AND ADULTS.