There are two zebras, a lion and horse named Topthorn
There are two zebras, a lion and horse named Topthorn
There are two zebras, a lion and horse named Topthorn#1
Posted: 12/26/11 at 2:27pm
Two big animal movies opened this weekend, both sentimental and working hard for our tears, although only one received mine.
I know the stage adaptation of War Horse has detractors on this site, but I really loved the experience and lost it both SPOILER***when Topthorn died END SPOILER*** and at the end. Unfortunately the movie has taken everything magical about the stage production and turned it into sloppy schlock.
The biggest problem I had was it didn't allow Joey, and especially Topthorn, to develop into characters. The story still follows Joey, but somehow it's about him without every letting us into his heart and mind.
The accents from many in the cast are atrocious. The little French girl is terrible, and all the boys, whether French, German or British, look liked they popped on over from Newsies.
The score is overblown and tries SO HARD to get you to cry at every turn. I actually entered the movie wanting a good sobfest, but mostly I was bored. I haven't read the book, but the movie is rather different from the play. Mostly I liked the plotting of the play better.
Slight Spoiler- Did anyone else think the final shots were trying hard to evoke Gone With the Wind? I was expecting Albert to shake some carrots at Joey and promise him they wouldn't go hungry again!
I also got to see We Bought a Zoo this weekend, and true it was no "great" movie, but it had some heart and I found myself freely shedding some tears by surprise during the last 30 minutes or so.
Matt Damon gives a wonderful person, and probably elevates the material to better than it deserves. Johansson and the rest of the cast are fun and they help it succeed at being a holiday feel good movie.
You could play a couple of fun drinking games too, like anytime anyone says, "We bought a zoo," "It's a zoo," or something of that ilk, or anytime we get a variation on, "the animals are great, but I love the people!" (It sounds worse on paper than it is.)
Zoo is not going to win any Oscars, but it was never trying to. War Horse tried too hard and fell far short.
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