By: Neil Smith

The novel that became a play now becomes a Steven Spielberg film that doesn’t need puppets to pluck the heartstrings.

What's the story?
Separated by war, Devonian farm boy Albert (Irvine) and his beloved horse Joey have various adventures before destiny brings them together amidst the mud and carnage of the Western Front.

What did we think?
Not afraid to take its time and wear its heart on its sleeve, Spielberg's affecting epic is a stirring tale full of memorable scenes, eye-catching cameos and stunning recreations of WWI battles. By the time the weepy climax trots into view, though, you may feel it has outstayed its welcome.

Fans of the hit stage version of Michael Morpurgo's novel have been up in arms at the prospect of it spawning a film. How, they demanded, could it have the same impact as the show with its equine puppetry, masterfully manipulated by stagehands in full view of the audience?

Well, it turns out that real horses look just as good as the pretend ones. And whatever charm or ingenuity has been sacrificed by taking War Horse onto the screen, it's more than made up for by the sweeping scale, visual majesty and story-telling nous a genius director like Steven Spielberg can bring to the table.

Some will find it slow. (An opening hour that sets up the relationship between Albert and Joey could easily be trimmed.) Others will find it episodic. (Carted off to France to haul artillery and carry the cavalry, Joey has more owners than a five pound note.) And pretty much everybody will find it schmaltzy and sentimental.

You know what, though? We don't care. Old-fashioned it may be, but War Horse is a ripping yarn well told that presents a whole new perspective on the madness of armed conflict. To quote George Orwell, four legs good!

Verdict: Ignore the neigh-sayers and go.