'War Horse': The Reviews Are In! Steven Spielberg's holiday offering is a 'litmus test' for moviegoers' feelings about the director, one critic says.

The Christmas holidays offers an amazing selection of fresh cinematic possibilities. The last two weeks have films about chipmunks and tigers from the 19th Detectives and spies of the 21st century Century, motion-capture adventure and motorcycle-riding hackers. Shoot, there is not one but two flicks from Steven Spielberg, if all your gifts have been opened and that post-holiday meal coma has set in. Select.

The most recent is "War Horse", which nabbed two Golden Globe nominations and is probably a number of Oscar nods collect, including best picture and best director (even if the reviews are mixed). The film, theater on Sunday (December 25th) hit is, is not polarized as much as it is in beautiful phrasing critic Bill Goodykoontz is to have a "litmus test" for moviegoers' feelings about Spielberg's films in general. Some reviewers the beautiful camera work and praised all-star cast, while others have taken issue with the film too sentimental tone.

Read on for a deep insight into "War Horse" ratings.

The Story
"The film deals with the relationship between Albert Narracott (Jeremy Irvine) and his horse, Joey. It is a sprawling story that uses the backdrop of World War II as a framework, but it's really a very direct way. Albert's father (Peter Mullan bought) a horse, Albert falls in love with her, WWI begins, is the horse to Captain Nicholls (Tom Hiddleston), sold and Albert decides to win himself, so he found his horse and him safely. the film follows Joey from owner to owner will, with the horse's journey as a way of dipping into a series of stories on the road, and reached finally a rousing and naked tearful finale. It is an episodic film is, and how you feel largely on the film as a whole depend on having if you move through the various stations along the way. "- Drew McWeeny, HitFix.

The Performances
"Deliver the cast is exemplary across the board, with both names and newcomers expansive, emotionally, and almost exclusively sympathetic performances Neither side in the conflict is ennobled or demonized. As Joey (and a striking black horse, his companion for a while ago), the grunts are just pawns in the hands of unseen manipulators of countless stories. Irvine is a picture of a robust, well-meant having to look ruddy-faced English country house style boy from a hundred years ago, and Mullan and [Emily] Watson, come from the earth they occur Tom Hiddleston cuts a striking figure as an English officer, Joey understands early in the example for many others who come and go briefly through the horse's life, as the war drags on "-.. Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter.

The Action
"Spielberg's fight scenes are a marvel of sound and image - the latter literally theaters shakes from the pop of the guns and the thunder of cannon Spielberg pulls at the heart strings, but he's not afraid of you hit on the head to head against the shows. realistically the madness of war. He, the action breaks too often, perhaps for fear of a punitive censure assessment. There are long stretches of "War Horse", where Joey goes from hand to hand like the precious golden circle 'The Lord of the Rings, "because these barnyard Balzac further evidence for his wisdom and silent stoicism, dispensing life lessons." - Peter Howell, Toronto Star.

The Discontented
"[It is] overly long, painfully serious and sometimes even corny. It is clear to Spielberg," War Horse "as a tribute, a tribute to good, old-fashioned, heart-wrenching stories, full of recognizable types and uplifting themes. The sky is so incredibly so retro colorful as they look like hand-painted scenes in the recording studio and the dialogue is so often on-the-nose and repetitive, it might just make you cringe "-.. Christy Lemire, The Associated Press.

The last word
"'War Horse' is a kind of litmus test for how you feel about Steven Spielberg's films. It is a beautiful film, stunning to look at, with echoes of history all throughout the movie, back to "Gone With the Wind," "The Searchers", Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan" and much more. It is also unapologetically sentimental. Spielberg all but begs you to cry, and if you're a heartless cad, you'll likely. "- Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic.