War Horse

     Once a year there is a film that will rivet it's audience to their core. A film that can be admired by families around the world. This year that film is War Horse, a Steven Spielberg adaptation of a Tony award-winning play of the same name. War Horse is the story of a boy named Albert and his bond with his horse Joey during World War I.

     Seldom are we graced with a quality film that was adapted from a play, which in turn was adapted from a best selling novel. "War Horse" was originally published by Michael Morpurgo in 1982, the book was adapted as a Broadway play in 2007. War Horse the play went on to storm the American Theater Wing's Tony Awards with five awards and wins. Now when undertaking an adaptation of this magnitude the only person I would trust would be Steven Spielberg. Only the director of Saving Private Ryan and Empire of the Sun could replicate a touching tale of love and hardship during wartime.
      War Horse begins with a young Albert (Jeremy Irvine) witnessing the birth of a foal. It quickly develops as we see the foal progress in age from a handsome colt to a dazzling thoroughbred. At the appropriate age this horse is sold to Albert's family and this is where the story truly begins. Albert soon trains Joey (the horse) to be the family's indentured servant. As the training progresses so does the bond between Albert and Joey. That is until one day Joey is sold to the cavalry to cover debts accumulated by the farm. It is here that Joey stops being a work horse and becomes a war horse.
     What makes War Horse different from any other war film, is that it's heart lies in an animal, not the people fighting the war. This is more about a journey through unfortunate circumstance and survival, than it is about conflicts between rival factions. We watch in awe and sometimes humor as Joey journeys across Europe during World War I. This film is littered with irony and adventure of epic proportions. This is a film that children and families alike can enjoy time and time again. Truly, Steven Spielberg has woven another tale that will live on in the hearts and memories of all who see it.

Rating: 5 (Maximum of 5) - A superb and emotional film that will leave you breathless.

A Mother's Love

     As the title suggests, A Mother's Love is a black independent film about a a family thrown into chaos due to a mother's quest for success. Regina (Rolanda Watts) is a successful business woman working for a California based magazine. Mother to two children, Regina has lost sight what is really important in her life in her pursuit of financial success. Her daughter Monica (Salina Duplessis) attended art school only to be dragged into a world of drug addiction and is struggling for help. Having no one to turn to, Monica goes to her father Marcus (Julian Starks) for help. Marcus is struggling with Regina's decision to leave him and cut him out of her life. This all happens while the grandmother Georgia (Amentha Dymally) is forced to watch in prayerful silence.
     A Mother's Love is a heartfelt story of how perseverance, prayer, and love will see a family through any trial. It's rare to find a family friendly film that manages to show how important it is to be honest and supportive in both business and family matters. However delightful the content may be, it is important to keep in mind that films like this one are aimed at a very specific demographic. One issue with small budget films is that one cannot expect the same visual or editing qualities that are synonymous with most Hollywood films. When viewing A Mother's Love you have appreciate the values behind the movie and not the execution. Yes the writing could have been better, and yes the editing could have been smoother, but as long as you are a fan of Tyler Perry films or other ethnocentric cinema, A Mother's Love will be right up your alley.

Rating: 3 (Maximum of 5) - A Mother's Love is heartfelt and touching, but would have been more effective with a bigger budget, a bigger studio, and better screenwriters.