"War Horse"

[PJ Hardtack]

This topic might better be elsewhere on the forum, but I'll let the moderators decide ....

After seeing the reviews that Spielberg's "War Horse" received from the critics, I found the book. I was disappointed as it was written for children from the HORSE'S point of view.
The local movie house showed it a few weeks back and I missed the opportunity. Now it's back for two matinee showings by popular demand, and we made a special trip (50 miles one way) to see it. I was not disappointed.

While this movie is a WWI story, if you love guns, animals and the honour of being true to one's values and principles, you will enjoy it.
Also, I was looking for faults in weaponry, uniforms, tack, etc. I didn't pick out any! In fact, the attention paid to detail was amazing! Those that enjoy picking fault with the arms and armament will have to work pretty hard to find any. I really liked the shoulder stocked P08 used by a Deutcsher Officer and all the pieces of body armour worn by soldiers on both sides.

The combat scenes are shocking, right up there with "Saving Pte. Ryan". There is a lot of pathos in the dialogue and several times I felt a lump in my throat. The ending left me wiping away a tear. I was a little embarrassed about it until I turned around and saw an older teen aged bot wiping his eyes, trying not to be noticed.

I'm not going to ruin it for you by telling you the ending ..... ;>)

[w.b. masterson]

Most of the horses used in WWI were sold to butchers in France and Belgium.  Too expensive to bring them back!  We did the same thing with our tanks after Desert Storm: left them in Kuwait.

[PJ Hardtack]

Officers horses were repatriated as they were 'private purchase'. "Joey", the horse in the film, had been such a horse, (his owner KIA) and was eventually acquired by another. That was his ticket home.
Prior to that, a French farmer had bought him at public auction in memory of his daughter, who had briefly owned him before he was conscripted into the Kaiser's army.
Horse meat is still much enjoyed in Europe, many mustangs winding up satisfying this market.

Horse flesh was cheaper than even human in the Great War, tens of thousands having perished under appalling conditions. If war is hell for humans, it is even worse for horses.

My late German father-in-law was wounded in the Polish campaign (WW II) and was sent to recuperate at a French Chateau. Here he tended confiscated Officers horses along with those of the Chateau stable. There was also a well stocked wine cellar .... ;>) He said it was the best six months of his life!
The Wehrmacht used a LOT of horsedrawn transport as horses didn't need gasoline. When they died in harness, they were a source of food, especially in Russia.

Then he got his orders for the Russian Front and considered himself a dead man. He escaped the complete encirclement of the 6th Armee, was captured later in the Ukraine and imprisoned in Siberia. He returned in 1951, earlier than some who came back in the mid-1950s.
It pissed him off that the same people who had run German industry for Hitler were now doing the same thing for the Bundesrepublik. Someone had to do it, and they knew how. Instead of slave labour, they brought in millions of 'gast arbeiters' from other countries.

[GunClick Rick]

and it may happen again soon~

[Rye Miles]

Just got to thinkin has anyone tasted horsemeat? Does it taste like chicken? I would guess it would be a little like venison.

That said, I am gonna see this movie, looks good. Thanks, Rye

[Charlie Bowdre]

Have , not my all time favourite steak  but not bad. Def. not like chicken.
dutchy

[PJ Hardtack]

Hell, even chicken doesn't taste like chicken anymore!

Mule was the favoured meat of the old time mountainmen. Probably didn't taste like chicken either.

[joec]

Actually horse meat is very similar to a very lean piece of beef. Ground kind of has a taste similar to ground sirloin over chuck. Not bad tasting just a little tough if not prepared for its leanness.

[Buffalo Creek Law Dog]

We have horse sales about once a month here and the meat horses are are shipped to France.

Never tasted it, being a former horse owner don't think I really want to.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi,

When I was an AF brat stationed in Alsace-Lorraine with my Dad, the French used to make a bologna-like sandwich slice that the referred to as 'horsemeat' .... to this day I don't know if they were spoofin' me, but it was really good ... better than Bologna!

TTFN,

[PJ Hardtack]

WWE

Since it was France, it is very likely you were eating horse bologna.

Which reminds me of a joke .....

Mommy was serving her kids a dish made from game her husband shot. When they asked what it was, she said - "Oh. it's something Mommy calls Daddy at times ...."; leaving it open.

The daughter said to her younger brother - "Don't eat it, Willy!; It's (_*_) !!!!"