Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's novel War Horse is galloping towards our screens (sorry) and here, stamping its hooves and shaking its beautiful mane in the wind, is the trailer for the film. Sorry. Hey, at least we didn't call it a thoroughbred!
The story follows a horse named Joey, who is tamed and trained by a young man called Albert (Jeremy Irvine) in the years before the outbreak of World War I. But with the War's coming, Joey and Albert are parted, in a journey that brings our equine hero into contact with British officers, their German opponents and the French farmers caught in the middle.
Judging by this trailer, Spielberg (and regular cinematographer Janusz Kaminski) are on form in a film that looks to be an earthy, or rather muddy, contrast to the 'Berg's The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn later this year. You'll have to squint hard to spot some of the cast members, however: blink and you'll miss the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Niels Arestrup, Eddie Marsan, Emily Watson, David Thewlis and David Kross.
War Horse is out in the UK on January 13, 2012. Why yes, that does place it right in the heart of awards season. Wonder if that's a coincidence?