I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

WARNING: There are LOTS of spoilers in the review. As you read, you'll understand why I mentioned them.I am NOT being critical in my summary. It's just that although this is a cartoon and is intended for kids, it's pretty frightening stuff. Now I am NOT recommending you don't let your kids see it but perhaps it's a film best seen with them. Plus, I just wouldn't let younger kids see it because developmentally they aren't ready to see a film about WWI and trench warfare! The events in the film are based, in part, on a real incident that happened during the first Christmas during WWI. The events are also portrayed in the wonderful French film "Joyeux Noël" (literally "Merry Christmas")--though the French film is designed for a more mature audience and is also one of the best French films I've seen in the last few years. Unlike "Joyeux Noël", the focus of this cartoon is on one young recruit and you see the war through his eyes. It IS sanitized quite a bit but still would be tough viewing for younger audience members. I think they chose to create the fictional hero to make the film more accessible for kids--especially since the guy is only 16--a kid himself."War Game" begins as WWI begins. A group of young people are playing football ('soccer' to us Americans and folks in some other parts of the globe such as South Africa). When they learn of the war, they are eager to sign up and have adventure. Some time passes, and the war still seems a bit like an adventure. Then, something VERY weird happens on Christmas day--the Germans and British stop shooting at each other and, slowly, they come out of their trenches and begin to celebrate...together! They play a game of football and there is camaraderie all around. The next day, they go back to killing each other! Considering how hellish and pointless this war was, you sure wish they'd kept playing! (Sadly, the officers in charge of these troops and the troops were later severely disciplined for taking a day off--but this isn't shown in the film).When you watch "War Game", you will no doubt notice the animation. It looks nothing like a Disney film but a bit like Tin-Tin--but drawn a lot better. The colors and quality of the animation are excellent. My only reservation is that the filth, blood and death in the war isn't even close to being captured adequately in the film--perhaps sanitizing it all too much (though they tried to capture it a bit) in spots. It's a problem, as you don't want to traumatize kids BUT you also don't want them to think war is fun or an adventure. Despite this, the film still is very poignant and well made. Just be sure, as I recommend, you see it with your kids, as I am sure they'll have lots of questions and an emotional reaction to the film. I'd recommend the film for kids age 12-18--but all this depends on the child. I repeat...WATCH IT WITH THEM, AS THE MAIN CHARACTER SEEMS TO DIE AT THE END (this is debatable) AND IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON ANY SANE CHILD!! There is a good chance they'll be in tears when it ends.

I still remember to this day when our history teacher brought the video into class. I was only eleven. I remember watching it and laughing at all the funny bits and the comradeship among the soldiers as well as the dancing Lord Kitchener. But the thing which really touched me was the ending. The tear-jerking final frame that ended the film.I came away from this moved more than I ever had been thus far. To this day. whenever I think for the ending it still brings tears to my eyes. I only remembered about it today, five years on, and as I remembered, tears once again came to my eyes. The fact this film still affects me today says quite a bit about the quality of it. I also got hold of the picture book recently. Equally as harrowing. Great film, if short.

This is more than a film about English Vs Germans. The nationality does not matter. Its a film about young men who have the same hopes and dreams caught up in something that is nothing to do with them.Even though this is a cartoon I found it more moving than other films.It allows you to get to know the characters and see how they turn from boys to men without loosing their boyish perception of life.It also gives you an insight to the propaganda at home and albeit very brief insight of what it was like for the families at home.In a short space of time it really takes you on a fantastic journey with a very moving conclusion.

It's a beautiful look at war through the eyes or lens of a cartoonist and children. The story is so gut wrenching and centered around WWI. Three boys, two of which are brothers sign up for the army and are shipped off to war. Kate Winslet provides the voices for their bewildered mother as well as one of their sisters. During the war, the boys become men as they witness the goriness and hardship of life on the battlefield. Yet they still always remember each other, they remember love and they share that love even with their enemies. I don't mean to spoil it for anyone but when I said I cried, then you just have to imagine that it did not end well.