User reviews

Just got back from an advanced screening of this movie and I really liked it - it isn't phenomenal or overly brilliant - but what it is is very charming and a good time for the family or couple or anyone looking for a feel good movie. The acting is well-done by the entire the "creature" is cute and believable with enough "awwwwwwww" moments, but not too much to become redundant. I read about the legend of Loch Ness when I was about 6 years old and imagined and fantasized how awesome it would be to see and witness something like that - this is probably as close as I will ever come - so in essence, I've waited 30 years for this movie - and my family and I enjoyed it very much.

There are some movies which make you smile and cry at the same time(I didn't cry). This movie is that sort of movie.

The movie starts with an old man telling the old legend of Water Horse to a couple. The story relates to a boy, who lives with his mother and sister. The military just takes over their house during the war time, and the family is forced to live with them. This boy finds a small shining stone and brings it to his house and in the morning after the stone was brought, the stone is not there, instead there are pieces of it, and there in that room a small creature is present. This is the Water Horse. The child takes care of it without raising the suspicions of his mother, but the creature grows so huge in so small time that he is forced to drop it back in the ocean.

The relationship between the creature and boy is shown well in the movie, covering all the emotional angles with panache. The direction is consistent. Although it may not blow your mind with excitement, it is a calm movie which makes one think of the nature of man. I would recommend it.

When I picked this movie up I thought it was just going to be exactly like all these new children's movies coming out where they focus on stupid stuff like overrated sarcasm and farting, but it was actually a good little film. This movie was entertaining and I thought that there was some stuff that could be changed about it, but I still cut some slack to all kid's movies, because they are meant for kids and they sometimes make stuff in the movie unbelievable. Anyway, this is a nice kid's film and from my point of view, when I got through watching it I thought of it more as something an adult could be entertained by rather than a kid, because there were some parts where it would have gotten boring to the kid watching or even kind of scary the kid watching! So, I think this is one of the best new kid's films that has been released so far and I think you should see it for yourself if you don't believe me because it's harmless, charming fun.

Heartwarming family entertainment. This movie has the feel of "ET" and "Dear Frankie" another great Scottish film. The setting is near Loch Ness in Scotland during World War II. The landscape of Scotland is a beautiful backdrop for the movie and the character of Angus just finds his way into your heart. There is laughter as well as many touching scenes. Of course, there is the anti-hero, there always is. And the war in Europe is also a "character" in the film as it affects people's lives. The theater where I saw the movie had many children in attendance and they all seemed to love this movie. And there is enough in the story to keep the adults involved also.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this movie since the "Loch Ness" subject matter is kind of an overused topic. The fact that people said it was "family friendly" was also a strong turn-off: kiddie characters, themes ... 'nuf said.

However, I'm glad I saw this movie! It had a good, interesting story and great characters. The special effects were pretty good too. Even though the lead character is a young kid, it was OK since all of the characters and story were realistic and serious - and not depicted from a kid's point of view.

The story is framed around a modern-day pub where an old-timer is telling a couple young hikers/travelers the story of a picture on the wall. The bulk of the story takes place during WWII at Loch Ness and centers around a little boy that discovers and takes home a large egg.

I'll pretty much confirm what other's have said. Yes - it's fit for viewing by all members of the family, but don't let that stereotype trap you into thinking it's only for kids. If you're in the mood for something light, this is a good movie and worth checking out.

Even though this film is EXTREMELY different from the charming book by Dick King Smith, it manages not to insult it (Unlike films such as "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" and "The Jungle Book").

The highlights of this beautiful partly-animated film are: well-developed and interesting characters, good amusing moments and very good acting. Also, the part of the film where the water horse is in the bath is a good point in its own right. The Scottish theme of the film, represented in the setting and the nationality of the main characters, does a good job of interpreting Scotland. The emotion that appears later in the film is yet another good addition to this motion picture, though it may very much upset others.

Of course, this film has some flaws too. There are quite a lot of sudden thrills which will not entertain some people, as they are (to put it plainly) scary. Most of the plot and the World War II theme is rather unnecessary, especially as it was not included in the book. It is just one another of those things "that make the film exciting and if we don't put it in the film will be boring". One addition of the film that is not too bothersome is that the water horse is not very cute at all when he is "fully grown".

In Scotland, in World War II, a boy goes to a beach by Loch Ness and finds what looks like a stone. He takes it home and finds it is more than just a stone covered in seaweed. It shines like a rainbow and it is quite large. The boy leaves it for a while and when he comes back to it, the "stone" is broken and a strange creature has hatched out...

Recommended to people who like the Loch Ness Monster and to people who just like good children's films, enjoy "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep"! :-)

The ¨Water Horse¨ is a fun movie starred by a lonely boy who is really traumatized , but long time ago his daddy disappeared . The movie is set in Scotland , during the violent, turbulent 1940s when the Second World War was in progress , there a boy called Jock McGowan discovers a mysterious egg that hatches a sea creature of Scottish legend . It grows hugely as a large Brontosaurus-alike on the loose in a Scotland loch , terrorizing the inhabitants . The great creature stays in the loch where roams for facing off the fears but his main enemy , the British Army , is lurking and savagely stalking its prey . At the end the family heads for the Scottish Highlands to save the Nessie legend .

The creature delivers the goods with outstanding special effects when the sympathetic monster appears but it seems to be alive . Although this Sony Picture production is not lewd in any sense , beware of several scenes displaying some violence . A good family formed by a widow , a child a teenager daughter , a handy man and a giant Brontosaurius share an agreeable relationship that forges the backbone of this emotionally satisfying film . Here filmmaker Jay Russell tackled his most commercial and children oriented project . However , the picture relies heavily on the overly maudlin relationship between the the little boy and the Nessie legend . Although , it seems to be a Brontosaurus , the standard image of Scottish lake monster was revised to be shaped like a dinosaur or a Plesiosaur . In traditional Scottish mythology, 'The Water Horse' aka 'Kelpie' is a sea beast that appears in a pleasing form to lure unsuspecting victims . Kelpie stories come from all over Scotland, and are not exclusively associated with Loch Ness . Nature of the beast was subsequently changed to become docile, cute and cuddly, because this image is more convenient for creating a tourist attraction . The association of these monsters with Loch Ness specifically, only came about because the first published photo of such a "creature" was made there, around 1933 . After that picture -called the "Surgeon's Photo" and seen frequently in this film- became world-famous in 1934, several similar monsters were "sighted" in various locations . The fact that these "sightings" are so convenient for entertainment culture and the tourist industry, suggests that the phenomenon is commercial rather than biological . This well received fantasy was also nominated for a Critic's Choice Award for one of the Best Family Films of 2008 . The film was a hit with critics and audiences alike and eventually went on to score numerous awards . Weta Digital and FX Departments take care of the monster's excellent Animatronics and magnificent visual effects . This Sony Picture's "Water Horse: Legend of the Deep," was one of the best reviewed family films of 2008 and achieved big hit in worldwide box office . Starring Alex Etel and Academy Award winner Emily Watson , the film was also nominated by the Visual Effects Society for the groundbreaking digital work of the world famous New Zealand FX company , Weta Digital . Also well starred by Ben Chaplin , David Morrissey and mention special for the veteran Brian Cox . Sensitive as well as thrilling musical score by James Newton Howard . Colorful and evocative cinematography by Oliver Stapleton .

The motion picture was compellingly directed by Jay Russell . Worldwide, "The Water Horse," became Russell's second $100 + million dollar moneymaker in a row . In the mid nineties Russell produced a number of documentary series and specials for the Discovery Channel . It was during the filming of "Great Drives" that Russell met Pulitzer nominated author Willie Morris. In 2000, Warner Bros. released the Russell Directed film adaptation of "My Dog Skip" written by Morris , which starred Kevin Bacon, Frankie Muniz, Luke Wilson and Diane Lane . Russell followed up with Walt Disney's "Tuck Everlasting" (2002) starring Alexis Bledel along with Academy Award winners, Sir Ben Kingsley, William Hurt and Sissy Spacek. In 2004, he directed a Disney/Touchstone Picture : "Ladder 49" , an ode to the heroism of firefighters, starred Academy Award nominees John Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix as a pair of Baltimore firemen .

This is a fantasy story that purports to explain the origins of the Loch Ness monster. A young boy Angus, whose father is off in the Royal Navy in WW II, finds an egg by the seashore, it hatches into a baby monster, and then we find ourselves following the various escapades as the monster gets bigger and gets everyone into more trouble. The boy of course gets very attached, they have to part, then reunite, etc. etc.

Strengths: - scenery is gorgeous all around: lakes, mountains, seashore, grand family mansion. I didn't think Scotland had as many clear sunny days in a century as what they show here in a few weeks, but heck, that's artistic license.

• Cast is solid and convincing; especially good is Ben Chaplin in a key supporting role as Mowbray who becomes a sort of surrogate father to the young Angus.

• Pace and storytelling are just right for a younger audience. There is danger but not too much, there is suspense but not too much, there are bad guys but they aren't really that evil.

• The CG monster is very well done, and it looks totally seamless, even when he's splashing in the water and interacting with the human actors.

Weaknesses: - There is just not enough meat to the plot for an adult audience. It's all rather simple, predictable, and not always engaging.

• There are many potential leads for interesting subplots which are left completely unexplored. The Mowbray character, for instance, is brought in as though he had some dark mysterious past, but it never really materializes. Much more could have been made of him, and also of the British officer whose affection for Angus's mother begins to appear.

• The story is told as a flashback by the old Angus, but the flashback really doesn't add anything to the story. The tourists to whom he narrates the tale are totally cardboard cutouts. It would have been much better told straight up.

So overall, for young people I'd maybe give it an 8; for adults it's more of a 6.

I saw the trailer and the making of The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, I don't know, something about this film just captured me. It just seemed like a really creative story and looked like a great family film. So, I decided to go ahead and check it out today and I have to say that it really did live up to my expectations, it was a cute film for the whole family to enjoy. It's a different version of Free Willy I think, lol, sounds crazy, I know, but I think you'll agree when you see it. It's definitely a tear jerker, but one of the better films I've seen in a little while in the theater. It was made very well and I'm surprised it hasn't gotten more notice, but like I said, I think I just saw something special in the story. We haven't had a Lochness monster movie, all we know is the infamous picture that has never been prove to be fake or real, and The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep tells us the story behind that picture.

Agnus is a young and lonely boy in Scotland, his father who he was very close with has just gone off into WWII to fight. His home has just been taken over by English soldiers to fight off the German's. His family has lost something too, life and laughter. But when Agnus comes across what looks like a strange rock, is actually an egg left by an Water Horse, the rarest of all creatures, there can only be one in the world at a time. But he takes care of the baby who is water bound, while protecting him from his mom and the soldiers. But when the water horse, he named Crusoe, has grown too big, he and a family friend put him in the Lochness Lake where he is spotted and is now known as the infamous Lochness Monster.

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep is truly and honestly a good film. It has such a magical touch like The Secret Garden, where it's a serious story, but it's for the family. I thought it was very well made, the visual effects are very good and not over done, which was great, because obviously the Lochness monster is going to be CGI, but they made it look so real, and so lovable, lol, like I said, I did cry, it's a tear jerker. The characters are terrific, they really found terrific actors for the roles. Alex Etel does a beautiful break out performance as Angus and was so charming. I would highly recommend The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, it's one of the best family films I have seen in a while.

8/10

Water horse was a wonderful experience. It is basically about human emotions, particularly the longing for loved ones and the solitude one has to endure in their absence. The movie could vaguely be split into two halves, the first one hour moves slowly and one gradually warms up to the visual treat that follows in the latter part. The feeling was more akin to reading a book than watching a movie.

The pivotal roles in the movie are shared by a little boy, Angus MacMorrow played by Alex Etel and a mythical creature aka water horse which the boy christens Crusoe. Although it may sound clichéd, the chemistry between them was amazing. The special effects were so good that you would not notice anything distinctive as graphics. The strength of the movie has to be said, is the story and wonderful screenplay, woven as I mentioned earlier, like an engaging book. All the performances in the movie were apt and each one plays their part to the T. The scenic beauty which is an inseparable part of the movie was soothing to the eyes.

I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming fare. Though it may appear as a kid's movie, I guess, any ardent movie lover would be pleasantly surprised by the film. Heartwarming story, great acting, good to watch!

When my wife dragged me to this movie I thought I'd be bored. The trailers show nothing except the little monster growing quickly and swimming around happily. What I did not expect is the wonderful, and entertaining background story set in Scotland during WWII.

Now the film has a modern frame as well as the WWII story. An old man tells two young visitors to Loch Ness what they assume is a tall tale. Frames usually don't add much to movies but in this frame is an exception.

In WWII a young boy, who doesn't know his father was lost at sea, finds a strange egg. While the egg grows into a likable, gigantic plesiosaur, a strange man, who might be a German spy, starts as caretaker of the boy's father's estate, and a gunnery unit takes over the estates grounds. The captain of the gunnery unit takes a shine to the boy's Mom, and tries to instill discipline to the boy by treating him like a drill sergeant would a recruit. Meanwhile, the new caretaker decides to keep the boy's new pet a secret. and wins the respect of the boy's mother.

Although there is no real violence in this movie there is a killer (hunter) cook and some shooting. In fact there is a scene with cannon fire that might scare young children. And of course the cook has a tough bull-dog who likes to chase things.

The characters here are well developed and the acting and cinematography is superb. This movie will not disappoint.

I have always been mildly interested in the Loch Ness monster-it makes for a good story, as this movie proves as an old man relates to young tourists the "truth" of the creature in the lake and transports back to WWII and a family who had lost their father and husband to battle.

It's a classic scenario: lonely boy raises animal. Usually it's a dog or a deer, but hey, what's wrong with a mythological creature? While this is not quite "Babe" level, it is still reminiscent of that same innocence and charm. Crusoe, as the creature is called, is the cutest little monster to grace the screen in some time. The kids are cute and hold their own in the child acting. I enjoyed the romantic tension between the adults, and I appreciated the contrast of the innocent magic and the terrible reality of the war.

I also found it well-shot. Not Oscar-worthy, but there is something captivating about a swim through the Scottish lake This is a great little family film that has a bit of something for everyone.

There has been an overloaded release of fantasy films since the success of the 'Harry Potter' and 'Lord of the Rings' series. While some manage to gain some recognition, others vanish without a trace. 'The Water Horse' is an amusing fantasy-like film for the whole family. It does fall on the lines of Guillermo Del Toro's 'El Laberinto De Fauno' but much less violence. Set in Ireland during the Second World War it tells the story of a bonding between a boy and a water horse. The story isn't anything new but that doesn't stop the film from being charming and likable because it has heart. The use of the mesmerizing landscape is both refreshing and breathtaking. The cinematography is good. Director Russell does a fine job by mingling the subplots well enough with the main story. The music is great but the use of it is arguably a bit clichéd. The CGI is not of the highest quality but Crusoe is lively enough to compensate. Young Alex Etel is brilliant as Angus and Brian Cox does well as the older Angus. Emily Watson is fabulous. Ben Chaplin and David Morissey are wonderful too. To sum it up further, 'The Water Horse' is a nice enough movie that both children and adults can enjoy.

I sat down and watched this the other weekend, and I have to say that it was indeed very enjoyable; and has been permanantly added to our DVD collection.

The Water Horse is a very family-friendly movie that is part Sc-Fi, fantasy and adventure. The acting was extremely good, and the writing and plot is very imaginative and original...which is a nice change of pace compared to the many "copycat" movies that abound. The sets were very authentic and the outdoor settings quite spectacular.

The SFX/CGI was quite good; on a scale of 1-10 I'd give the EFX a solid 8; not the best I have seen, but very much above average.

All-in-all, The Water Hores is a movie that is definitely a suggested viewing for those looking for something a little different and fun.

It is reassuring to see more and more family-oriented films being issued without everyone having to rely on the Disney and Pixar folks to carry all the weight. That said, it would have been interesting to see what Disney might have done with this story. In the end, I would highly recommend this for family viewing - it has laughs, thrills, beautiful scenery, and a heartwarming storyline that offers opportunities for family discussion.

As with most things, there are good and bad sides to this film. On the plus side, the acting is above-par by all the actors(the adult male leads look startlingly like a young Liam Neeson and a Gaelic Antonio Banderas), the location footage is gorgeous, the period "feels right", and the title namesake is very well executed and most believable. Major kudos to the special effects teams, they did a magnificent job.

On the downside, the denouement is telegraphed well in advance and comes as no surprise, and there are some unanswered questions and several plot lines end without resolution. I have a feeling a "directors cut" would probably restore studio-mandated cuts and resolve these issues. The Director, Jay Russell, has helmed other very successful films (including a little-known but personal favorite "End of the Line") which were also obviously "fiddled with" by studio decree. Such is the business of film-making.

In the end, I greatly enjoyed this film, and plan to add it to my vast collection when it is released for home viewing.

Okay, so I was practically drug into the theatre to see this film; therefore, I had very low expectations of it prior to seeing it. As a result, the fact it was a "decent" movie should have made it a better experience; however, it wasn't. It was simply average, and inferior to similar films, "ET", "Free Willy", etc...

First off, the pacing. It was horrible. I took my 4yr old and nine year old to see it. The 4yr old fell asleep, while my 9yr old thought it was OK. In the beginning, I couldn't figure out it if was trying to appeal to adults or children. Was it trying to teach history, or the difficulties of being a family during this time in history? Admidst all this, they threw in the "slapstick" of the dog chasing "The Water Horse" through the house multiple times as a plot trapping to wake the kids up. At the half way point, I felt like I was a jockey in a horse race whose horse couldn't figure out if it wanted to race or gallop because it knew it was going to lose no matter what, so it just kept mixing it up. Run, Walk, Gallop, Walk, Run...uggh...it got tiring - as the jockey along for the ride, I wanted to dismount!! However, right as I was about to fall asleep...BAM! "The Water Horse" got a second wind and started racing for the finish...determined to still come in last, but at least finish with pride. As soon as the the "household pet" got to big for the bathtub and had to be released into the wild is when the movie FINALLY picked up. It became "forced" magic as the boy rode him through the depths of the loch (this would have been a good trick, but it was already revealed with more of a bang in ET), and tried to save him from the impending doom of the bad people with guns (again ET). At the same time, not even this was enough to keep it from stumbling along the way. I almost put my hands over my eyes and peeked through the cracks of my fingers. I just couldn't bare to watch this "horse" stumble and break its leg. Fortunately, as sappy as it was, the "horse" reached the finish line without too much damage. But its not a race I will ever bet on again! Was it good? No! Was it enjoyable? Eh. Was it for Kids? Not really. Was it for adults? No. So who was it for? Not really sure! I just know it wasn't for me, and I think Hollywood really misjudged the audience for this film. In the end, it was too slow and typical, as it had been done better many times before.

Our family (2 kids in high school) went to this film Christmas night. It was a perfect wrap up to a glorious family day. The story line was told by the camera as a story should be told; with reflective moments, beautiful long scenic shots and great close-ups on some of the best character faces one can find in a pub. All of the time taken for this was appreciated by our family. The CGI was beautifully woven into the film so that it did not take away from it, but rather created the water horse to fit beautifully with the surrounding images. He/she was charming and we all root for the dream that there is a Nessie! Mum (Grammy) is British and flew Spitfires in WWII. She told of regiments taking over estates and the events in this movie matches her stories. Two small critical comments: The male/female travelers who open and close the film were far too forced and it felt like they were given the roles as friends of a director/producer? It's too bad because the opening and closing of the film felt awkward and unconnected with the rest of the charming story. There is a sequence of footage of the young lad working that repeated itself that felt like it was just looking for extra shots and couldn't find them. Having done that as an amateur, I was surprised when the pros did this! Enjoy this film. Thank-you to all who worked on it!