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.

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.

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.

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 .

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"! :-)

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.

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.

This is a very feel good movie that definitely takes some time to get moving. I feel like it should've been significantly shorter with some of the backstory reduced by about half. It is a very sweet movie and if you can get through the first half, the rest is really good.

The CG is incredible. While the animation feels a lot like game animation, the integration with the people is masterful! It really feels like true contact is made whenever they touch or interact with Angus.

All-in-all it is a very lovely feel-good movie that the family can enjoy and I would absolutely recommend it for a quiet night in!

'The Water Horse' offers a new look at the legendary Loch Ness monster (it even features the photo that made it famous!!).

The young boy in question who finds the egg, is Angus - excellently portrayed by Alex Etel. Angus, afraid to go into water, collects shells instead and then finds the egg. Fascinated by it, he takes it home. Off course - as we discover - this is no ordinary egg.

'The Water Horse' is mostly a comedy and the little creature ensures many hilarious moments. The film does become more dramatic towards the end, but never too serious. Emily Watson stars as Angus' Mom, Anne, who tries her best to manage on her own with her husband having never returned from war, while Angus still eagerly awaits his return.

The character development is very good, especially Angus, who manages to conquer his inner fears through a series of unexpected events. There to help him, is Lewis (Ben Chaplin) who gets hired by Anne as a handyman. Lewis offers a good balance between Anne and Angus, and becomes the voice of reason, so to speak.

The scenery is beautiful and makes for stunning cinematography. The effects are incredibly realistic, making this fantasy adventure believable. 'The Water Horse' is a family feel-good movie with humor, drama, action, adventure and fantasy. This is sure to go down well at a family movie night. This was a lot of fun!

The film is made beautifully and will be liked by both children and adults. Great acting by Alex Ethel, Emily Watson, Ben Chaplin and David Morrissey. Screenplay is beautifully so as direction and VFX. A beautiful family film

It's the darkest days of WWII. Angus MacMorrow (Alex Etel) is a little boy living in Scotland waiting for the return of his father. He's afraid of the water but he finds an odd rock by the loch. It hatches into a tiny little creature. His sister Kirstie (Priyanka Xi) eventually finds out while they try to hide it from their mother (Emily Watson) who is the housekeeper for an estate. Complicating matters are the British troops under the command of Capt. Hamilton (David Morrissey) and the new hire Lewis Mowbray (Ben Chaplin) who are staying at the estate. Then there is the hunt for Nazi submarines.

It's a fine little children's movie with a slightly darker edge. It's not a cartoon or particularly silly. Nobody will look for a stuff animal from this movie for a gift. It's not that cute. Little Alex Etel is the cute one in this movie. Basically this children movie hasn't been Disneyfied for both good and bad. The accents and old manor set may put off the kids if they're not Brits. Also I don't think the modern day storyline is particularly useful.

When I saw this, my Grandma and I went to one of her friend's house, and he put The Water Horse on while it was on HBO Family. That's why I ended up watching it. I probably wouldn't have on my own.

You see, I don't really care for animal movies. I enjoy Disney movies like Lady and the Tramp and 101 Dalmations, and I also enjoy movies like Beethoven, National Velvet, and Flipper from 1963.

However, most animal movies don't appeal to me. Many of them seem to have similar stories, fart and pee jokes, and are not as entertaining as most other movies. (Firehouse Dog comes to mind, another 7/10 to me. There's also Cats and Dogs, one of the worst movies I have ever seen.)

Again, I wouldn't have watched The Water Horse on my own. But for what it was, it wasn't terrible. That said, I have a split recommendation.

The Water Horse follows a Scottish child named Angus, who meets a rare creature called a Water Horse. Water Horses are rare because the mother dies after a new egg is hatched and so there is only one Water Horse at a time. (How reproduction occurs with these animals is never explained, but then again, it's a children's fantasy film.)

Angus knows that people will try to hurt the Water Horse, mainly due to it being a strange creature and because WWII is breaking out, and so he does whatever he can to save and protect his rare aquatic friend.

Angus is played by Alex Etel, an adorable and talented child actor who also did Millions (unseen by me, but it was one of Roger Ebert's favorite movies of 2003). Other talented actors include Emily Watson as Angus's Mom, David Morrissey as the villain Captain Hamilton, and Ben Chaplian as Lewis, who befriends Angus.

The movie is also mostly engaging. In fact, I had to use the bathroom at the climax, but I sat through the movie until the end regardless. The Water Horse also contains beautiful water and CGI moments.

Despite my praises, I did have some critiques as I watched it. For one thing, I did find my interest wavering at times. I glanced at the clock quite a few times, especially in the middle.

The plot wasn't that original either. The Water Horse growing reminded me of Clifford The Big Red Dog, regardless if that was intentional or not. And the climax reminded me of Free Willy too much. I mean, both involve sea creatures who escape poachers by flipping past a trapped space.

This is minor, but I also found a random joke to be really lame. At one point, a character asks another- "Why do golfers bring an extra pair of jeans...? In case they get a hole in one." I booed at the screen.

I personally can't recommend this movie. It's not awful by any means, and kids could certainly enjoy it (there's certainly worse stuff for kids out there- again, Cats and Dogs), but I think that this is a kid's movie that is strictly for them. It'll entertain the kids, but it slightly misses the mark for entertainment for the WHOLE family. I don't hate that I saw it once, but I doubt that I would ever see it again.

Reverse Recommendation: See Free Willy for a better and similar family movie that the whole family can truly enjoy.

I have always enjoyed the story of the loch Ness monster. All the different tales and prices of proof are so interesting! This movie brings some of those tales to life and it's breathtaking! I love this movie about a lonely boy who finds a strange egg amd then bonds with the growing beast. It's a movie of trust and friendship. Definitely not one to sleep on! It's been years since I've seen it but I definitely need to give it another watch amd see if I like it more now that I'm older. I've been reading some books that include some conversations about Nessie and it is triggering my nostalgia and makes me want to watch The Wayer Horse again.

A nice and very pretty take on a Scottish fairy tale. As far as I am concerned, this is primarily a children's film though it is also obviously a family film as well. I would like to say it is of the quality of something like the brilliantly made The Black Stallion, but it is not up to the caliber of that one. This is a fine rendition of what it is based upon and it has a nice cast all delivering good performances. The special effects involving the Water Horse are good, but I can't say I found the thing all that appealing when it is young, the bulk of this,. It's a tad creepy in fact, at least to me. Emily Watson, Ben Chaplin, Alex Atel, Brian Cox all do well. I don't care for David Morrissey as an actor so I will leave it at that. It's a good family film that is probably more popular in the UK and Scotland than here.