Customer Reviews

Water Horse Legend of the Deep [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(41)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I just saw this film with my husband and 10 ½ year old daughter...excuse me, she says 10 ¾. The Water Horse was thoroughly enjoyed by all. It is a treat for the entire family, sparking the imagination of young and old alike.

A near-tear jerker, set in WWII, on the banks of (we find out later) Loch Ness, this is a whimsical story of healing, full of adventure, laughter, friendship, and love. The beginning is filled with an appropriate amount of tension, drawing the audience immediately into the tale. As the story unfolds, we learn a little about Scottish folklore, a little about WWII behind the Allied front (way, way behind), and a lot about a young boy, who conquers his worst fears, helped by the love of his unique best friend. In the end, they save each other.

The cinematography is simply breathtaking. The location, the lighting, and the camera angles all work together to immerse the viewer in a rural Scottish village of the time. The starkness of the loch and the beauty of the rugged land create a perfect setting for this film.

I have no idea how the creature was created. I assume CGI. But let me tell you, it really did look like the animal was swimming in a bathtub full of water - splashes, slop, and all. I completely believed it. Near the end of the film, I found myself yelling at the characters to save Crusoe...to the high amusement of my family.

I highly recommend this film for children of all ages. You will not be disappointed.

This movie is very refreshing with its focus on the friendship between a young boy and his newly discovered pet, none other than a waterhorse of Celtic lore. The tenderness between the two is touching and people of all ages will enjoy it. The movie is very well done. And appropriate for all ages.

THIS MOVIE IS GOOD, IT'S FANTASY AND INTERESTING. THIS MOVIE INTERESTS FOR CHILDREN. THIS MOVIE WAS GOOD SCRIPT AND NICE STORY. THIS MOVIE WAS KEEPING EYES OPEN FOR CHILDREN. EVERYONE ENJOYS THIS MOVIE.

A wonderful movie for children, it gives them responsibilty in caring for something that could not care for itself..to see it grow up & the animal still cared for the person who helped it! My Grandchilren loves animals & that helped them to see how important it is to follow through on caring for anilmals....I give it a 5 Star! Thanks

This is a delightful movie. The characters are genuine and the story is entertaining for children and adults alike. Taking a legend and building a movie around it may not be a new idea, but this movie was done in such a way that it is believable throughout, even though it is all fiction. The movie was both entertaining and intriguing. The only thing I suspected all along was the identity of the old man telling the story. The rest was just a darn good movie.

"The Water Horse" is a nice little movie that spins an entertaining, fanciful tale based on the legend of the Loch Ness Monster. The boy at the center of the story, Angus, finds a mysterious egg on the beach in 1940's Scotland, and before he knows it, he's raising his own personal little creature (who doesn't stay little for long), which he names "Crusoe". The story isn't terribly original from that point on (Angus works to keep Crusoe a secret, then slowly reveals him to a few people, and soon there's a major effort to avoid the authorities and get Crusoe safely out to sea, you know the drill), but it's all done with enthusiasm, sensitivity, and some exciting direction.

There are a few missed opportunities. Initially, a point is made that Angus is terribly afraid of water, but when he needs to search the loch in a boat for Crusoe, and later, when he rides on Crusoe's back both above and under the surface of the loch, Angus is suddenly not afraid of the water. There could have been a terrific scene where Angus makes a bold decision to overcome his fear of water so he can interact with his amphibious friend. And the movie could have benefitted from another scene or two supporting the theme of Angus' loneliness and heartache over his missing father (lost in the war), which is a major reason he becomes so close to Crusoe. But the issue is just kind of mentioned and dropped, instead of fueling some potentially good character scenes between Angus and his mother and/or other characters close to Angus. Oh, well. These missed opportunities aren't dealbreakers.

The special effects are very good, I'll say that. The problem with CGI is that- well done or not- people immediately recognize it as CGI so there's never any more of that giddy "I wonder how they did THAT?" excitement when we see special effects anymore. However, really good CGI at leasts generates a feeling of "wow, that really looks amazing", and "The Water Horse" has at least half a dozen scenes that accomplish this. The water glistening off the baby Crusoe as he swims around in a trash can filled with water early in the movie, similar scenes later when a seal-sized Crusoe is hiding in a bathtub, and finally all the scenes in the loch when the dinosaur-sized Crusoe is giving Angus rides, attacking military craft, and just jumping around, they're all wonderfully done.

The two-disc DVD features the film on disc one, which looks and sounds great, with disc two housing a full array of extras features, including a 70-plus minute "making of" documentary. Together, the film and extras will deliver decent entertainment for at least a couple of days.

If you have all but the youngest children at home, this is a good family viewing experience. There's nothing objectionable or too intense for the kids, and there's some decent acting and depth and craftsmanship for adults to appreciate. Give "The Water Horse" a whirl and see if you agree.

Of course, I'd be willing to bet it will become a favorite of everyone in your family, as it is in ours. The only, and I mean ONLY, caveat here is that the Scottish accents may take a wee bit getting used to, but that's hardly a reason to miss out on this, the best family movie I've seen in a long time, one of the best movies I've seen in a long time, period. I won't repeat the basic plot info, as that already appears here on the Amazon page. I would respond, however, to those reviewers who liken this film to "Free Willy" and "E.T.," only to say that this movie is finer than either of those by my estimation. It's far more sophisticated than "Free Willy" and has dimensions of meaning about love, loss and war that "E.T." could never hope to aspire to. The acting is fantastic. Emily Watson will break your heart with her quiet dignity. Alex Etel, who plays the child Angus, gives a more subtle, layered performance than any child actor I can think of in any film. You'll be surprised by the adult male roles here, played by Ben Chaplin and David Morissey; who's the good guy and who's the bad guy? The answer here is not so readily apparent. Most of all, three cheers for the studio artists who brought Crusoe the Water Horse to life, from infancy through adulthood. You won't believe your eyes; he appears as real as any living creature you've ever seen. Finally, there's the script, which is intelligent, funny and deeply moving. No cheap manipulative tactics here, no condescending to young viewers. This film treats its audience with respect. It's a once-in-a-lifetime treasure.

`The Water Horse' is one of those extremely good natured children's movies that just burrows itself into the viewers heart and makes for such an entertaining and memorable movie experience. The graphics are superbly done, the acting is sincere and moving and the story is one filled with the wonderment of a children's fantasy but is also grounded with a sense of human truth that paints a very realistic picture of human emotion for the audience. It's a children's movie that will touch the hearts of adults.

`The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep' presumes to tell the `true' story of Nessie; the Lock Ness Monster. It tells us the story of Angus, a troubled young boy who is waiting patiently for his father to return from war. In the opening scenes Angus finds a strange egg-shaped rock that's washed ashore. He takes it home and leaves it in his father's old workshop only to return later to find that the rock was indeed and egg and it has hatched. That's when Angus meets Crusoe (aptly named after the shipwrecked hero), a dinosaur-like creature who has an insatiable appetite for destruction.

Angus quickly forms an attachment to this cute little creature, but that friendship is threatened when a slew of Scottish soldiers get stationed on the same estate in which Angus lives. On top of that, the new handyman that has been hired has taken over the workshop and has left Angus without a place to store his new pet. Knowing that his mother with strongly disapprove of Crusoe, Angus enlists the help of his sister, and this new handyman Lewis to help him keep Crusoe hidden and out of harms way. When Crusoe gets too big to store indoors though and is forced to retreat to Loch Ness, things begin to get dangerous, especially when a certain soldier gets the grand idea to hunt Crusoe down.

For the most part this movie was beautifully constructed and utterly charming. The relationships between Angus and the people around him are real and fleshed out well. His love for Crusoe of course gets the brunt of the films attention, but the realness of his love for his father is also a shining light in the film.

The acting is great here. Alex Etel (from 2005's `Millions') is very capable as young Angus. His performance is very controlled and believable. I thought he was amazing in `Millions' and was delighted to see him in another great role. Ben Chaplin is effective as Lewis Mowbray and David Morrissey is flawless as the good-natured yet rough Captain Thomas Hamilton. Emily Watson (who is ALWAYS flawless) turns in a nice supporting role even though she isn't given too much to do. She evokes real emotion and commands her every scene, especially her closing scene. I enjoy Brian Cox quite a bit and thought that his small role here is quite effective. He knows how to command your attention, much like Sir Anthony Hopkins can; just by simply being on the screen.

`The Water Horse' is a tad on the predictable side, and I found myself disliking the ending. I enjoyed the fluid and charismatic way this film flowed up until the end where it began to resemble a certain `Free Willy'. The ending still doesn't destroy all the good that this film does for the first three quarters.

Some days it's great just to get away from the troubles of the world to a little bit of light, pleasing entertainment. The Water Horse will do the trick, and, like any good tale, it works on several levels.

First, it features beautiful photography of the magnificent Scottish Highlands. Add to this period furnishings of a Scottish manor house, and the clothing of the World War II era -- you might get a touch of nostalgia, but not enough to be cloying.

Next comes the character of the water horse. From infant through toddler through teenager and on to adulthood, this animation is utterly believeable. Movement and facial expressions are excellent.

Third is that the human characters are allowed to unfold over time without the rigidity of simple stereotypes that so often characterize current films. We see not only behaviors that define character, but are given the opportunity to understand the whys underlying those behaviors.

Fourth is the tale itself -- a timeless story that speaks to some instinctual yearning for true love and true freedom dwelling within the human spirit.

Time will tell whether this film has the pull to become a classic. I hope it will.

Highly recommended for family viewing.

What makes a movie 5 star?

Is it an intertesting storyline? Is it well written? Great directing? Wonderful actors? Great casting? Beautiful scenery?

Or does it have drama? Supsense? Or a movie that stirs your emotions? A movie that makes you say "Wow, I really enjoyed that!"?

Well, the Water Horse has all these elements. The story of a young boy and a mysterious egg that hatches into a legendary monster.

This movie is worth buying and watching for years to come. A movie for the whole family; adults and children alike can enjoy. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed it. One of the best movies I've seen in a long time. You'll treasure this DVD.