The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (2007)
Director: Jay Russell
Movie review
From Time Out London
There’s backbone to spare in this superior family film aimed at the type of kids who like a wee splash of Scotch on their cornflakes. The classic ‘Free Willy’ animal/child union-of-souls template is neatly transposed (with added grit) to the Highlands circa World War II, where young Angus MacMorrow (Alex Etel, last seen in Danny Boyle’s ‘Millions’) discovers a crystalline egg on a local beach.
What hatches is a cutesy dragon-like creature he names Crusoe that rapidly expands to the size of a lorry and has to be re-housed in the local loch. When a platoon of soldiers stationed in Angus’s home mistake Crusoe for an enemy sub, this pleasingly non-ironic yarn expands into an angry window on the brutal, inflexible nature of the military. But what pushes the film above its peers is the way that director Jay Russell – like Spielberg – only resorts to syrup when he can fully justify it.
Author: David Jenkins
Time Out London Issue 1955 Feb 6 to 13, 2008
User reviews of this film
-
- Patsy W said...
- Posted on Apr 17 2008 20:39 A really good film with a little bit of everything in it ! Go and see for yourself - you won't be dissapointed.I think it fills an important gap in the market by appealing to 7 - 12 year olds and probably of more interest to boys although my 10 yr old daughter loved it.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- orin said...
- Posted on Apr 04 2008 17:08 it was one of the best films i have ever sar. it made me cry a lot as well. bt if you go to the cinema you should see the watr hourse because it is realy good
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Jessica Claxton said...
- Posted on Mar 26 2008 22:10 Seen the trailor on television, sounds great. Going to see it tomorrow, can't wait.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- john said...
- Posted on Mar 22 2008 09:03 Exelent film! It realy has a good storyline and actors.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Tink said...
- Posted on Mar 15 2008 14:02 Excellent! all the things a kids film should be,but take a tissue -its quite moving! :)
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Ashlee Sarah said...
- Posted on Mar 15 2008 12:57 wicked film u hav got to see it!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Becky Mc said...
- Posted on Mar 11 2008 17:48 Looks great! Have seen trailer looks fabby!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- josie said...
- Posted on Mar 11 2008 09:45 this film was good, kids around 8-13 would enjoy it most i would say, but its got a nice story line and good actors
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Nicole said...
- Posted on Mar 08 2008 09:51 Hiya, its my birthday and im wondering if the water horse or the game plan is better! Could anyone help me out?
- Report as inappropriate
-
- rachael d n dikie said...
-
Posted on Mar 04 2008 12:06
hi peeps this film
is a legend
i thought tho it more 4 a lad
to watch
as i was amazed but it a rly action film
id say but id recomend
a lad to it
lots of love
hugs n kisses
love rachaeld n dikie
xxxxxxxxxxxxx - Report as inappropriate
-
- gabi said...
- Posted on Feb 29 2008 14:10 best film
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Jaycee said...
- Posted on Feb 28 2008 23:17 Is this a kid's film? - probably, but I more closely identify with the story teller in the pub, in age, and I thought the film was a sheer delight. A good story and wonderful scenery.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Maria said...
- Posted on Feb 27 2008 14:31 This film is amazing, One of my favorite films of this year and last. A must see and a definate purchase to see again.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- o b laden said...
- Posted on Feb 21 2008 17:50 aaaamazing film loved all of it the grafics were unbelievable and a would recommend it and watch it again
- Report as inappropriate
-
- zac goodenough said...
- Posted on Feb 19 2008 16:09 It was really good and funny. My favourite part was when the dog was chasing the water horse through the house.6/6 - a must see film!
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Jay Russell
Cast: Emily Watson, Ben Chaplin, Alex Etel, Brian Cox, David Morrissey full cast
Genre(s): Children's, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Duration: 105 mins
US Release: Dec 25 2007
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Hippies who work for The Man
To celebrate George Clooney comedy 'The Men who Stare at Goats', we look back at six memorable onscreen hippies who fought the system from within
Roland Emmerich's guide to disaster movies
Ahead of the release of '2012', Roland Emmerich offers his ten tips on creating the perfect global catastrophe
Grant Heslov: interview
Grant Heslov, director of 'The Men who Stare at Goats' talks about his old pal George Clooney, his interest in the paranormal, and his fond memories of working on 'Happy Days'
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Michael Jackson's This Is It: review
Kenny Ortega's posthumous concert film is a rousing eulogy for one of pop's great enigmas
Michael Haneke: The man behind the menace
From Cannes to Munich to London, Dave Calhoun tours Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Lone Scherfig talks 'An Education'
Danish director Lone Scherfig was an unlikely choice for a very English affair like 'An Education'. Cath Clarke meets her
How Jane Campion brought John Keats back to life
Time Out gets Romantic with the ‘difficult’ New Zealander about her new film, 'Bright Star'
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations













What do you think?
Post your review now