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Bookmark this pageThe 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
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- D McRiner said...
- Posted on Aug 09 2010 00:00 Best laugh I've had in ages! I know it is meant for a younger audience but liberties were taken in abundance with this film. Approximately 75,000 people are now dead as Inverness has been completely eradicated to turn Loch Ness into a sea loch, the village at the beginning and end of the film must be well hidden as I have never found it and the apparent crystal clear underwater sequences are completely out of place as diving in Loch Ness is like having a bath in draught Guiness. All this apart, it was a good yarn and should entertain anyone outside a radius of 200 miles from Inverness!
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- 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.
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- 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
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- 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.
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- john said...
- Posted on Mar 22 2008 09:03 Exelent film! It realy has a good storyline and actors.
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- 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! :)
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- Ashlee Sarah said...
- Posted on Mar 15 2008 12:57 wicked film u hav got to see it!!
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- Becky Mc said...
- Posted on Mar 11 2008 17:48 Looks great! Have seen trailer looks fabby!
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- 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
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- 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?
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- rachael d n dikie said...
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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
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- gabi said...
- Posted on Feb 29 2008 14:10 best film
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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
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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
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