The Water Horse
(PG)- Release Date: 6th March 2008 (Showtimes)
- Language: English
- Running Time: 112 mins
- Genre: Family
- Director: Jay Russell
- Cast: Alex Etel, David Morrissey, Emily Watson, Geraldine Brophy, Ben Chaplin. (Full Cast)
- Local Distributor: Shaw Organization
The Academy Award-Winning producer and special-effects team behind "The Lord of the Rings" team up with Revolution Studios, Walden Media (of "The Chronicles of Narnia") and Beacon Pictures to bring to the screen the magical film "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep". Rooted in one of the most enduring and intriguing legends of our time, the story begins with an enchanted egg which soon hatches and sets in motion an adventure that will take a young boy on an unforgettable journey of a lifetime.
Latest Review
Free Water Horse
What I loved most: CGI and Cursoe
What I really hated: Straightforward storyline and predictable ending
Eventhough this film is an adaptation of a children novel of the same title that is based on the Loch Ness Monster, I can't help to relate it with Free Willy due to the similarity of the storyline and ending. Set in Scotland during World War 2, Angus MacMarrow (ALEX ATEL) is longing for his father Charlie MacMorrow (CRAIG HALL) who was sent to the war zone. In his lonliness, he finds companionship in Cursoe - a water horse hatched from an egg that he discovered at the neighbourhood's lake. Unknown to his mother Anne MacMarrow (EMILY WATSON), he keep Cursoe as his pet in the house. When the creature became too big too handle, Angus released it to the lake with the help of his sister Kirstie (PRIYANKA XI) and the house handyman Lewis Mobray (BEN CHAPLIN). Cursoe later suffers from shells shot into the lake for practice by an army troops that set up their base near the lake to defense against possible attacks by the German. To protect Cursoe from further injury, Angus has to let it go in a "Free Willy" like ending to the film. Angus finally accepts the facts that he has to let go his pet and also that his father is no longer around. As a film about adorable monster, the CGI used is quite impressive although at some point of time it looks rather fake. Acting wise, the casts are just so-so but credit must be given to Alex Atel for his potrayal as the lonesome boy. A straighforward film suitable for all in the family to enjoy without much thinking required.
Story: 
Acting: 
Direction:
Visuals:
Overall:
Free Water Horse
What I loved most: CGI and Cursoe
What I really hated: Straightforward storyline and predictable ending
Eventhough this film is an adaptation of a children novel of the same title that is based on the Loch Ness Monster, I can't help to relate it with Free Willy due to the similarity of the storyline and ending. Set in Scotland during World War 2, Angus MacMarrow (ALEX ATEL) is longing for his father Charlie MacMorrow (CRAIG HALL) who was sent to the war zone. In his lonliness, he finds...More
Eventhough this film is an adaptation of a children novel of the same title that is based on the Loch Ness Monster, I can't help to relate it with Free Willy due to the similarity of the storyline and ending. Set in Scotland during World War 2, Angus MacMarrow (ALEX ATEL) is longing for his father Charlie MacMorrow (CRAIG HALL) who was sent to the war zone. In his lonliness, he finds companionship in Cursoe - a water horse hatched from an egg that he discovered at the neighbourhood's lake. Unknown to his mother Anne MacMarrow (EMILY WATSON), he keep Cursoe as his pet in the house. When the creature became too big too handle, Angus released it to the lake with the help of his sister Kirstie (PRIYANKA XI) and the house handyman Lewis Mobray (BEN CHAPLIN). Cursoe later suffers from shells shot into the lake for practice by an army troops that set up their base near the lake to defense against possible attacks by the German. To protect Cursoe from further injury, Angus has to let it go in a "Free Willy" like ending to the film. Angus finally accepts the facts that he has to let go his pet and also that his father is no longer around. As a film about adorable monster, the CGI used is quite impressive although at some point of time it looks rather fake. Acting wise, the casts are just so-so but credit must be given to Alex Atel for his potrayal as the lonesome boy. A straighforward film suitable for all in the family to enjoy without much thinking required.
Story:
Acting:
Direction:
Visuals:
Overall:
Awesome visuals!
What I loved most: Visuals, definitely
What I really hated: Ending
I love how the story was being told but the ending was pretty expected. The plot was nice, exposing the deceptive image of a self-made "water horse", real emotions from both human and creature and a very compelling tale that led the 2 strangers asking the old man for more. I felt that some scenes were pretty chaotic, esp. when the soldiers came and there was an angle of 1 scene that was...More
I love how the story was being told but the ending was pretty expected. The plot was nice, exposing the deceptive image of a self-made "water horse", real emotions from both human and creature and a very compelling tale that led the 2 strangers asking the old man for more. I felt that some scenes were pretty chaotic, esp. when the soldiers came and there was an angle of 1 scene that was very dizzying. The strong accent was hard to understand at times too but all in all, the story was so good that it leaves one believing that maybe this creature actually exists.
Story: 
Acting:
Direction:
Visuals:
Overall:
Great family Movie, don't miss it!
What I loved most: The water horse is really cute! The visuals were great, and the plot was kind of good.
What I really hated: The ending was quite expected, like a new water horse is about to come out again.
The show was overall really great since it is really memorable. Sorts of remind you of Free Willy as the Crusoe was like the whale lol. The starting scene were all very beautiful and the film was really directed well. Great plot that would be really memorable, allowing the show to be suitable for all ages. Ending was like Jumanji, as a new water horse egg was found again, but every...More
The show was overall really great since it is really memorable. Sorts of remind you of Free Willy as the Crusoe was like the whale lol. The starting scene were all very beautiful and the film was really directed well. Great plot that would be really memorable, allowing the show to be suitable for all ages. Ending was like Jumanji, as a new water horse egg was found again, but every character in the show has been really interesting and we can especially find a good storyline behind the main boy and his mother and the handyman. Lastly, if you loved animals as pets, this show is good for you as it shows the undoubtedly special feelings between a pet and its owner. Good film, don't miss it. =)
Story:
Acting:
Direction: 
Visuals:
Overall:
Friendship between Man & Animal...
What I loved most: The Visuals is Great!!! You'll have a feeling that the Water Horse is real exist.
What I really hated: Seems like everything can be "expected" throughout the story... Storyline not so strong/ a
At starts of the movie, a smooth solo string (+ harps...etc) bring you into some beautuful scenary, which get me excited to see on the story flows. However, there're no more nice/memorable melody line (at least not to what I can recall) throughout the movie. The orchestra arrangement is nice to match the movie scene though. However, it's not my favorite type (ie. not as nice as the...More
At starts of the movie, a smooth solo string (+ harps...etc) bring you into some beautuful scenary, which get me excited to see on the story flows. However, there're no more nice/memorable melody line (at least not to what I can recall) throughout the movie. The orchestra arrangement is nice to match the movie scene though. However, it's not my favorite type (ie. not as nice as the orchestra music in "August Rush"). It is definitely a good movie to educate kids to love their pets. (but of course, not to abandon them while they become old...). Good for parent to bring kids to watch during school holiday. Although the storyline is quite norm, but the friendship built between the boy and the Water Horse is quite touching. Well, some part near the ending seems like another "Free Willy".
Story:
Acting:
Direction:
Visuals:
Overall:
It's not just the lack of mystery or magic in the film that lets audiences down. Even the geography of the locality is all mixed up: it is supposed to be Loch Ness, which is a freshwater lake that does not directly open to the sea, rather it is connected to it via a 12km river. In the movie, they gloss over these facts in order to allow the story to flow. Fair enough, but on top of dodgy-sounding Scottish accents, you also have the British army men driving American vehicles in Scotland! That's right - the driver's side is on the left when it should be on the right.
However, being a family film, these facts probably won't bother a ten-year-old, and honestly, Crusoe the "water horse" is really quite adorable. When the monster is a baby it's just like a puppy, complete with beseeching eyes and various squeaks and grunts that add to the cuteness factor. Despite being a slimy beast, the creature also manages to appear cuddly - kudos to the character designers. The only thing is, and I stress this again, there is a lack of any mythology around the creature and at the end of the day, the water horse could have easily been replaced by a puppy, and this could disappoint the young fans that come to the cinema expecting a saga of magic and superstition.
Acting is mediocre at best, considering veterans like Brian Cox, Ben Chaplin and Emily Watson star in this film. Alex Etel, with his adorable freckles, has a bright future in acting and does well enough in portraying his character, Angus, whereby the bond between him and the fictional Crusoe is believable, but I feel the creature grows too big too fast (Crusoe, that is) and they aren't able to establish a deeper connection to warrant Angus' extreme attachment to the beast.
The CG is pretty decent, although here and there, especially in scenes when Angus rides on Crusoe's back, it doesn't quite look real - something about them seems off. Nevertheless, the scenery of the highlands of Scotland (or actually, New Zealand, which is where most of it was shot) is breathtaking, even if it is a bit of a let down that they did not shoot the entire film in Scotland, considering there are plenty of beautiful highland-type places there to choose from.
Towards the end of the film there is some suspense with Crusoe wanting to break free of the Loch but being unable to due to steel nets set up by the British army to trap German submarines. Predictably, everything works out in the end, and Angus gets to prove to his mother that he wasn't just talking crazy when he was blabbering to her about a monster. Boy and beast part ways and both come of age in doing so.
In essence, "The Water Horse" feels very much like a remake of "Free Willy": a sea creature is taken as a pet but gets too big to keep at home, and when it's released it is blocked of its freedom - contained in a small body of water that is the Loch, and finally with the help of its 'master' who is a small boy, the creature jumps over an obstacle and enters the larger body of water (i.e. the open sea), which symbolises freedom - good, old-fashioned and predictable family fun based on a winning formula.
THIS WEEK'S FEATURE
A college lecturer takes off to Paris to start anew after a scandal had cost him his job.
NEW FEATURE
Life Happens
A single mom ends up with full-time custody after the kid’s pro surfer dad takes off on tour.
LATEST REVIEW
Black Swan
"2 words - Natalie Portman"Allan
4A young ballerina - Nina's passion of ballet dancing takes to new heights as her company searches for a new lead to play both the roles of White and Black...