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The Water Horse - Legend of the Deep (Two-Disc Special Edition) by Jay Russell
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DVD detailsActor: Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, Brian Cox, David Morrissey, Emily Watson Director: Jay Russell Brand: ETEL,ALEX DVD: Region Code 99 Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1 EX; English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen Picture Format: 1.33:1 Running Time: 112 minutes DVD Release Date: 2008-04-08 Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Studio: Columbia Tri/Star
DVD Reviews of The Water Horse - Legend of the Deep (Two-Disc Special Edition)DVD Review: The Water Horse Summary: 5 StarsThis is an excellent movie for kids. My grandchildren just love it. It reminds me of the FREE WILLIE MOVIES.
DVD Review: Good family film that probably snuck by you in the theaters Summary: 4 Stars"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.
DVD Review: DMartin Summary: 5 StarsGreat movie, great price! Thanks for the speedy delivery. Will shop with this seller again.
DVD Review: the water horse legendof the deep Summary: 5 Starsi enjoyed this movie very much. i am a child at heart. i just love fantasy movies , and the movie was done very well
DVD Review: Too scarey for toddlers Summary: 2 StarsMy family and I went to the theater and saw this movie. My kids were very excited to see it due to the trailers and cute advertisements on TV. It did have some cute parts that my kids loved but 1/4 of it was too much for toddlers. My 5 year old actually hid under the seat for a couple of parts. My 3 yr old was more tuff but I don't think she realized what really was happening to the water horse in the end. All in all, parents should read the reviews before you have your younger children watch. The cute parts were not worth the more traumatic for young kids.
Description of The Water Horse - Legend of the Deep (Two-Disc Special Edition)When a lonely young boy named Angus discovers a large, mysterious egg along the shores of Loch Ness, no one is prepared for what lies within. He soon discovers that the strange, mischievous hatchling inside is none other than The Water Horse, the loch's most mysterious and fabled creature! But with the Water Horse growing ten times its size every day, Angus finds it increasingly difficult to keep his new friend a secret. Two-time Academy Award(r) nominee Emily Watson (1998, Hilary and Jackie; 1996 Breaking the Waves), Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin (The Thin Red Line), David Morrissey (The Reaping) and Brian Cox (Running with Scissors) star in this heart warming tale from director Jay Russell (Tuck Everlasting) and written by Robert Nelson Jacobs (Flushed Away). Based on a novel by Dick King-Smith, author of The Sheep Pig (from which Babe was adapted), the touching and often spectacular The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep ingeniously presumes to explain the truth behind "Nessie," i.e., the Loch Ness Monster. The story, told in present day to a couple of American tourists by a kindly gentleman (Brian Cox) in a pub, begins with a lonely boy, Angus (Alex Etel), pining for his father, who is serving in the Royal Navy during World War II. Angus, along with his sister (Priyanka Xi) and mother (Emily Watson), live on an estate that has been billeted by soldiers in the Scottish Highlands, near Loch Ness. The troop's commander (David Morissey) has an eye for mom, suspicions about a mysterious handyman, Lewis (Ben Chaplin), who is also a war hero, and an absurd contention that the Highlands are the real frontline in the war against Germany.
Into this intriguing drama comes a completely different element, a fantastical creature of Celtic mythology that befriends Angus and is, in fact, the sea-beast who will eventually be known as the Loch Ness Monster. Trying to hide the dinosaur-like fellow, nicknamed Crusoe, Angus enlists Lewis to transfer it to the lake, where boy and serpent have extraordinary adventures together until human stupidity threatens Crusoe's existence. A true family film, there is a lot for adults to like about the grownup story in The Water Horse. Meanwhile, the wistful relationship between Angus and Crusoe--each of whom helps the other move past obstacles toward their individual destinies--will leave children feeling both happy and melancholy in the best possible sense. Directed by Jay Russell (My Dog Skip), The Water Horse is the best of a mini-genre of films about or inspired by old Nessie. --Tom Keogh Beyond The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep  On Blu-ray |  Paperback Novel |  CD Soundtrack | Stills from The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (click for larger image)
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