The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (Two-Disc Special Edition)
by Jay Russell
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DVD details
Actor: Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, Brian Cox, David Morrissey, Emily WatsonDirector: Jay Russell
Brand: Sony Pictures
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1 EX; English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1 EX; French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.40:1
Running Time: 112 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-04-08
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Reviews of The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (Two-Disc Special Edition)
DVD Review: A boy and his Plesiosaur.
Summary: 4 Stars
WATER HORSE is your basic "boy and his dog" movie except in the setting of 1940's Scotland in the midst of World War II, and instead of a dog it's the Loch Ness Monster. It's very predictable (boy gets attached to a pet and has to eventually say an emotional farewell to it) and has a simple plot, yet it's emotional and, at times, funny. It's also not so much a children's movie as it as an innocent movie for adults, in my opinion. Essentially, it is a children's movie but in a world of KUNG FU PANDAS, HANNAH MONTANAS, and whatnot, it may not have what it takes to get the attention of that demographic and may appeal more to fans of the HARRY POTTER series, LORD OF THE RINGS, and more Fantasy-based type of films. Also, being familiar with the Loch Ness Monster legend is a plus. With that being said...
The way that the Loch Ness Monster (or the "Water Horse" as it's called in the film) is presented in this film is that only one can exist per generation and that they are Asexual creatures. Before one dies, it lays a single egg that eventually hatches and the baby Water Horse has to live as an orphan and learn to adapt on its own. By chance, a young boy named Angus finds an egg, thinking it's just a big rock. He takes it home, and the egg hatches that same night. He tames the Water Horse and raises it without telling anyone. Eventually his sister and a live-in Handyman (an awesome actor named Ben Chaplin from MURDER BY NUMBERS) find out and collectively help Angus keep the Water Horse a secret from his mother (Emily Watson) and members of the Scottish Army who are taking refuge in their mansion of a home and are planning for an impending German attack (supposedly). But when Angus realizes that the more the Water Horse (which he names "Crusoe") eats, the more and more rapidly it grows, thus resulting in him having to make a heartbreaking decision by taking him to Loch Ness and parting ways with it so that it can be safe and live on its own.
Overall, I enjoyed WATER HORSE a lot. Like I mentioned before, the story IS predictable but it's well done and puts a different spin on the "boy and his dog" scenario. The cast is great and the characters are great. The young boy that plays Angus does a good job and isn't overly annoying like a lot of kids in movies have the potential to be. The bond between Angus and Crusoe is a strong one and creates for a more emotional ending. Also the fact that Crusoe has a NAME instead of being called "Water Horse", makes it more of an individual and gives it a character. To Angus, Crusoe represents more than a pet. It represents his best friend, it represents his child, and as Crusoe gets bigger, it spiritually represents his father who passed away while serving for the Navy. The Cinematography is beautiful and really takes advantage of Scotland's beautiful outdoor scenery. And the character of Crusoe is fantastic, thanks to the Special Effects artists who brought it to life. It has the mannerisms of a curious dog and is a playful creature, even as it grows in size. Some of the acting is a bit sketchy, mainly due to the smaller characters who only have a few lines of dialogue, but for the most part the cast does a great job.
The 2-Disc version of the DVD comes with a Behind-the-Scenes Documentary (77 minutes in length) that covers everything from the myth of the Loch Ness monster, the cast, the production, the acting, and the special effects. Plenty of cast and crew interviews. Also included are a few Deleted Scenes that have a total run time of only 6 minutes and 54 seconds. Other than that, there are no other Extra Features that have to do with the film, which is a little disappointing but is still enough to satisfy the Extra Features junkies who purchase this DVD. Maybe a proper documentary about the Loch Ness Monster? Overall, I highly recommend WATER HORSE to fans of Fantasy type of films and to adults who are looking to check out a simple, fun, and innocent movie for a change. Be warned: the song by Sinead O'Connor during the end credits is a tearjerker.
4 stars
Description of The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Features include:
?MPAA Rating: PG
?Format: DVD
?Runtime: 112 minutes
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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