Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3365 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-06-30
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 107 minutes

Amazon.co.uk review

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," , 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.

Product description
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)

Synopsis
Based on the novel by BABE author Dick King-Smith, THE WATER HORSE: LEGEND OF THE DEEP is set in Scotland during World War II, and focuses on Angus (Alex Etel), a young boy who discovers an unusual egg at Loch Ness. When the egg hatches to reveal a dinosaur-like creature, Angus finds that he has a unique pet--a mythical 'water horse', which he names Crusoe. Complicating matters are Crusoe's fast growth rate and soldiers stationed near the lake, factors that make it very tricky to keep the friendly beastie a secret.
A thoroughly likable family film directed by Jay Russell (TUCK EVERLASTING), THE WATER HORSE provides an intriguing spin on the classic boy-and-his-dog tale. While Etel, who won over audiences in MILLIONS, ably carries the movie, he is supported by a top-notch ensemble that includes Emily Watson as his mother, Priyanka Xi as his sister, and Ben Chaplin as a good-natured handyman. Primarily sharing the screen with Etel, however, is the Loch Ness Monster-in-the-making, which is wonderfully rendered by Weta, the company behind the digital effects for THE LORD OF THE RINGS films. Both cute and--in his larger state--intimidating, Crusoe strikes up a surprisingly believable relationship with Angus, providing the heart of this beautifully photographed story.

Customer Reviews

Absolutely magical!
I saw this wonderful movie at the cinema and loved it - I will definitely be grabbing a copy when it comes out on dvd. Set in the time of WW2 it's the tale of a young boy who finds an egg which hatches into a strange little beast known as a water horse - the boy then has to find ways to hide the endearing and curious creature from not only his family but the army who are using their house as a temporary base. The relationship between the boy and his rapidly growing nautical friend is heart warming, and the uncertainty of the beast's future will have you biting your nails. The waterhorse is so realistically animated you do forget that he's not real. And the climax of the film almost had me in tears. This is perfect family viewing that can be watched again and again, I would highly recommend it to both adults and children - a really lovely tale of friendship between man and beast that you can become completely absorbed in.

Perfect for kids, parents and big softies!
The Water Horse is based in Scotland, and more specifically, the area around Loch Ness. One day, lonely little boy Angus is searching for shells and things by the shore of the Loch, when he discovers what looks like a big egg-shaped rock. On closer investigation, he finds it is in fact an egg. Called away suddenly, he leaves the egg in his father's workshop, and races off. The next time he comes back, he discovers the egg has hatched. On hunting high and low for what came out of the egg, Angus is confronted by a strange little creature. They quickly become friends. But as the creature grows enormously each time it eats, Angus finds it very difficult to keep his not-so-little friend a secret. Soon other people are enlisted to help keep Angus' secret and protect the well-being of the creature, which they've now identified as what they believed was a fictional creature. However, as the water horse, Crusoe, grows and grows... so does the amount of trouble he causes!

I don't want to say too much because I'll give the game away, but this is a lovely film. I haven't read the book, but it's now on my hit list. It's a very touching story about a lonely little boy refusing to acknowledge his father has been killed in military service during World War II, and he throws himself into other pursuits to forget his loss. He's a sad little boy missing his daddy. His friendship with Crusoe is the perfect distraction, and the interaction between the two brought a tear to my eye more than once.

Overall, this is a fantastic, and somewhat underappreciated film. It didn't make much of a splash (pardon the pun) at cinemas from what I gather, but I think it may do better on DVD as word gets out. This is a perfect family film, as parents will love it as much as kids, and also you'll love it if you're a big softie like me!! Excellent!

An absolutely beautiful film - Highly reccomended
This is such a wonderful and moving film. It brought a tear to my eye. I actually had never heard of it before but upon reading the storyline and looking at reviews I thought that it sounded like a film that I would enjoy. I am amazed that this film is not more widely known about.

Great family viewing and a thoroughly enjoyable film even if you haven't got any kids (like me!)

Truely magical.

I can't reccomend it highly enough.