Water Horse: A Well-Told Fantasy
Posted by: Loren Coleman on December 30th, 2007
In his December 30, 2007 column, Maine film critic Marty Meltz gives three and a half stars out a possible four to the new movie about the Loch Ness Monster.
Here are the highlights from that review:
In this, my farewell column for the Maine Sunday Telegram at the end of 30 years, it is gratifying that destiny has led me to review a superlative film like “The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep.”Lovers of “E.T.,” “Free Willy” and “King Kong” will love this wonderful family fantasy film. Over the first half, it presents itself as simply a well-constructed story, but it then ascends rapidly to consuming suspense as its lovable but often scary monster comes under attack by heavy artillery.
* * *
Little Angus is charmingly filled out by director Jay Russell’s sensitive perceptions of a 9-year-old’s conflicts and urgencies, skillfully avoiding the sentimentalism buttons, even when the boy pines over his daddy, of whose death in the war he is not even aware.The pompousness and presumptuousness of the military group set up the villain, even as the sympathetic victim, Crusoe, is given a charm and a fearsome quality all at once.
Faltering only a wee bit in a few low-energy scenes between crisis sequences, this is a masterful film that has a fine sense of its balance between old-timey themes and modern special effects. It fine-tunes with a mix of artistry and honesty of technique in just-plain storytelling, which is irresistibly appealing. For the complete review, go to “‘Water Horse’ a well-told fantasy.”
“THE WATER HORSE: LEGEND OF THE DEEP” ***1/2
DIRECTOR: Jay Russell
SCREENPLAY: Robert Nelson, based on the book by Dick King-
Smith
CAST: Emily Watson, Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, David Morrissey
TIME: 1 hr., 51 min.
RATING: PG (large scale artillery action and monster scares)
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Loren Coleman no longer writes for Cryptomundo. His archived posts remain here at Cryptomundo.
The only negative thing I heard about this movie was that if you are Scottish or otherwise acquainted with the Highlands, you will quickly realize this is not the Scottish Highlands. It was filmed in New Zealand and the terrain is very different. Other than that little technicality and a couple of geologic impossibilities about Loch Ness, I’ve heard it had good story line and special effects. It’s best to go to the movies for entertainment, not instruction in scientific or historical accuracy.
I liked the film. I was thrilled to be able to take my 6-year-old daughter. It prompted some cool daddy/daughter conversation about lake dwelling cryptids. Just fun for me to share a bit of my nerdy (it’s OK, I’m self-actualized about it…LOL) in an engaging way with the next generation.
It actually reminded me of an experience from my youth when my dad took me to see a British film called “The Johnstown Monster” — a somewhat lame story about kids and a lake monster. I was captivated!!! It really was the start of my fascination with cryptozoology; a lifelong thing for me.
Who knows, maybe my daughter Logan Blue will be spurred to her own cryptozoological journey. Hey, a dad can hope can’t he?
PS — I’m a long-time reader and a first-time poster. Thanks to all for such a cool community!