The Water Horse (2007)

This review may contain spoilers.The water horse is an excellent movie showing the journey of a boy who found an egg of water horse and how he raised it during WWII, and the emotional bond develops between the two. This is a descend movie with some OK CGI. But the acting was awesome and the way which the story develops character is quite appealing. there was never a dull moment in the movie. The boy finds the creature which he initially do not understand and take care of him. There was so much cuteness in this movie. The baby creature was quite adorable. The animation was good and the soundtrack was superb.The climax bought tears in my eyes. A must watch for kids and adult

The setting is WW2 era Scotland, where a young boy discovers a strange egg which soon hatches into a dinosaur-like creature with a penchant for water. Against this tale lies a backdrop of conflict and strife, with locals, family members, and soldiers fleshing out the supporting characters. One of the best things about the production is the rugged scenery, almost a character in itself.THE WATER HORSE is an attempt at a modern-day fairy tale but the execution is strictly uniform. The amount of scenes involving the creature doing 'cute' things means that this is a story aimed at little kids who will no doubt be entranced by the Disney-style creation. On the plus side, the CGI effects are excellent throughout, only getting a little hokey at the climax for obvious reasons.Alex Etel (MILLIONS) plays the young protagonist, but he feels pretty miscast in the role, although we can be thankful it wasn't Freddie Highmore again. And in mentioning Highmore, I can't help but think this is much like the Hollywood version of FIVE CHILDREN AND IT, except lacking the complexity and charm of that film's original storyline. Although there are decent actors in support (Ben Chaplin, David Morrissey, Brian Cox), in the end THE WATER HORSE is one for kids only.

There's something about legends of mythical creatures that make them endure - The Abominable Snowman, Bigfoot, and yes, the Loch Ness Monster. I didn't know "The Water Horse" was a whimsical telling of the origins of the famous monster, but it was readily apparent once the story got under way. It was rather innovative the way the writers came up with the background story with the egg and all, and I always marvel at the way film makers can make a computer creation look real on screen. The baby water horse in the bath tub looked absolutely real, becoming only slightly less so as it grew into the huge monster of legend. There's an element of whimsy at work in the picture to go with the magic, and as a family viewing experience this one entertains well enough. I would only caution those with young kids that the adult water horse can be a fearsome creature, so prepare the youngsters accordingly. I'd put this film in my list of 'Movies About Horses', but that would obviously be a bit of a stretch.

During World War II, young Angus finds an egg which hatches into an aquatic creature. He tries to keep it secret but, as it grows, this becomes more difficult. Adding to the complications is the fact that the army is based at the loch...This film draws on the Loch Ness Monster and related legends to tell a story which is a coming of age fantasy in the Free Willy mould. And it is absolutely fine - well told with a sound, if freckly, performance from Alex Etel as Angus, and solid support from the adult cast.It is beautifully filmed in gorgeous surroundings, with slick and convincing effects. The creature (and its interaction with water) are particularly well done.This is recommended as a family film.