OK for kids 7+
Predictable family fantasy not as good as book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this adaptation of the popular book by Babe author Dick King-Smith has a very different plotline than the original story, escalating the violence within the WWII-era setting. The monster becomes truly dangerous when fully grown (in an old-school King Kong way), lashing out at people with snapping jaws -- which leads the British soldiers to open fire on it. But it's still a kid-friendly film overall.
- Families can talk about the Loch Ness Monster. Do you think it could be real? Why or why not? How might a story like this have gotten started? Can you think of other movies in which a child forms a secret attachment with an unusual pet or unearthly friend? How is this movie similar to and different from them? Families who've read the book the movie is based on can compare the two -- which do you like better, and why?
The good stuff
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Messages: Young Angus is depicted as a sensitive, nature-loving boy with something of a wistful streak (he either truly doesn't know or pretends he doesn't know that his father is dead). His character is contrasted to the British military men, who pretend to represent discipline and gallantry but come off mainly as bullies. In the book, the whole family knew the secret of the water horse and cooperated to keep it; here, only Angus, his sister, and a rebellious Scottish ex-soldier conspire to hide the monster. There are references to centuries-old bad feelings between the Scots and the British.
What to watch for
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Violence and scariness: Soldiers bombard the monster with artillery and shoot at it with rifles. The beast threatens the humans right back, with its snapping jaws and enormous strength. The monster kills/eats a bullying bulldog (off screen). A fistfight between two men.
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Sexy stuff: Not an issue
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Language: Not an issue
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Consumerism: A built-in promo for the book by Dick King-Smith -- but that's the kind of promotion that might actually benefit kids.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Social drinking and smoking at a banquet and a local pub.
Fan Reviews provided by
4
Cute and clever by juliethemoviebuff
This is a good movie to see with your family this holiday season. Caruso, the water horse, will endear himself right into your heart and there is more to the story than the previews allude to. The characters are fairly well developed and there is more than one subplot to follow. While I doubt anyone will win awards for this movie, it is worth seeing if you like clean, family films with cute creatures who have more personality than perhaps the people around you!
5
the water horse by metfansforever
A wonderful and breathtaking movie...finally a awesome family movie. Angus was great in Millions and great again! You will want to travel to Scotland after seeing this!
2
Not a cute and cuddly movie by chammer1248
A word of caution about The Water Horse. We took the kids and grandparents yesterday. I would definitely say this is a movie for at least eight year olds and up. It was not all "cute and cuddly" as the previews would lead you to believe. The movie does have a few slapstick humorous moments and some touching ones as well, but a whole lot of the movie is rather dark with lots of moments of peril. It's set in a backdrop of WWII, and the war bit is very front and center. The main character's (a 10 year old boy) father dies in the war, and the very cute Water Horse of the beginning of the movie quickly grows up into a *very* scary big sea monster for the rest of the time. The climax of the movie has the Scottish army bombing into Loch Ness (thinking the monster is actually a German sub), which causes the monster to go crazy and upturn a boat, grab a man and toss him around, etc. etc. It's also difficult for young kids to follow as it jumps from current day to WWII . Only for 8-10 years+.
4
Pretty Sweet by heatherfeather4109
It was really awsome except when the water horse was little, he was cute, but he was freaky when he was older. I reccomend that children under the age of 8 or 9 have their parents watch it and see if their kids are mature enough to handle it.
5
A Must See! by Screenman
Excellent from start to finish! Destined to become a classic. Great family viewing.
4
The Water Horse by cardreaderb
The movie had so many moments where the imagination takes flight. My daughter loved the movie. There were 4 other groups of people at the movies when we went at 150 Christmas day. Everyone seemed happy as they left. The ending was well done. The movie had a few seconds where it would be scary for a small child. My child is 10. This movie was worth seeing. This movie wakes up your imagination.
3
Not for Preschoolers by Movie.Mama
The trailers we had seen and the poster, down to the "from the writer of Babe" tagline made me believe it was an okay movie for my (almost) 4 year old who was dying to see it. Shame on me for not doing more research, it started okay but eventually her dad had to take her outside. I learned my lesson. It was not the cute moster movie I thought it as going to be from all of the advertising. The hunter, the war, the blood, the mean monster gone wild...definitely not for preschoolers.
5
Such a sweet movie by puggster2009
This movie was somewhat an emotional experience. Angus the small boy raised Crusoe from a baby and Crusoe realized this. As the movie went along their relationship is sooo sweet. I went from saying AWWWW to laughing to crying at the end. This was a really great movie. I didnt expect it to be that sweet =]
4
The Water Horse by moviefan452
The Water Horse provides a lot of campy movie action in the style of classic Disney. In addition there is a back story of the romantic interests and competition between the artillery captain and the handyman that could provide some interest for mothers taking their children to the movies. Over all it?s a cute but not spectacular film but nice for families with young children. Check out my full review and more at johnhuntspace.com
5
The Water Horse by jjsmama
It was a great movie my 3 yr old son loves animals and has been waiting all month to go see this movie he had never been to the movies so i wasn't sure how he would do but it was great it kept his interest all the way to the end now when he sees the previews he goes mom we saw that I love the water horse it just lights up your heart to hear him say it great movie for kids to see