British actor Alex Etel, a cast member in "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep," poses at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Dec. 7. 2007. [Photo:Xinhua/Reuters]
"The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep" is a children's tale packed with action-adventure -- some material in the third act might frighten youngsters -- that tells the legend of Scotland's Loch Ness and its famous monster.

The movie is based on a novel by Dick King-Smith and reveals the story of Angus MacMorrow (Alex Etel). Angus lives on the coast of Scotland during World War II. His father has been gone a long time with the navy, leaving Angus with his mother, Anne (Emily Watson), the housekeeper at a gorgeous country house, and his older sister, Kirstie (Priyanka Xi).

Angus is on the beach one day when he comes across an iridescent egg. He takes it back to the manor's potting shed, where it hatches a strange creature that looks like a tiny dinosaur with seal flippers. The creature soon grows into a full-fledged adolescent sea monster exhibiting all the energy and mischief of its age group.

Meanwhile, a pompous army captain named Hamilton (David Morrissey) has taken over the house with his troops, convinced that the Germans are going to invade Scotland through nearby Loch Ness. And a mysterious caretaker named Lewis Mowbray (Ben Chaplin) has arrived on the scene.

Director Jay Russell ("My Dog Skip," "Tuck Everlasting") has created a rich, mostly tender fairy tale that combines elements of such children's classics as "The Secret of Roan Inish," "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial " and "Born Free." As enchanting as it is for children, there's plenty for adults to appreciate, from Morrissey's quietly hilarious turn as the self-regarding captain to the spectacular Scottish gorges and glens.

The movie comes from Walden Media, the company responsible for such superb family entertainments as "Holes," "Because of Winn-Dixie," "Charlotte's Web" and "Bridge to Terabithia. "



[article from cenglish]