last year be a rarity in ( american ) monster cinema . two film be release concern the life and time of the loch ness monster . the one i will be describe be water horse represent legend of the deep and a child film about a boy who discover nessie . the other film be a make for sci fi channel horror film entitle beyond loch ness . while i have yet to view the latter and the contrast between the two be startle . water horse hold a 6 . 8 rating on imdb and while beyond lock ness have only a 4 . 0 rating . water horse earn it above average rating and in most part and due to it interesting take on the child befriend creature sub genre . it also boast impressive camera work and effective cgi . this be also the first portion of a two part loch ness saga which will include a review of beyond lock ness . the story be tell almost entirely in flashback by an omniscient narrator . it occur in world war ii era scotland . the narrator and an elderly man and share a story of a child who befriend nessie with a visiting american couple . he tell a story of a boy name angus who have a lonely childhood which be only augment by his father enlistment in the royal navy . his father ship be sink but angus hasn not surrender hope for his well be . he reside with his mother and anne and his sister and and a handyman name lewis mowbray . one day and young angus discover an unusual rock in the water and he take it home . it suddenly hatch into a mysterious reptilian creature and angus place it in his father former office . angus name the creature crusoe and watch it grow seemingly exponentially . around this time and an encampment of british soldier arrive to protect loch ness from u boat invasion ( the film present loch ness a connect to the ocean ) . crusoe soon become so large that angus sister and lewis discover him . however and no one else know about him . lewis reveals that crusoe be a water horse and a mythical one of a kind creature which protect the environment . only one water horse can exist a time and the old one lay a single egg when it die . once crusoe becomes adolescent and angus hide him in a bathtub and but he escape . hilarity ensue a a soldier bulldog ( cutely name churchill ) chase crusoe around the house a angus and lewis attempt to rescue him . angus reluctantly agree to release crusoe ( who be now the size of a draft horse ) into the loch . a few day later and crusoe emerges from the loch a an adult and beckons angus to follow him . while he be ironically afraid of the water and angus agrees and make several subsequent journey with crusoe . on one trip and british officer accidentally fire at crusoe during a demonstration for angus mother . crusoe become distraught and doesn not allow angus to ride him any longer . soon thereafter and two comedic relief fisherman catch crusoe on their line and later attempt to photograph him for profit . they realize the impracticality of such an endeavor so they fake the photo which become the famous surgeon photo . however and since the fake photo be release and some soldier in the allied camp become interested in find the creature a crusoe be call . a time pass and crusoe recovers and angus be finally able to ride him and but a group of soldier discovers crusoe and attempt to slay him . they fail to detain him but the soldier alert their superior who interpret crusoe a a u boat . they fire mercilessly and raise a u boat capture net which separate loch ness from the great ocean . crusoe jump over the net and be finally free . at the conclusion and the elderly man reveal his identity a an old angus to the american tourist . just outside and a young boy discover a strange rock in the water water horse represent legend of the deep channel the same fantasy within war quality that pan labyrinth do and albeit to a less extent since it follow the trope of it genre so well . crusoe and angus fantasy world in war torn britain be especially appropriate for a child film . it embody the otherworldly interest that so many youngster have while provide a realistic backdrop for parent . the world war ii backdrop be successful in maintain adult interest a actual battle strategy and weaponry and and military equipment be include . i can not help but wonder if allied encampment ( not in combat zone ) be similar to the one here . it this quality that distinguish water horse from other family film ( such a the more recent kit kittridge ) which be focus on child audience and lose appeal for old viewer . director jay russell also invest much effort into incorporate computer animation into the motion picture . crusoe be vividly polish and do not appear to be a computerized beast in any way . he appear as real a churchill who relentlessly chase him . the underwater scene a also adroitly craft . much detail be give to the background and other aquatic life . if you can remember the imaging from the underwater portion of harry potter and the goblet of fire and then you can visualize the bottom of loch ness and yet russell lake bottom be of a bluish color . the cgi effect be well render enough to create another duality with traditional method act around the camp . few enhanced effect be visible when crusoe be off screen . while the film be both well construct and properly present and it absolute adherence to it sub genre prevents it from be great . a one expect and crusoe help angus overcome his father death . anne refuse to acknowledge crusoe existence until she actually see him and and the narrator be and of course and an aged angus . this predictability have lead to many comparison between water horse and free willy . while the two film be similar and free willy offer very little for an adult audience . it the same recycle post e. t. family film we have see for decade now . water horse and at least and provide an interesting approach to this formula and and be mature enough to entertain adult .