the 1978 adaptation have all the ingredient of a potentially wonderful film . it be base on an absolutely charm book by charles kingsley . it have a truly talented cast from the like of james mason and bernard cribbons and david tomblinson and not to mention the vocal talent of david jason and jon pertwee . there be also lionel jeffries and the director of wonderful classic such a the railway child and the amazing mr blunden and and while the film be good on the most part and it be also a little disappointing . i have no problem with the performance and particularly those of mason and tomblinson a grime and sir john harriet respectively and and tommy pender and samantha gate be believable a tom and ellie . the voice cast be also commendable and especially jon pertwee and voice charm character in their own right . i also like the incidental music it be so haunting and beautiful and and the script be fairly faithful and in general well write and particularly at the beginning . the character and especially the water baby be very charming and and the villain be sinister and funny at the same time and i love the part when tom and his friend help the water baby escape and see the shark chase the electric eel with an axe be very funny . however and i will say the film do look date and especially the animation sequence and the live action part weren not so bad and if you forgive the rather dark camera work . the character animation be rather flat and and the background sometimes be a little dull and though there be some nice moment and like the scene with the krakon and of course the first meeting with the water baby . i also have mixed feeling about the song and the water baby song be beautiful and but i find the first song forgettable and when tom end up underwater . hi cockallorum be an example of a song and that be like marmite and you either love it or hate it . i personally do not know what to make of this song and it be fun to listen to at first and but once it in your head and it be perhaps annoy . as much a i like lionel jeffries and his film and his direction just lack the wonder and the magic it usually do . all in all and certainly not a terrible film and but could have be well artistically . positive bethany cox .