The Water Horse Legend of the Deep (pg)

Feb 8 2008 By Graham Young

BASED on the book by Dick King-Smith and made by the producers of The Lord of the Rings, children should enjoy this new take on the Loch Ness monster.

If their grandparents take them to see it, they won't be the only ones who appreciate its diversion into WWII territory. Directed by Jay Russell, it was mostly shot in New Zealand, with effects by the Weta Workshop.

Alex Etel, the memorable child star of Danny Boyle's Millions, is again top notch as Angus.

After befriending a young hatchling called Crusoe, which he then lets go, the creature's rapid growth and subsequent peril symbolises the relationship he once had with his own father.

Though it certainly has some exciting moments which might be too much for those under six, The Water Horse lacks pace at times.

It also recalls the boring Ted Danson film Loch Ness - which, I noted in 1996, 'had all the shock of Jaws with sardines'.

The Water Horse also stirs more recent memories of flying dragon drama Eragon as well as last year's The Last Mimzy and Scottish-based cycling film The Flying Scotsman, which also starred Brian Cox.

But youngsters won't worry about any of that because this creature looks so impressively real.

And, with Cox, Ben Chaplin and Emily Watson in support, the cast is good, too.