Free Nessie

Ate was here in NYC for his birthday and New Year's holiday. We watched "Xanadu" and "Legally Blonde", spent half a day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. After dropping him off at the airport today, I realized I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to the holiday season so for some feel-good family entertainment, I went to see "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep". It is your typical tale of a boy and his dog bestfriend...if your dog has a long neck, horns and flippers. The movie, based on a book, calls the magical creature a water horse instead of the Loch Ness Monster. (Years ago, Lynn sent me this great website for Nessie watchers, complete with Nessie cam!)

It is a predictable but sweet and whimsical film. The star is a very realistic lake creature named Crusoe who is "raised" by a lonely boy named Angus. (Weta Workshop did the special effects so it's obviously very good.) I loved hearing the little kids in the theatre bursting out laughing and giggling throughout the movie. Although towards the end as Crusoe was being pursued by townsfolk and soldiers, there were some frightening scenes for little ones. The scenery is beautiful and the ending gives hope for people like me who want to believe there may be room in this world for creatures like Champ (from Lake Champlain here in the U. S.) and Nessie.

(photo from Yahoo!)