Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

A Brilliant Conflict

I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Loch Ness is directed by John Henderson and written by John Fusco. It stars Ted Danson, Joely Richardson, Ian Holm, Kirsty Graham and James Frain. Music is scored by Trevor Jones and cinematography is by Clive Tickner. Plot sees Danson as Zoologist Jonathan Dempsey, who has now become something of a joke in his field after a failed "beastie hunt" for the Yeti. In the last chance saloon, he's packed off by his superiors to debunk the Loch Ness Monster legend, where hardly enthused anyway, he finds a small community unwelcome to his being there. After finally booking into a small inn run by single mother Laura McFetridge (Richardson) Dempsey forms a warm relationship with Laura's nine year old daughter, Isabel (Graham), who just may hold the key to the mystery of Loch Ness.Once it was made available for viewing it struggled to gain any significant support, both by critics and film fans alike. Caught in the 1990's creature feature slipstream created by Jurassic Park, hopes were high for a very different type of Loch Ness Monster movie. Nobody, except for the film makers, were quite prepared for what type of film Loch Ness is. Henderson's film is a human interest story first and foremost, one that has the Loch Ness Monster as its backdrop. It is driven by a mismatched (developing) love story, yet still has enough about it to raise the pertinent question that crowns the story, namely why? And should we? Solve the Loch Ness Monster mystery. It's all very simple and low-key, where any expectation of an FX extravaganza will lead you only to a big disappointment. Helps, too, if you kind of want to believe in the fantastical, like a bit of whimsy with your film supper.An insult often used to beat it with is that it copies Local Hero's template. What is wrong with that? Since Local Hero itself is a charming human fable set in similar gorgeous locale, why not have that delightful film as a marker? In fact Loch Ness is more family friendly, adult enough for the discerning grown up, whilst beguiling the kiddies too. And lets rejoice the sparse use of special effects, what we get is brief, and dare I say it? Magical. Fusco's script is also witty, with much fun mined from Danson's fish out of water portrayal as he finds himself at odds with everyone except the Nessie keen assistant played with wide eyed energy by Frain. The rest of the cast are roundly great as well, Danson (affable supreme), Richardson (quality Scottish accent), Holm (grumpy curmudgeon) and Graham (one of the most natural and unfussy child performances ever), lead the way. While good secondary support comes from a barking mad Keith Allen and Nick Brimble as the self appointed love rival for Laura's attentions.Bolstering the film is a majestic score from Jones, with the expected Celtic harmonies neatly sitting along side the more brassy and keyboard thrusts as the narrative hits its peaks. The synth and string arrangement that accompanies "Nessie" is simply beautiful and the reason why this particular writer had to buy the score. Although the Highland/Lochs locations used for filming are to die for, the film needed a better cinematographer than Tickner. He's good on something like sci-fi trasher Split Second, where he gets away with washed out apocalyptic colours, but here his photography is often murky and the sumptuous colours of the scenery never boom out from the screen. He does, however, know how to light a pretty face, the beautiful Richardson benefiting greatly here.With a big human heart and awash with family friendly mysticism, Loch Ness is a lovely picture. Thankfully for those who now know what to expect, it's a mile away from being a creature feature. 8.5/10

A one-of-the-usual family adventure films, where a great secret is explored and solved, only to be hashed "for the greater good". The performances are OK, even if I was bored with the performance of the gifted-lobotomized child (why the intelligent children are always portrayed in films as super-sensitive boring adults?).I was fed up with the ending, where the script immortalizes the concept that the secrets must be reserved, because "scientists are bad and will destroy everything". I didn't notice any people living in caves in the film (in that manner renouncing all the demented outcomes of scientific research).What I really didn't like in this film (and many others) was that the protagonist decides to renounce the professional, economic and even personal benefits he would get by revealing his discovery to the world, for abstract and simple-minded fears (of course, there is ALWAYS an additional romantic reason in this kind of films). As I said earlier, if that was always the case we would be still living in caves.What's so wrong with a film showing a great mystery solved and the consequences of this discovery? Is it that difficult for a writer to figure out a screenplay like that and that's why that every time the solution is hushed?

Its hard to picture Ted Danson being anyone but Sam from Cheers, but he delivers a good enough performance as the scientist who is lost, a career ruined by his thirst to find the impossible. Joely Richardson's role as the mother is heart warming she plays her role with care, while Kirsty, the young Isabel.The film starts off with the death of a professor whose aim is to find the Loch Ness monster, so another is sent. Dempsey. A man whose accomplishments are great, yet shrouded by his obsession to find the unexplained, Dempsey, who is lost finds more then he bargained for in Scotland.One thing I liked was the scenery, it showed the highlands and beautiful shots of the water; which gives a sense of beauty, mystery and calm. The build up was brilliant, the shots of the calm water, as it is disturbed by something below, the theories.... But the one thing that ruins the film is the uncovering of the Loch Ness monster...I think they should have never shown the creature, it keeps a little more mystery.

I'm an old romantic, so I enjoyed this successfully executed formula movie. I enjoyed the premise of a burned out idealistic bigfoot researcher being sent to the Scottish boondocks because he needed the job, at the risk of securing his reputation as a myth chaser. Ted Dansen came up with a convincing edginess to his character (but still obviously with a big heart) that was a refreshing addition to his normal comic characterizations. I also love the idea that in some little corner of the boondooks you can stumble on a Scottish fair maiden whose twinkle in the eye can steal your heart. Joely Richardson's character makes you fall in love with her with a toss of her head. The sparring of the characters is good fun. The plot of the movie could have gone several ways; the writers chose to go the "Disney Movie" route, which provides satisfying entertainment for kids, without seriously degrading the by-the-book but convincing romance. A young James Frain shows outstanding appeal and promise as a powerhouse actor in his character as an idealistic and enthusiastic sidekick to Ted Dansen's beast hunter, a fun character to watch.The story is paced and told with an experienced hand; it provided a very pleasant getaway on a winter's afternoon, transporting the viewer to the famous Loch Ness region of Scotland. I think the photography could have been more painterly and mystical, but you get a good eyeful of the dramatic Scottish landscape.The music score is a nice selection of Scottish influenced themes, with the soaring "Rhythm Of My Heart" by Rod Stewart as the final credits roll.So if you're a romantic, you should thoroughly enjoy this movie. If not, it will probably be be too formulaic and "Disney-esque" for you.