The Water Man

It's a new family movie on Netflix; the plot is decent and the performances are passable; David Oyelowo has a lot of potential as a new film director.

Our society has become so negative. Just read a few of the reviews that knock this movie, many of them don't actually say anything they just want to prevent others from seeing it. Why? That is so non-productive.

It is a simple story but focuses on a mythical figure, a man who apparently survived a devastating flood, and it is believed a mineral he found in a mine allows him to live forever. They call him the Water Man. The boy hopes that if he finds him then he can help cure his sick mom. So he, and a new friend, a teenage girl, trek off into the Oregon wilderness to find the Water Man.

My wife and I enjoyed it at home on DVD from our public library. While it won't ever be considered a "don't miss" movie it certainly has enough good qualities that it is entertaining.

We have two children, ages 7 and 11, and am always looking for PG (not PG-13) rated family movies.

I was drawn to this movie because the actors, and they were fabulous.

I thought the violence at the end/climax should be less for PG, but other than that, I was really happy with this movie.

Thank God someone is still trying to make good PG movies!

Though it's a little murky towards the end, The Water Man tackles a hard subject (death) from a young man's perspective. On a quest for hope and a cure for his mom, he searches out the truth of The Water Man legend.

This is my kind of movie. Child escapism movies mixing with fantasy is where my heart is. I will re-watch The Neverending Story, Mio in the Land of Faraway and Bridge To Terabithia any day of the week. I hold those movies in my top 10 of the best movies ever made.

But this movie doesn't close the deal. It's never truly fantastical or emotional or magical. It has the ingredients but it doesn't take me away on a magical journey.

I had high hopes for this movie.

I wish it had delivered.