Magic in the Water (1995) User Reviews

water world

[lee_eisenberg · 5/10 · 28 January 2012]

Rick Stevenson's "Magic in the Water" is the usual sort of family movie that they crank out, although it is worth seeing. I wouldn't recommend the movie as your first choice, but if there's nothing else it's definitely worth checking out. My favorite parts were actually the "digging to China" scenes; looking back on it, those scenes remind me of "God's Little Acre".

So, the movie is OK to check out. Stevenson now has a company called Official Best of Fest, that distributes film festival movies that most people would otherwise never get a chance to see. Interesting concept.

Yeah, I'm a sexy guy...

You know the routine by now...

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 25 December 2015]

MAGIC IN THE WATER is par for the course for an American kid's fantasy film. It features a couple of bratty children and their humble father who become involved with a mysterious lake said to be inhabited by an ancient creature. The usual gamut of stereotyped characters are involved, from the Native American shaman to the eager-to-please Japanese folk and the by rote human villains.

This is neither the best nor the worst of its type, merely a humdrum outing designed for kids and kids alone. The stylistic similarities to FREE WILLY are more than obvious, but the central creation is kept off screen for the most part so it all becomes a little dull. The special effects are pretty good for the most part, though. The less-than-stellar cast includes Mark Harmon (TUAREG: THE DESERT WARRIOR) and future star Joshua Jackson (of DAWSON'S CREEK fame).

About 3 fries short of a Happy Meal.

[lastliberal · 5/10 · 25 December 2007]

I decided to stay in British Columbia and watch another Lock Ness movie. This time the star is a little girl Sarah Wayne, in her only film. She was absolutely adorable, and made the experience pleasant.

I wish I could say the same for Mark Harmon, but he just didn't do it. It's another story of a dad who is "forced" to spend some time with his two children (the other is BC native Joshua Jackson from "Dawson's Creek') and leaves them to find their own entertainment while he writes a book.

His daughter discovers the magic in the lake and he becomes infected, causing him to forget the book and do some bonding.

They manage to save the creature from the evil toxic waste dumpers with a little help from and old Indian played by Frank 'Grey Wolf' Salsedo.

Childhood Memory

[lovestruck_7406 · 25 September 2011]

This movie came out when I was 5 years old. I remember because my dad took me to go see it on our father/daughter date. Anyway, for years now I have been trying to tell people (and they all thought i was crazy and tried convincing me that it didn't exist)about this movie and I couldn't remember the name of it or what it was really about I tried google and everything I could think of but the only things I remembered was there was a loch ness monster that ate Oreo and something about a hole to china. After 18 years of not knowing what to search for I finally found on the answer question thing yahoo has that there was a movie Magic in the water and there was a little girl that ate Oreo. after googling I had a friend order it for me online and we got it the other day and just watched it with my dad (and the rest of the family including my husband that made fun the whole time lol). But after all these years I finally own it and I'll cherish it forever. Great movie that I will always recommend to families!!

I thought this was just a fever dream for a while

[acewheel-37311 · 3/10 · 6 April 2019]

I was told I'd like it because it had dragons in it. So... I watched it, and I was unimpressed. There were no dragons. Just an ugly Loch Ness Monster thing that possesses people and is weirdly obsessed with Oreos. What got me the most though was the painfully forced plot and awkward humor. Why was the Loch Ness Monster possessing people? Because there's toxic waste, of course? Why was there a dopleganger monster thing? Because the toxic waste people or something. Why are the kids trapped in a submarine thing? Who knows.

All in all, this is wholly skippable. It tried to be cute at times, I guess, but I don't really want to go back to it again.

Do You Believe In Magic?

[HomeTech · 8/10 · 15 November 2001]

What a great movie!

Saw this on HBO recently (11-15-2001) for the second time and it was wonderful. While not quite as good as "The Boy Who Could Fly", which is in a special class all it's own, I rank this movie right up there.

Sarah Wayne as Ashley Black especially stole our hearts. It is a shame that this is the only movie she has ever done according to IMDB's records. This little girl holds quite a bit of the movie on her own merit. Her smile captivated our entire family; her acting was excellent.

This is a decent, well centered story concerning a family at loss and their rediscovery of themselves in the community they are visiting to "get away". Through the magical help of a rather large friend, the local resident Indian shaman and local lore, miracles can happen.

A reflective, spirited movie ultimately about love and caring about others that lifts the heart and spirit of anybody who watches.

Well worth anybodies time. Two thumbs way up!

magical

[veronicammartin · 9/10 · 27 August 2013]

This is a feel-good film which is funny as well as moving.

Mark Harmon, a radio psychologist takes his children on holiday to British Columbia. The scenery is stunning throughout. The child actors actually seemed like nice kids unlike most child actors these days. Mark Harmon copes with changing personalities very well. The children are excellent.

The whole film though predictable from the start,made me smile and laugh. It's a good way to unwind at the end of the day. It was worth watching if only for the policewoman on the door step! And Orky of course, in his various forms!

Great Movie and a very Happy Memory

[Tolbert · 10/10 · 1 March 1999]

One evening in 1995 I was bowling with some friends. The DJ announced that there was a red head-pin being shifted around to all of the lanes.

When the red head-pin comes to your lane and you bowl a strike, then you win something. As luck would have it, the red head-pin came my way and I bowled the perfect strike.

The prize was two movie tickets for a sneak showing of Magic in TheWater. I was in for such a treat and didn't even know it yet. The movie itself was great, it really brings out the kid in all of us. It's just good clean fun for the whole family.

Then there was an unexpected twist. Just as the end credits started rolling, two figures emerged on the stage just in front of the screen. Rick Stevenson and Sarah Wayne introduced themselves to everyone and hung out for a while afterward at the theater. That was really fun, My Mom got to talking to Sarah's mom and Sarah and I got to talking. It was really a fun experience and one that I'll never forget. By the way Sarah, thanks for the Oreos!

Rick Stevenson was great too, he did a good job of putting together a movie on a less than Steven Spielberg-sized budget. He also seemed to really enjoy making movies. I still to this day own an autographed movie poster (Autographed by Rick & Sarah). Thanks to both of you for the opportunity and for a really great memory. I give this one 11 on a scale of 1-10.

Wonderful movie!

[whdove88 · 10/10 · 30 September 2007]

I saw this on showtime this AM & I loved it! Mark Harmon is adorable in this and the children are delightful. I cant think of anything bad about this movie. Ignore any negative comments u happen to read. Any one who doesn't enjoy this movie is just too picky, cynical or thinks they are a movie critic. Its the story of a father, caught up in his work, takes his children on a trip that ends up being a magical experience for all! Great for all members of the family! I was quite taken with the scenery and where it was filmed! Beautiful! If u missed this movie the first time, don't hesitate to enjoy this movie with your family! I cant wait to purchase this movie for my family movie library! Without giving too much away, in a way, the movie reminds me of the song Puff the Magic Dragon!

When a working dad takes his two kids Josh, and Ashley with him, they discover a water monster is not there to scare tourist, they find out it is very nice

[HeaVeN_SenT_0x · 18 July 2001]

This was a cool movie, and the acting was wonderful! This is a family movie that every one will enjoy. I saw it on the Fox Family Channel.

The two kids, Joshua and Ashley and this chinese boy find a sea monster that everyone thinks its there to sare off tourist, but acually never scares them off. Ashley sees it's dieing and wants to save it.

Like i said it's a wonderful movie that the whole family will enjoy!

The Power of Kindness

[Snowgo · 8/10 · 5 October 2015]

I enjoyed this movie, and still give it an 8, even though I wish one important aspect of the story had not been omitted: That of the clean-up of the hazardous waste. Without this facet addressed, Orky's survival is dubious. It is not a deal-breaker for me, but I am wondering why this important scene or dialogue was ignored.

I particularly liked the Native American mythology that was in the movie. The comments by Uncle Kipper about man being able to turn to animal and vice-versa established some important context to Orky and the communication and message it compelled some humans to take heed of.

We never did find out why Orky ripped the arms off of the two "gentlemen". Oh well. Perhaps the Japanese submergible team could have played a larger part in the movie, too.

Mark Harmon did a good job characterizing the transformation that he experienced. The ending was an excellent twist, and one that I did not forecast. The scenes of group therapy were good.

Although I wish we had witnessed the waste clean up, I will not detract a star for that.

A Coming of Age Family Fantasy Drama

[tabuno · 8/10 · 17 January 2019]

4 March 2013. Mark Harmon of television's NCIS, Joshua Jackson of television's sci-fi Fringe in one of his first performing roles, and Sarah Wayne who won best supporting young actress at the Young Artist Awards and her only performing role offer up this fantasy family drama feature film. The underlying theme of a child trying to convince others of the existence of something unbelievable has been presented a number of times and in this movie, the presentation is solid. Unlike the occult Dark Water (2005), this fantasy movie isn't as emotionally layered or seriously scary but instead is more in line with a juvenile audience, closer to Pete's Dragon (1977). Yet Magic in the Water actually shines in comparison to Pete's Dragon which suffers from the weak special effects technology of time and avoidance of its over the top slapstick comedy which may be a result of its being more for young children than the older children like the coming of age classic Fly Away Home (1996) based on the true story of a girl who helps to fly migrating geese to their winter home. Magic in the Water takes from the minimalist use of the "monster" as in Alien (1979) and instead uses the performance of the actors themselves as the focus on the movie.

This movie doesn't quite have nor does it need the definitive ending of the adult fantasy K-Pax (2001) nor the comedic undertone of Lake Placid (1999) to succeed. While more restrained by Loch Ness (1996) with its use of special effects and the focus on the "monster" which allows this movie to retain its intellectual and emotional superiority, it doesn't have that consistent depth of Super 8 (2011) or the charm of ET (1982) nor the intense substance of Whale Rider (2002) or the emotive haunting mystery as Wave Length (1983). While The Water Horse (2007) and is more about the bonding between a boy and a sea creature and Loch Ness (1996) is more about the more deliberate search for a monster creature and the coming of age of the man played by Ted Danson who is instructed to disprove its existence, Magic in the Water has a stronger environmental message and a fascinating mental health edge and father-daughter, family focus that is meaningfully satisfying.

Glug Glug Glug

[The_Film_Cricket · 18 May 2014]

You know, I can't always pinpoint in a bad movie the precise moment that it loses me but there was in the case of 'Magic in the Water'. The scene has a little girl named Ashley who is positive that a Loc Ness-type creature lives in the lake leaves some Oreo cookies on the edge of the dock. Upon her return she discovers that the white stuff has been licked out and the rest of the cookie remain, dry as a bone. I didn't get up and leave the movie but I did suddenly have an urge to go to the can.

There are half a dozen moments like that in 'Magic in the Water' an inexplicable E.T. wannabe that follows every family movie cliché like they were the sacred laws of the land. The story involves a dad who is constantly attached to his cell phone and his two kids Joshua and Ashley who move to the lake where a fabled creature named Orky is said to be living. Yes his named is Orky and when your laughter has subsided you may read further.

All the standard characters are here: The busy non-believing dad (Mark Harmon), the wise old man in this case and Indian named Ben; the meanies who want to use Okry's (Orky *snicker*) lake as a chemical waste dump.

'Magic in the Water' is the bi-product of two better movies: 'E.T.' and 'Free Willy' which this movie steals from at will and rather shamelessly. Oh and the Oreo Cookie company of course.

Very beautiful and passionate...

[RosanaBotafogo · 8/10 · 19 September 2022]

On vacation at a beautiful lake in British Columbia, Ashley (Sarah Wayne) and Joshua (Joshua Jackson), the children of workaholic radio host Jack Black (Mark Harmon), learn about its mythical inhabitant, a sea monster named Orky. Soon, the kids learn that Orky is not only real, he's attempting to communicate with humans to warn them that an evil corporation is illegally dumping pollutants into his home. They try to save Orky with the help of an elderly Native American (Frank Sotonoma Salsedo).

Very beautiful and passionate, how not to love Orky's cute face, cute, the script is all cute, the children are adorable (I'm suspicious, I love movies with brats), the dose of humor, that meeting of anonymous crazy adults children, cute, all very magical and charming, with that cute moral lesson about nature preservation, respect for culture and appreciation of traditions...

Children deserve better

[DeborahPainter855 · 10 November 2003]

I seldom worry too much about wasting three dollars, but I will always regret the time and the three dollars I wasted seeing this in a theater years ago.

The actors must have had some major bills to pay to accept their roles in this junk. The story is as hackneyed and cliched as any I have seen anywhere. Children definitely deserve better than this. Even THE MIGHTY KONG was better than this!