Legend of the Guardians The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010)
Directed by Zack Snyder
Written by John Orloff, Emil Stern
Starring Jim Sturgess, Helen Mirren, Geoffrey Rush, Hugo Weaving, Abbie Cornish
Release Date September 24th, 2010
Published September 23rd, 2010
Why a movie about warrior owls? Where did this idea come from? Who saw this and thought 'Warrior Owls? Brilliant!" As baffling as the idea may be, “Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole” is for real and arrives in theaters with the help of some extraordinary animation and the marketing hook of 3D.
Soren (Voice of Jim Sturgess, 21) is a dreamer who lives for his father's stories about the Warriors of Ga'Hoole, Owl defenders who protect the meek from the tyranny of evil owls. Though the Warriors have not been heard of in years, Soren and little sister Eglantine (Adrienne DeFaria) are fervent believers in the legend while Soren's brother Kludd (Ryan Kwanten) has tired of the stories.
Soren and Kludd will soon have the chance to verify the reality of the Warriors of Ga'Hoole when they find themselves kidnapped by the evil Metalbeak (Joel Edgerton) and forced to become warriors for the Pure Owls or lowly workers deep inside of mines where Owl's, zombified by Moon Blindness, sift endlessly for pieces of a new and deadly weapon.
Soren being brave and defiant quickly takes to the aid of an Elf Owl named Gylfie (Emily Barclay) and the two seek freedom with the help of a former kidnappee, Grimble (Hugo Weaving), who teaches them to fly and points them in the direction of the Warriors of Ga'Hoole.
Soren and Gylfie are charged with flying halfway round the world to the great tree to find and warn the warriors. Along the way they are joined by a misfit pair of Owls who pitch in to help, Digger (David Wenham) and Twilight (Anthony LaPaglia). Indeed, the Warriors are real as is Soren's hero Ezylrib (Geoffrey Rush) who literally and figuratively takes young Soren under his wing.
The stakes are set quickly and easily by director Zack Snyder (“300”, “The Watchmen”) and though the storytelling is elementary, the animation is as epic and complex as anything you've ever seen before. Snyder, for all his bombast, is a visionary who sees a massive epic where people like me see merely warrior owls.
Snyder's visionary approach brings massive scope and scale to what otherwise seems a minor kids story. Author Kathryn Lasky's book series is pitched with simple stories; simple meanings intended to offer valuable lessons for kids in the 5 to 12 age group. Under the direction of Mr. Snyder, the story remains childish and simple but the vision and the design are aimed at any audience seeking a dynamic visual experience.
Indeed, “Legend of the Guardians” is an exceptional visual feast filled with pitched battles, and stunning scenes of flight. Even when the owls are grounded one cannot help but be dazzled by the detailed animation that is rivaled only by the artists at Pixar. See Legend of the Guardians in its Digital presentation and you will be awed by the color and contours of the animation.
Sadly, in 3D Digital, “Legend of the Guardians” is robbed of a true dimension. Sure, things leap off of the screen but because the science of 3D Glasses has yet to catch up with the new generation of on screen 3D technology, the glasses strangle the color and rather than adding to the experience it hampers it. Having seen a Digital 2D presentation and the 3D Presentation there is simply no competition, 2D Digital blows the 3D away.
The complex colors are not merely a visual extravagance. During the massive battle sequence at the crescendo of Legend of the Guardians, color becomes important in determining who is fighting who and where our rooting interest lies. Digital 3D dulls the colors and strains the eye while Digital 2D presents bright, vivid color and the effect is breathtaking.
A visual spectacular, “Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole” is not likely to win any awards for great storytelling. This is a very simple story with a solid, worthy message about protecting those in need and fighting evil. It's told with the kind of simplicity that will bore adults but will be easy for small children to follow. The key appeal of “Legend of the Guardians” is the visual feast and on that account, it's worth the price of a 2D Digital ticket, if not a 3D ticket.
