Directed by Zack Snyder – the man behind grown-up movies 300, Watchmen and Sucker Punch – Legend Of The Guardians is based on the first three novels in a series of 15 fantasy books. It’s the animated story of owl Soren (Sturgess), who falls out of his nest along with sibling Kludd (True Blood‘s Kwanten) when they are learning to fly, and is kidnapped by nasty owls working for evil Metalbeak and Nyra. The owls are to be brainwashed, but Soren and his feathered friends decide to escape and head to the mythical island of Ga’Hoole, the home of wise owls who want to fight back against those who want to turn the world into darkness.
It all looks gorgeous as owls fly and fight, but Guardians suffers from the same problem that beset Watership Down – in some scenes all the animals look the same so it’s hard to tell who just died/won a battle/flew past. The too-complicated plot bears some similarities to Star Wars and The Lord Of The Rings that may annoy grown-ups, but it’s hard not to be won over by the detailed animation and stunning look of this fantasy movie.
Is Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga’Hoole suitable for kids? Here are our parents’ notes...
The owl fights (and the way they eat their mousey dinners) may be too much for the under-8s.
The film is quite dark and has a complex plot so is best suited to older (8+) children.
If you like this, why not try: The Dark Crystal, The Reef, Willow, Watership Down, The Secret Of NIMH,