Jason KingLegend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (8/10)
September 29th 2010 11:21
:
The Biggest Visual Masterpiece of the Year
Category: Reviews
This is by far THE MOST VISUALLY SPECTACULAR FILM OF THE YEAR. There were about four or five scenes in this film that had me gasping at their brilliance. Owls are the new penguins - look out Zoos - lock those Owls up!!
Legend of the Guardians follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father's epic stories of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones. While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father's favor from his younger sibling. But Kludd's jealousy has terrible consequences - causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones. Now it is up to Soren to make a daring escape with the help of other brave young owls. Together they soar across the sea and through the mist to find the Great Tree, home of the legendary Guardians of Ga'Hoole - Soren's only hope of defeating the Pure Ones and saving the owl kingdoms.
OK - a few things I did not love about this film.
1) As it is based on the first three books of the story everything happens really quick, before you know it they are kidnapped, next thing you know they have escaped and then finally they are in battle. I wanted more of it but this was a trilogy made into one film - imagine squashing Lord of the Rings into one film - slightly hectic.
2) A lot of the film is very dark, so dark that I think a lot of younger children will get scared. But at the same time a lot of the film is made so young and cute that a lot of adults will not like it - I just hope that people see past their likes and dislikes and appreciate the brilliance of the visuals.
3) Half the music is rubbish - it was like Bryan Adams was coming back to get us again and working for Metalbeak to tear my ears out. That being said - only half the music is hideous and written for kids and by the studios but the other half of the music is phenomenal. Owl City and Lisa Gerrard are responsible for the music and besides the tacky versions they also use one of my favourite piece of music ever written that I will mention below in the likes.
4) The accents sometimes grated on my nerves - it is overly Australian and I think I had a flashback of a certain Blinky Bill movie. I don't know why this bothers me - is it because it was milked? I don't think so. I think it is because we are so used to American accents on film or the generalised neutral accents most actors aim to put on when acting that when a proper Australian accent is present it slaps you in the face and makes you feel like a yobbo
.
And that's about it.
The Things I Loved.
1) The visuals are frigging mind blowing and you are wasting your viewing unless you see this in 3D. As mentioned about four of the scenes in this film are from the next level of film making. Zack Snyder has done for super owl 3D animation what James Cameron has done for blue people - he has made them real and out of this world. There are about four slow mo scenes that will melt your brains they are that good.
2) The action and plot of the film are brilliant. It reminds of Star Wars with the flying - when the Guardians go into battle it was like XWings approaching the Death Star - mind blowing, Lord of the Rings for the quest and journey for the better good and takes Happy Feet to the next level with it's showcasing of superb animals. As to how it will effect the kids - think Return of the Jedi. It has numerous dark moments but is mixed with cute little animals like the Ewoks of Endor.
3) The cast is amazing. I fell in love with Soren and did not realise it was Jim Sturgess until the end - me loves him He kicked ass in Across the Universe and has the voice of an angel haha. My favourite would definitely be Geoffrey Rush as Ezylryb. But look at this voice talent - Abbie Cornish, Joel Edgerton, Deborra-Lee Furness, Ryan Kwanten (bastard), Helen Mirren, Sam Neill, Anthony LaPaglia, Barry Otto, Richard Roxburgh, Hugo Weaving and David Wenham plus a crap load more. It is who's who of acting talent and one of the best voice gathering in any animations.
4) Using my favourite piece of music, THE HOST OF THE SERAPHIM in one of the best scenes with Soren flying through fire just made my eyes leak. Below is the amazing piece of music used in the film - apologies it does not incorporate the images from the film.
5) Zack Snyder - I am a huge fan and as he was the very first person I ever interviewed on Salty Popcorn for the Watchmen this film had a spot already in my heart. Zack mentioned during the interview he would be spending a lot of time in Sydney to make this film and described it as "Lord of the Rings with Owls" at the interview nearly two years ago now. I have heard he wanted it to be darker. And I can see where his influence was squashed and had candy thrown into it by the studios. Again, if studios listened to the people with the vision and let them make what they set out to make then films would be better. If they continue to listen to bean counters as to what they think the audience will want then we will end up with a lot of shit films. This film is basically a draw - it has enough of Zack in it to not be shit and show us some of the best visuals on film but then it has so many cutesy scenes that you may vomit fairy floss a couple of times. That being said - some of the cute owls are so cute - you might just HAVE TO HAVE ONE
I recommend a viewing to one and all but be warned it is quite made for kids but may scare the little ones - watch it in 3D and no other way. Soren rules and I can't wait to see him in a sequel or when I buy this on Blu Ray. Worth 8/10 and out this week.
Legend of the Guardians follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father's epic stories of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones. While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father's favor from his younger sibling. But Kludd's jealousy has terrible consequences - causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones. Now it is up to Soren to make a daring escape with the help of other brave young owls. Together they soar across the sea and through the mist to find the Great Tree, home of the legendary Guardians of Ga'Hoole - Soren's only hope of defeating the Pure Ones and saving the owl kingdoms.
OK - a few things I did not love about this film.
1) As it is based on the first three books of the story everything happens really quick, before you know it they are kidnapped, next thing you know they have escaped and then finally they are in battle. I wanted more of it but this was a trilogy made into one film - imagine squashing Lord of the Rings into one film - slightly hectic.
2) A lot of the film is very dark, so dark that I think a lot of younger children will get scared. But at the same time a lot of the film is made so young and cute that a lot of adults will not like it - I just hope that people see past their likes and dislikes and appreciate the brilliance of the visuals.
3) Half the music is rubbish - it was like Bryan Adams was coming back to get us again and working for Metalbeak to tear my ears out. That being said - only half the music is hideous and written for kids and by the studios but the other half of the music is phenomenal. Owl City and Lisa Gerrard are responsible for the music and besides the tacky versions they also use one of my favourite piece of music ever written that I will mention below in the likes.
4) The accents sometimes grated on my nerves - it is overly Australian and I think I had a flashback of a certain Blinky Bill movie. I don't know why this bothers me - is it because it was milked? I don't think so. I think it is because we are so used to American accents on film or the generalised neutral accents most actors aim to put on when acting that when a proper Australian accent is present it slaps you in the face and makes you feel like a yobbo
.And that's about it.
The Things I Loved.
1) The visuals are frigging mind blowing and you are wasting your viewing unless you see this in 3D. As mentioned about four of the scenes in this film are from the next level of film making. Zack Snyder has done for super owl 3D animation what James Cameron has done for blue people - he has made them real and out of this world. There are about four slow mo scenes that will melt your brains they are that good.
2) The action and plot of the film are brilliant. It reminds of Star Wars with the flying - when the Guardians go into battle it was like XWings approaching the Death Star - mind blowing, Lord of the Rings for the quest and journey for the better good and takes Happy Feet to the next level with it's showcasing of superb animals. As to how it will effect the kids - think Return of the Jedi. It has numerous dark moments but is mixed with cute little animals like the Ewoks of Endor.
3) The cast is amazing. I fell in love with Soren and did not realise it was Jim Sturgess until the end - me loves him
He kicked ass in Across the Universe and has the voice of an angel haha. My favourite would definitely be Geoffrey Rush as Ezylryb. But look at this voice talent - Abbie Cornish, Joel Edgerton, Deborra-Lee Furness, Ryan Kwanten (bastard), Helen Mirren, Sam Neill, Anthony LaPaglia, Barry Otto, Richard Roxburgh, Hugo Weaving and David Wenham plus a crap load more. It is who's who of acting talent and one of the best voice gathering in any animations.4) Using my favourite piece of music, THE HOST OF THE SERAPHIM in one of the best scenes with Soren flying through fire just made my eyes leak. Below is the amazing piece of music used in the film - apologies it does not incorporate the images from the film.
5) Zack Snyder - I am a huge fan and as he was the very first person I ever interviewed on Salty Popcorn for the Watchmen this film had a spot already in my heart. Zack mentioned during the interview he would be spending a lot of time in Sydney to make this film and described it as "Lord of the Rings with Owls" at the interview nearly two years ago now. I have heard he wanted it to be darker. And I can see where his influence was squashed and had candy thrown into it by the studios. Again, if studios listened to the people with the vision and let them make what they set out to make then films would be better. If they continue to listen to bean counters as to what they think the audience will want then we will end up with a lot of shit films. This film is basically a draw - it has enough of Zack in it to not be shit and show us some of the best visuals on film but then it has so many cutesy scenes that you may vomit fairy floss a couple of times. That being said - some of the cute owls are so cute - you might just HAVE TO HAVE ONE
I recommend a viewing to one and all but be warned it is quite made for kids but may scare the little ones - watch it in 3D and no other way. Soren rules and I can't wait to see him in a sequel or when I buy this on Blu Ray. Worth 8/10 and out this week.
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
The complete title of this movie sounds so silly. The trailer I saw at the movie looked nicely animated. So, you think this will be more spectacular than Deathly Hallows then?
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
The title is that of the books - there was battles galore and the title changed three times before release. We even got two different types of trailers with different names and ended up returning one of them.
But like that old proverb - "never judge a book by its cover" the film is not the title and it's quite impressive, if somewhat childish - but Snyder calls himself a big kid so the film suits him - minus the studio sabotage to make it all cute at times.
I do not think it will be more spectacular than Harry Potter - I am saying this is the MOST SPECTACULAR FILM OF THE YEAR. Harry is about story and love for the story and it's characters - it helps that they always look damn fine and I will reserve what I think on that film until I see it although I am massively excited. If you recall I loathed the last one and am pretty sure I even had a disagreement with you over it
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Byyee
Comment by Anonymous
AWSOME
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
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