Avian adventure, Avatar style, but lacking in laughs for a CGI cartoon outing...

Based on the novels of Kathryn Lasky, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole is an animated drama set very much in the mould of Disney epic The Lion King. When Soren and his brother Kludd are kidnapped by evil brainwashing clan the Pure Ones, the young owl realises he must escape to find the legendary Guardians if he and his rag-tag band of followers are to save the owl kingdom from destruction.

Fresh from a string of early career successes including box office smash 300, director Zack Snyder is widely acclaimed for his work in the fantasy and horror genres. This he follows up with a debut animation surprisingly devoid of the humour which we would normally associate with similar adventure pictures. It’s just as well then that the cinematography, which has overtones of Avatar despite the darker atmosphere, is exceptional in portraying the owl kingdom and its beautifully drawn inhabitants.

"This is a film that, though entertaining for kids, does not offer much for the parents in the vein of Pixar and Disney offerings"

The story itself is rather tame. Soren provides the moral compass as a dreamer who is drawn to his father’s frequent stories of the mythic winged warriors known as the Guardians of Ga’Hoole. Kludd, meanwhile, jealous of his father’s perceived favouritism to Soren, knocks his brother as they practice their flying. Both having fallen to the ground, they are carried off by the mercenary Pure Ones who steal young owls and brainwash them through a technique known as Moonblinking. Separated in the camp, Soren plans a daring escape with the help of a young companion, whilst Kludd is ensnared by the machinations of the evil Nyra (Helen Mirren) and is trained as a warrior for the forces of evil.

Full of all the typical clichés, this is a film that, though entertaining for kids, does not offer much for the parents in the vein of Pixar and Disney offerings. There are some very cheesy moments, tempered by a handful of nice but relatively unremarkable action sequences. However, with Deathly Hallows on the horizon, you have to question whether Snyder’s owl adventure will have the legs to match its success in the US market. It should at least help that the young wizard will only be shown in 2D, whilst Ga’Hoole gets the full IMAX 3D treatment.

Overall, this is a decent offering from Warner Bros, but with kids becoming more discerning, a bit of humour would not have gone amiss.

BFI (LONDON) IMAX SITE

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Opens in UK cinemas on the 22^nd October.

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