LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GA’HOOLE

Australia/US, 2010, 90 minutes, Colour.
Kim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving, Geoffrey Rush, Helen Mirren, Essie Davis, Emily Barclay, Abbie Cornish, Joel Edgerton, Deborra- Lee Furness, Sacha Horler, Bill Hunter, Ryan Kwanten, Anthony La Paglia, Miriam Margolyes, Sam Neill, Barry Otto, Richard Roxburgh, Angus Sampson, David Wenham, Leigh Whannell.
Directed by Zack Snyder.

Impressive, but not quite satisfying.

The film is advertised as 'from the producers of Happy Feet'. While this is true, the implications are quite misleading. Yes, birds are involved, owls instead of penguins, but, while Legend may be a literal hoot, it is not a cheery, funny hoot as was Happy Feet. It is not a film for young children unless you want to frighten them. It is for an older children's audience. Had the poster said, 'from the director of 300 and Watchmen', that would have been more indicative of the tone.

The other difficulty is that while the owls don't exactly look alike, it is still hard to recognise one from the other (and their names aren't the easy Tom, Dick and Harry types either), so that a great deal of psychic energy is exercised trying to recognise who is who (actually, that sounds like an owl cry!).

That said, the film is visually strong, the forests, the seas, the rebels' retreat under the guise of an orphanage with captured owlets. The action is powerful, as good owl battles bad owl, in the tradition of The Lord of the Rings (and Soren, the little hero does have an Elijah Wood look at times).

The film opens in an Eden-like forest where good parents have two sons, rather Cain and Abel like, Soren a dreamer who loves to listen to the legends of the heroic owls, Kludd an unimaginative realist. When they get lost in the forest, they are abducted, along with their sister, and taken to the hidden fortress where a would-be-king and his imperious queen, are brain-washing the young owls into becoming a rebel army. Soren escpaes but Kludd finds a congenial home.

Soren discovers the realm of wise owls and the home of his legendary hero, the island of Ga' Hoole. As expected, he trains, absorbs the ethos of the owls and, when the crisis comes and the owls are betrayed by an ambitious governor, battles ensues. It is the making of Soren and a duel with his brother.

The screenplay emphasises the vanquishing of evil by the good.

As mentioned, director Zach Snyder knows battles with his Thermopylae film, 300, and heroics with Watchmen. The voice cast is led by British Jim Sturgess as Soren. Helen Mirren is there but the rest of the voice cast list is an extensive catalogue of top Australian actors including Hugo Weaving, Sam Neill, Geoffrey Rush, Barry Otto, Richard Roxburgh, Anthony La Paglia, Ryan Kwanten, Abbie Cornish, Emily Barclay.

Spectacular, but not as involving as one would like.

1. An interesting saga, myth, the battle between good and evil?

2. The title, mythic times, the guardians, the traditions, action, confrontation, battle, heroism, heroes becoming legends?

3. The visual impact of the film, of 3D? The owls and their appearance, the detail? The range of the voices, the star cast? The flight of the owls, the fighting?

4. The backgrounds, the owls in the trees, the forests, the seascapes, the sky, snow and storms, the kingdom, the sinister location, energy, the final fire? The musical score?

5. The ferocity of the interactions, the civil war of the owls? The fight with the bats? The ferocious creatures in the forest?

6. The opening, the domestic scene, audiences identifying with Soren? The nests, hunting the mouse, enmity in the palance? Soren and Kludd, the good and bad brothers, the overtones of Cain and Abel, the rivalry, the competitiveness in action, the accidents, Kludd daring Soren? The parents, telling the story of the guardians? Soren and his dreams? Evangeline and her place in the family?

7. The two owls in the forest, the ferocious beast, their being saved by the comic owls, being abducted, the hazards of the journey?

8. The evil kingdom, the orphage, the owlets being abducted, training? The evil rulers? The army? The fascist tones, the control, mind control? The bats? The plans? Soren and his rebellion? Kludd and his absorbing the ethos of the orphanage?

9. Soren, their leadership, yet his diffidence? Evangeline and his love for her? Organising the escape, the daring, the flight, the rescue?

10. Soren as the central character, the young owl, the life of an owl, within the family, his love for the heroics, listening to the stories of the guardians? Captive, in submission, the escape, Evangeline? Meeting the old guardian, listening to his stories? Moving into action, the training? The build-up to the war, the confrontation? With Kludd? Soren and his saving the owls, earning the respect, becoming the hero?

11. The sinister king and queen, the traitor, dealing with him, cruelty, the forces, the trail and hope?

12. The range of owls, the serious owls, the guardians, families, the young owls, the comic owls?

13. The group, Soren and the details of life at the orphanage? The preparation for the battle?

14. The battle, the fire in the forest, Soren and his confrontation with the traitor, the traitor’s death? Kludd, the fight, betrayal? Kludd and his failing, reliance on Soren, trying to trick him? Soren flying through the fire, the confrontation with the bats, the fight with the king, wounding him to the death?

15. Soren and his becoming a hero, the guardian and his acclaim? Soren telling the owlets the various stories? The battle between good and evil?