Zack Snyder ("300" and "Watchmen") directs this animated feature based on a popular children's book series. Soren (voiced by Jim Sturgess) is a sweet-natured barn owlet who lives happily with his parents, older brother Kludd (Ryan Kwanten of HBO's "True Blood"), and younger sister Eglantine. Soren is a dreamer who loves to listen to his father tell the ancient stories of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, an alliance of owls who are sworn to protect the owl kingdom from evil. Though Soren fully believes in the old legends, Kludd - an angry and resentful owlet jealous of Soren's natural talents - dismisses them as fairy tale nonsense. One night, Soren and Kludd are kidnapped by a secret organization that trains owlets to become soldiers against their will - all in a sinister plot to build an army to defeat the Guardians and rule over the owl kingdom. Now, it's up to Soren to escape and warn them before it's too late. Snyder knows nothing if not how to make a wickedly impressive action flick. His past directing efforts have proven his skills at masterfully creating visually-grand fight scenes that unfold like perfectly choreographed dances, and this film is no exception. In case you're wondering if it's possible to make battles between cute, feathered creatures as captivating as those between gladiators or superheroes, trust me: In Snyder's capable hands, it is. Every owl brawl here is as thrilling as you would expect from any live-action film. The voices selected for each character were also perfectly cast. Sturgess (who is known for portraying sweet, earnest characters) imbues Soren with just the right blend of
naiveté and noble courage. Kwanten also impresses as the spiteful and cowardly Kludd; Emily Barclay as Soren's timid friend Gylfie, and an always magnificently entertaining Geoffrey Rush as the grizzled and eccentric Ezylryb round out the star-studded cast. If you're looking for a cute kiddie movie about adorable birds, be forewarned: "Happy Feet" this is not. "Legend of the Guardians" is a gripping, intense, and exhilarating adventure of epic proportions.
5 out of 5 stars
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