"Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga"Hoole" Blu-ray Review
The Bottom Line
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole proves that some directors just aren’t cut out for the animation genre. Zack Snyder made his mark with popular live-action films like 300 and Dawn of the Dead, but the filmmaker’s notoriously stylish sensibilities simply don’t work within the context of an animated endeavor. It’s a shame, really, given that the movie does feature a seriously impressive animation style, with the stellar visuals inevitably cancelled out by the lack of compelling characters and the unreasonably complicated plot.
Pros
Cons
Description
Guide Review – ‘Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole’ Blu-ray Review
The Story
Based on Kathryn Lasky’s Guardians of Ga’Hoole books, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoolefollows young owl Soren (Jim Sturgess) as he’s abducted by the evil minions of a feared group of owls known as The Pure Ones. Though he’s expected to become a foot soldier, Soren manages to escape from the Pure Ones’ clutches and eventually joins a band of rebel owls calling themselves the Guardians of Ga’Hoole.
The Bonus Features
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole arrives on Blu-ray armed with a pristine widescreen transfer and a relatively decent selection of bonus features. Though the disc doesn’t come with a commentary track, viewers have the option of watching the film in “Maximum Kid Mode” – which basically means that every now and then, Soren pops up and offers up a short yet interesting tidbit relating to owls. (For example, we learn that owls must eat their food whole due to their lack of teeth.) Running along those same lines is the 15-minute “True Guardians of the Earth” featurette, in which hosts Digger (David Wenham) and Modern Family’s Rico Rodriguez take a behind-the-scenes look at owls, their habitat, and what steps are being taken to ensure their ongoing survival.
Next up is a two minute short entitled “Rise of the Guardians,” which is essentially a very quick retelling of the Guardians’ creation and rise to prominence. The disc also includes four galleries containing copious examples of the film’s artwork, with the pictures broken down into the following categories: The Guardians, The Locations, The Villains, and Soren & Friends. Finally, the set boasts a music video (“To The Sky” by Owl City), two rather silly games for kids, and a host of bonus trailers. It’s ultimately undeniable, however, that the highlight here is the new Looney Tunes short “Fur of Flying,” which is far more entertaining and breathlessly engrossing than even the movie itself.
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole proves that some directors just aren’t cut out for the animation genre. Zack Snyder made his mark with popular live-action films like 300 and Dawn of the Dead, but the filmmaker’s notoriously stylish sensibilities simply don’t work within the context of an animated endeavor. It’s a shame, really, given that the movie does feature a seriously impressive animation style, with the stellar visuals inevitably cancelled out by the lack of compelling characters and the unreasonably complicated plot.
Pros
- Flawless 1080p transfer
- Impressive roster of voice performers
- Breathtaking animation
Cons
- Special features geared primarily to younger viewers
- Storyline is almost impossible to easily follow
- Most of the characters are hopelessly underdeveloped
Description
- Featuring the voices of Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving, Geoffrey Rush, Helen Mirren, Sam Neill, Ryan Kwanten, Anthony LaPaglia, and Abbie Cornish
- Directed by Zack Snyder
- Rated PG for some sequences of scary action
- DVD Release Date: December 17, 2010
Guide Review – ‘Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole’ Blu-ray Review
The Story
Based on Kathryn Lasky’s Guardians of Ga’Hoole books, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoolefollows young owl Soren (Jim Sturgess) as he’s abducted by the evil minions of a feared group of owls known as The Pure Ones. Though he’s expected to become a foot soldier, Soren manages to escape from the Pure Ones’ clutches and eventually joins a band of rebel owls calling themselves the Guardians of Ga’Hoole.
The Bonus Features
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole arrives on Blu-ray armed with a pristine widescreen transfer and a relatively decent selection of bonus features. Though the disc doesn’t come with a commentary track, viewers have the option of watching the film in “Maximum Kid Mode” – which basically means that every now and then, Soren pops up and offers up a short yet interesting tidbit relating to owls. (For example, we learn that owls must eat their food whole due to their lack of teeth.) Running along those same lines is the 15-minute “True Guardians of the Earth” featurette, in which hosts Digger (David Wenham) and Modern Family’s Rico Rodriguez take a behind-the-scenes look at owls, their habitat, and what steps are being taken to ensure their ongoing survival.
Next up is a two minute short entitled “Rise of the Guardians,” which is essentially a very quick retelling of the Guardians’ creation and rise to prominence. The disc also includes four galleries containing copious examples of the film’s artwork, with the pictures broken down into the following categories: The Guardians, The Locations, The Villains, and Soren & Friends. Finally, the set boasts a music video (“To The Sky” by Owl City), two rather silly games for kids, and a host of bonus trailers. It’s ultimately undeniable, however, that the highlight here is the new Looney Tunes short “Fur of Flying,” which is far more entertaining and breathlessly engrossing than even the movie itself.
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