Zack Snyder has never directed a romantic comedy. Why would he? When you can direct a movie that makes owls look as fierce and heroic as the Spartans he created in “300,” there is nothing else you need to be doing. This is what you were born to do Mr. Snyder.
“Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole” is Snyder’s latest project, and it was certainly an interesting choice. Here’s the guy who brought us the line “Tonight, we dine in hell!” in “300,” as well as Ving Rhames shooting celebrity zombies from a rooftop in “Dawn of the Dead,” and even a steamy sex scene set to “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen in “Watchmen.” What busi-ness does he have directing an animated film about owls? I mean, when was the last time anyone ever even saw an owl and thought, “Now, there’s an animal to base an action film on?” The answer is never. Owls hoot. They sleep during the day and turn their head really far, but they don’t go to war.
Then again, people doubted that the critically-acclaimed graphic novel “Watchmen” could be turned into a great movie. They also wrote off “300” as a brainless blood-bath, with no well-known actors that was just a gimmick to get men to stare at guys running around in their underwear for two hours, but feeling okay about it because, well, they are killing people. It seems that Snyder is not concerned with what expectations are put on him or what anyone tells him he can or can’t do. So it makes perfect sense that this would be, not only his next challenge, but after having seen it, I can say, his next success.
“Legend of the Guardians” tells the story of a small community of owls who live in peace, but are often told stories of ancient battles and legendary owls called the Guardians, who protected the weak and fought for justice. Soren (voiced by Jim Sturgess) is a teenage owl who believes whole-heartedly in the legend of the Guardians, although he is constantly told by those of lesser faith, that they are simply mythical. Soren and his brother, Kludd (Ryan Kwanten), are kidnapped and taken to a mountain where Metalbeak (Joel Edgerton), the infamous evildoer, is building up an army, the Pure Ones, to overthrow the Guardians. It’s up to Soren now to muster up the courage and strength to fly to the Guardians and inform them, and perhaps, even join them in an epic battle against the Pure Ones.
When I say epic, I do mean epic. Think King Leonidas vs Xerxes in “300.” The build-up is a little slow but, the visual beauty of the film makes up for that. The 3D worked wonderfully and Snyder imposes every bit of directorial prowess to make every shot into a moving art piece. The detail and verisimilitude of the owls was amazing and sequences of them in flight were spectacular.
Although this movie is animated, and actors are not acting in practical terms, their vocal performances, along with superb animation, gave the characters unique personalities that brought an intriguing story to life. Halfway through you’ll be following all of the action as if you had a personal invested interest in the outcome of the inevitable battle.
And what a battle it is. When the decision is made that a confrontation is necessary, the Guardians show why they are not to be messed with. Warriors on both sides don helmets and blades on their talons and face off by diving at each other, talons first, in midair winged wreckage.
It is awesome.
“Legend of the Guardians” was very entertaining, and the fact that all the characters were owls made it wonderfully unique. Snyder has proven that a great action movie is a great action movie, no matter who the subject is. He’s also proven, yet again, just what a talented director he is, as these owls made for a hoot of
a time.
