Nestled atop a tree in the Forest Kingdom of Tyto is an ordinary family of barn owls: Mother, Father and their three kids, Soren, Kludd and Eglantine. Soren (voiced by Jim Sturgess), white-faced with a screaky English accent, is the middle child and dreamer of the bunch. While he can't yet fly, he dreams of someday soaring among the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, a mythical band of warriors who, as his father's stories have it, fought an epic battle against the Pure Ones to save all owlkind. His older brother, Kludd (Ryan Kwanten), mocks the notion because he's jealous of Soren and his big ambitions, and he feels neglected by the family. Eglantine, a baby girl, seems to be following in the footsteps of Soren.
Kludd's resentment, alas, has dreadful consequences when he and his brother decide to practice flying late in the night. Flapping their wings from branch to branch, the siblings get in a fight and end up falling from the tree, only to be snatched up by two Pure Ones. They are taken to a desolate orphanage called St. Aegolius Academy, where hundreds of young owls are being "moonblinked" into child soldiers for an army led by Metalbeak (Joel Edgerton) and his queen, Nyra (Helen Mirren). There, Kludd is manipulated by Nyra, who feeds off his envy, into believing that his home is now with the Pure Ones, turning him against his family, while Soren and his new friend Gylfie, a tiny elf owl, hatch a plan to escape.
Soren (voiced by Jim Sturgess) and Kludd (Ryan Kwanten)
Once free from the Pure Ones, after flying for the very first time, Soren sees his dreams becoming a reality as he proceeds on a quest to find the Great Ga'Hoole Tree, the home of the Guardians, which lies in the middle of the sea. On the way, he and Gylfie meet two humorous owls who join them on their journey: Digger (David Wenham), a burrowing little owl with no family, and Twilight, a self-proclaimed poet who plays the harp. The quest is long and difficult, with a storm blowing against them, but Soren and his friends eventually find their way. And with help from a wise old warrior named Ezylryb, they convince the Guardians to take action against the Evil Ones, leading to a great battle in which Soren comes face to face with Kludd, in a scene reminiscent of Star Wars and The Lion King.
As this suggests, the story, adapted from the book series of Kathryn Lasky, borrows heavily from other fantasy works and, in terms of originality, offers nothing relatively new. Such banality is made apparent, moreover, when Soren's father and Ezylryb tell him to use his gizzard, much like "use the force." The gizzard, like the force, exists to connect owls who delve into it with a deeper, spiritual reality. Even though building upon existing narratives limits it, the richness of those sources, nevertheless, provides The Owls of Ga'Hoole with a storyline proven to be entertaining and allows it to explore universal themes like good vs. evil, friendship, family, and spirituality.
The latter takes shape in Soren's faith. In the opening sequence, Soren talks about the Guardians with his family and tells his unconvinced brother that "just because you can't see something doesn't mean it isn't real," while the film's tagline is, "Our dreams are who we are." Such concepts seem humanistic (or, perhaps, owl-istic), but Soren's faith is not in himself; it's in something bigger, a higher power that exceeds him. And by believing in it, he, in turn, learns about more about himself and achieves the impossible—recalling the passage, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26).
This spirituality is further demonstrated in the final battle, which is where director Zack Snyder's story distinguishes itself from many fantasy epics. Soren and the Guardians don't fight the Pure Ones to exact revenge or even to carry out justice. They fight because they are motivated by something bigger than themselves, a cause to bring redemption to their own. For the Guardians have sworn an oath to "mend the broken, make strong the weak, and vanquish evil."
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While the violence may be too disturbing for the youngest viewers, the final battle does, nevertheless, result in action sequences that make for some of the most stunning visuals yet to make it on screen, specifically in an animated film. These effects, along with the actual details of the setting and the characters, are without question the movie's strongest element. Working with the animation team behind Happy Feet, Snyder achieves a look different, and perhaps less generic, than that of Pixar. The owl's faces, colorful and detailed, mimic human emotions, and the battles move at high speeds but are balanced with slow motion, providing brilliant contrast. The 3D isn't merely a gimmick, either. Snyder makes full use of it in a way that gives the owls added buoyancy and realism.
The Owls of Ga'Hoole breaks new ground, going where no animated picture has gone before, and always remains transparently captivating. The story is a bit too familiar, treading no new territory, but then, some of the best narratives are so timeless and enlightening that we want and need to hear them over and over again—and this is one of those narratives. Spiritual, inspirational, and adventurous, Snyder's latest—while no masterpiece—is a definite success.
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Talk About It
Discussion starters
Like similar fantasy stories, The Owls of Ga'Hoole deals with good vs. evil. Are the two distinguishable in the film? What does the Bible say about good vs. evil? In God's world, are they equal powers? Are God and Satan of equal power?
In the story, Soren sees his dreams become a reality as he achieves the impossible. Does he do it in his own power or through faith in a higher power? What distinguishes the story from others about dreams and faith?
Would the Guardians' attack on the Evil Ones be considered vengeance, justice, or something else? What does the Bible say about fighting and war? Is there such thing as just war? If so, what is it?
The Family Corner
For parents to consider
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole is rated PG for some sequences of scary action. A few battles and villains might be too frightening for young children. There are also inferred deaths. Parents should take the rating seriously because the action and violence sometimes push the limits of PG.