Legend of the Guardians

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Having ploughed his trade in decidedly more mature fare, Zack Snyder goes all Robert Rodriguez and knocks one out for the kids, with this surprisingly visceral animated tale based on the best-selling children's books. Absolutely stunning to look at, the Watchmen and 300 helmer utilises the 3D to the brink of its ability, but can't help the story from feeling regurgitated - despite the presence of owls with Australian accents.

Based on Kathryn Lasky's series of novels, the film centres on two owl brothers, Soren and Kludd; while Soren is a dreamer who loves hearing his father's tales of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, Kludd is more impatient, and jealous of his sibling. When the two are abducted one night by members of the "pure breed" of owl, Kludd is brainwashed into joining their dark cause. But Soren manages to escape and search for the mythical guardians, owls who are ferocious and noble in battle, for help.

The first thing that occurred to me whilst watching this impeccably animated film, was how much fun it must be to be ten nowadays. The expansion of imagination from the page to the screen has almost become boundless, and there isn't a young boy out there who won't go nuts for this flick. Snyder has obviously darker cinematic sensibilities, though, and can only conceal them for so long. There are moments here that will frighten younger kids, but those who are going to see the film on account of the novel should more than expect it.

Despite being easily the most aesthetically pleasing animated film to date, the story is undeniably choppy, while the pacing suffers from the stop-start restraints of the plot. The journey itself feels like it could be an entire film, but our heroes find the guardians fairly sharpish after escaping from the clutches of the bad guys in a similarly swift manner. Three books have been rolled into one here, and it shows.

For the first time in recent memory it's safe to say this is worth handing over the extra dough to see in 3D. It'd be a gorgeous production regardless, but when Snyder executes some of his obligatory slow motion sequences, you'll be taking in every single pixel in awe, and the 3D actually enhances the wonderfully vibrant visuals.

Visually, one of the most impressive films of the year; the truncated and familiar plot just lets it down.