Well here it comes my first review, here we go.
I came into this movie knowing three things, it was nominated for an Oscar, It is Irish, and it looks interesting (art style/direction).
What I know now is that it's about a young boy who ventures into the world, meets a young girl with a unity with nature (in particular wolves), and who has to fight off a dark, seemingly unstoppable force. and it does look very interesting it looks like this -
I kid, I kid
It did really remind me of Princess Mononoke (1999), but that's not to say they're the same movie in any sense, it just feels similar. Also, Princess Mononoke was fucking awesome so it's certainly not a bad thing to feel the same way in this movie.
Anyways, I'm gong to start with the [user]Douk[/user] chart to show you my basic feeling during this movie
[HEADING=1]now for the review portion of the review[/HEADING]
I had mixed feeling at the start of this film, it was very nice looking, but it started out with the hero, Brendan, a young sheltered monk, chasing a goose (perhaps hired by a Peter Ian Staker?) in catching a goose for it's feathers. It's very silly and light hearted, and he had a team of multi racial monks helping him (the Italian got covered in mud!). I was a bit worried that it would be very kiddie and this tone throughout the movie, and more of a kids film than a film good for everyone. This is not the case, it is a good movie, a good movie for just about everyone. Anyways the movie goes from this to Brendan learning about the outside world from a wise old monk who had just entered the Village of Kells. He convinces Brendan to venture into the woods in search of a berry, to make a dye, so they can finish a legendary book. While out in the wood he faces troubles, and gets saved by the fairy girl Aisling, the character you will probably recognize, if your at all familiar with the movie. She is quiet a fun character, every scene with her is incredibly enjoyable, and she brings a magic, and unknown essence to the world. She also brings one of the two big underlying messages that make the movie unique. She contradicts Brendan's strict Christian viewpoint, and makes him question the Abbot a bit. This first trek into the woods with Aisling is the most beautiful portion of the film. It's really a treat to watch, and well, I wouldn't recommend going to the bathroom during this segment.
anyways, the Abbot (Brendan's Uncle) discovers he left, and locks him in his room.
The Abbot is a very intriguing character, probably the deepest in the story. He's given up on the scripture in order to fortify his village with a massive wall ( massive wall, like princess mononoke? No it's stone, not wood!). He's doing it so that they have a chance to survive when the Viking would inevitably attack. Doing what he does to Brendan is all for the greater good (the greater good).
Brendan would eventually discover the true darkness of the forest, of the rest of the world, and ... overcome? Well you'll have to see the movie to find that out ;-P
My one gripe with this movie is that I felt it was too short! by the end we see Brendan as a young man, and I would have loved to see a lot more of that. But who knows it may have turned out to feel too long if they did that.
and also
[HEADING=2]wrapping it up[/HEADING]
good things
bad thing
[HEADING=1] I recommend it[/HEADING]
2 thumbs up.
anyone else remember watching 9 and thinking "well this looked great, just wished it had something to say" That's what I was worried about when going to see this. It really didn't do this. I chose watching this over Hot tub time machine and am not dissapointed in my choice in the slightest.
I came into this movie knowing three things, it was nominated for an Oscar, It is Irish, and it looks interesting (art style/direction).
What I know now is that it's about a young boy who ventures into the world, meets a young girl with a unity with nature (in particular wolves), and who has to fight off a dark, seemingly unstoppable force. and it does look very interesting it looks like this -
I kid, I kid
It did really remind me of Princess Mononoke (1999), but that's not to say they're the same movie in any sense, it just feels similar. Also, Princess Mononoke was fucking awesome so it's certainly not a bad thing to feel the same way in this movie.
Anyways, I'm gong to start with the [user]Douk[/user] chart to show you my basic feeling during this movie
[HEADING=1]now for the review portion of the review[/HEADING]
I had mixed feeling at the start of this film, it was very nice looking, but it started out with the hero, Brendan, a young sheltered monk, chasing a goose (perhaps hired by a Peter Ian Staker?) in catching a goose for it's feathers. It's very silly and light hearted, and he had a team of multi racial monks helping him (the Italian got covered in mud!). I was a bit worried that it would be very kiddie and this tone throughout the movie, and more of a kids film than a film good for everyone. This is not the case, it is a good movie, a good movie for just about everyone. Anyways the movie goes from this to Brendan learning about the outside world from a wise old monk who had just entered the Village of Kells. He convinces Brendan to venture into the woods in search of a berry, to make a dye, so they can finish a legendary book. While out in the wood he faces troubles, and gets saved by the fairy girl Aisling, the character you will probably recognize, if your at all familiar with the movie. She is quiet a fun character, every scene with her is incredibly enjoyable, and she brings a magic, and unknown essence to the world. She also brings one of the two big underlying messages that make the movie unique. She contradicts Brendan's strict Christian viewpoint, and makes him question the Abbot a bit. This first trek into the woods with Aisling is the most beautiful portion of the film. It's really a treat to watch, and well, I wouldn't recommend going to the bathroom during this segment.
anyways, the Abbot (Brendan's Uncle) discovers he left, and locks him in his room.
The Abbot is a very intriguing character, probably the deepest in the story. He's given up on the scripture in order to fortify his village with a massive wall ( massive wall, like princess mononoke? No it's stone, not wood!). He's doing it so that they have a chance to survive when the Viking would inevitably attack. Doing what he does to Brendan is all for the greater good (the greater good).
Brendan would eventually discover the true darkness of the forest, of the rest of the world, and ... overcome? Well you'll have to see the movie to find that out ;-P
My one gripe with this movie is that I felt it was too short! by the end we see Brendan as a young man, and I would have loved to see a lot more of that. But who knows it may have turned out to feel too long if they did that.
and also
When he returns to the Village after years, he meets up with Aisling, and they it goes out to be nothing! I really wanted to see that!
[HEADING=2]wrapping it up[/HEADING]
good things
enjoyable story
Aisling is great
Abbot
nice view of a sheltered boy exploring nature and magical forces
Beautiful
the animals and woods were particularly wonderful
the monster fight was very cool
bad thing
a bit too short
the chalk scenes were a bit boring
it starts off a little slow
[HEADING=1] I recommend it[/HEADING]
2 thumbs up.
anyone else remember watching 9 and thinking "well this looked great, just wished it had something to say" That's what I was worried about when going to see this. It really didn't do this. I chose watching this over Hot tub time machine and am not dissapointed in my choice in the slightest.