"the secret of kells"
so yesterday i was fortunate enough to get to go over to rollick's place to see a screening copy of "the secret of kells" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485601/) that she had managed to get her hands on for a few days.
briefly, the plot is that we follow a young boy in training to become a monk who is asked by a master illustrator to help with the illustrations in the book of kells (note to t&b--aidan of iona seems to have existed in a different era but the book was probably produced on iona and moved to kells: http://historymedren.about.com/od/bookofkell1/p/book_of_kells.htm).
this movie was nominated for an oscar for best animated film of the year and you can see why. it is visually stunning. i can't begin to enumerate the things that struck me--first off, the animation of the book of kells but also the forest and the fight with the evil thing, the name of which i keep forgetting. i think the animation was done by hand and it is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful--i would see it again, just for that.
the plot is a little thin but not impossibly so. i assume that the movie is pitched at kids since the two main characters are children and i think kids would enjoy it if they are old enough not to be too scared by the wolves, the vikings, and the evil thing, but their parents would probably find plenty to enjoy, too.
it's radically different from a pixar movie which are frequently all round plump cozy shapes. this is lots of lines and humps and angles, but also details and curlicues--and wonderful use of colors. i worried when the movie started because it starts with a high, soft, hard to understand voice. but it soon resolves into the main plot and while there are accents, i think it is pretty easy to follow.
i think i may have liked it best of the viewers (a change from our usual--usually i am the person who liked whatever it was the least, lately ;-) ). i'd really like to see it again--not for the plot but just to see the beautiful visuals again.
briefly, the plot is that we follow a young boy in training to become a monk who is asked by a master illustrator to help with the illustrations in the book of kells (note to t&b--aidan of iona seems to have existed in a different era but the book was probably produced on iona and moved to kells: http://historymedren.about.com/od/bookofkell1/p/book_of_kells.htm).
this movie was nominated for an oscar for best animated film of the year and you can see why. it is visually stunning. i can't begin to enumerate the things that struck me--first off, the animation of the book of kells but also the forest and the fight with the evil thing, the name of which i keep forgetting. i think the animation was done by hand and it is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful--i would see it again, just for that.
the plot is a little thin but not impossibly so. i assume that the movie is pitched at kids since the two main characters are children and i think kids would enjoy it if they are old enough not to be too scared by the wolves, the vikings, and the evil thing, but their parents would probably find plenty to enjoy, too.
it's radically different from a pixar movie which are frequently all round plump cozy shapes. this is lots of lines and humps and angles, but also details and curlicues--and wonderful use of colors. i worried when the movie started because it starts with a high, soft, hard to understand voice. but it soon resolves into the main plot and while there are accents, i think it is pretty easy to follow.
i think i may have liked it best of the viewers (a change from our usual--usually i am the person who liked whatever it was the least, lately ;-) ). i'd really like to see it again--not for the plot but just to see the beautiful visuals again.