Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sweeping owl fantasy adventure is impressive but intense.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 53 parent reviews
Based on 60 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is visually stunning and features an engaging adventure, but many express disappointment at how it deviates from the books, feeling it sacrifices character depth for action. While it is entertaining and offers positive messages about courage and friendship, parents are cautioned about its intense battle scenes and occasional violent content, which may be suitable for tweens but could frighten younger viewers.
- visual effects
- violent content
- book adaptation
- parental guidance
- positive messages
- suitable for tweens
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Based on Kathryn Lasky's fantasy book series, LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS follows young Tyto owlet Soren (voiced by Jim Sturgess), who loves his father's tales about the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, a legendary band of warriors that protects the owl kingdom from danger. But his brother, Kludd (Ryan Kwanten), thinks the stories are just silly fantasies. One day the brothers are kidnapped by two menacing owls that take them to the faraway lair of Metalbeak (Joel Edgerton), the "Pure One" who believes that the Tyto owls are supreme to all other owl species. Soren and his new elf-owl friend, Gylfie (Emily Barclay), are taught how to fly by a resistance-fighting owl who tells them that the Guardians are real and that Soren and Gylfie must warn them about Metalbeak's plans to rule the owl kingdom. With help from Twilight (Anthony LaPaglia), a "warrior-poet" Great Gray Owl; Digger (David Wenham), a jittery Burrowing Owl; and Mrs. P. (Miriam Margolyes), the friends fly to the Tree of Ga'Hoole to train and eventually fight as Guardians.
Is It Any Good?
The collaboration between director Zack Snyder and Animal Logic, the Australian effects and animation company responsible for Happy Feet, has yielded a visually stunning animated film. Despite featuring animal characters, LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS will appeal to tweens and teens. With many 3-D movies, the glasses feel like an unnecessary accessory, but here the technology is used artistically and imaginatively. The extreme close-ups and slow-motion shots are impressive, as are the intense moments that focus on a single feather, an eye, a claw. It's stylized action reminiscent of Snyder's 300 -- without all the blood and gore.
Soren's story is compelling and original -- even as it will remind you of many other heroes' journeys. There are so many layers to the plot -- from sibling rivalry (Kladd stays behind) to hero worship (Geoffrey Rush plays the wise legendary warrior that Soren idolizes) to family loyalty to political intrigue. It's obvious from the movie's ending that the filmmakers would love to make more films in the series, which is always a gamble -- but this story is in-depth enough and the visuals so captivating that it wouldn't be unwelcome.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's overall message about owl equality. How does that translate into human culture? Is it ever right for a group to decide that they should be served by others?
How does the movie's violence compare to that in other animated movies you've seen? Is it more or less scary because the characters are animals? Why?
For kids who've read the books, how does the movie compare? Were the changes understandable, or did they impact how much you enjoyed the movie?
How does Soren's journey remind you of other cinematic heroes, like Frodo, the Pevensie children, or even Harry Potter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 24, 2010
- On DVD or streaming : December 17, 2010
- Cast : Abbie Cornish , Helen Mirren , Hugo Weaving , Ryan Kwanten
- Director : Zack Snyder
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Book Characters , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some sequences of scary action
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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