Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

Got tickets to see the preview screening for Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (in 3D), thanks to MSN Malaysia (I joined the contest on a lark last week). The title alone is a mouthful, so you can't really blame anyone for referring to it as "that owl movie".

If anyone over 18 has ever read the books (yes it's a series, GOOGLE IT), let alone heard of it before knowing the movie exists - congratulations, you are in the minority. I went in blind (not literally, metaphorically) watching this, so I kept my expectations low.


Got to the GSC in Pavilion only to find that Advertlets is also having their preview screening the same night. Also feel a little bad that the Advertlets crew had to field questions from people asking about the MSN Malaysia tickets. The MSN rep didn't show up until 8.45 p.m. and that was when people that were loitering around earlier started lining up.

Movie was pretty cliched, but what do you expect when the source material is not meant for adults? Can't really say the same for the movie, because this is directed by the guy that directed 300, Zack Snyder. If nothing else, just watch it for the talking, fighting CG owls with helmets on their heads.

• I got the serious case of the giggles everytime there's a slo-mo bit during the fight scenes, which happens a lot.
• I can't be the only one that couldn't keep track of the owls in the movie - which owl was who, etc.
• It's a good thing that Snyder's known for his slo-mo flashes, cos who knew owl-on-owl fighting could be so violent? And the action sequences these days happen too fast for the naked eye to catch, let alone when the eye has to have the doofy 3D glasses on.
• I don't have the ear for differentiating different voices in a voice cast, so I didn't know Helen Mirren played evil queen owl until I googled it. I thought there was something a little more regal than usual in the performance.
• This might be the first time I've heard British accents for a book adaptation that was originally American. THANK YOU!
• I'm also glad that the movie was adapted from the first three books; because I'm not about to read the 15 book series. Not even for the heck of it. Now I'm wondering whether there'll be sequels.
• The other thing that cracked me up was the use of OWL CITY'S song, To The Sky like an anthem. WTF. Talk about obvious.

Man, am I glad that I didn't pay to watch this one. But I won't stop anyone else from doing so.

If I had to sum it up, I'd say it's like 300, but with helmet-wearing CG owls, LOL.