The Secret of Kells, better known as that other movie nominated for this year’s Best Animated Feature Oscar, isn’t too well known for good reason: it just ain’t that good.It’s no shocker that animated movies aren’t my favorite genre, and this is case in point. I had no idea what was happening throughout most of it, and worse, I didn’t care.
The citizens of Kells, a small town somewhere, are busy building a giant wall to protect themselves from a deadly forest... I think. A little boy becomes curious when a wise old man ventures into town with a magical book that explains… what? I have no idea. The little boy’s uncle seems pissed off in every scene… why? I have no idea. The uncle locks the boy in a dungeon, there is a weird forest girl with white hair running around, odd townspeople, balls of ink and other incomprehensible situations.
The film’s one positive note is its animation. It’s a different style that I don’t think I’ve seen before. Also, at an hour and 15 minutes, it isn’t completely torturous to sit through. But the fact that it beat out the great Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo for an Oscar nomination is beyond me. The Secret of Kells is definitely best kept as it is: a secret. D
I agree the animation is unique and pretty awesome, however I don't think the movie is all that confusing. The town is building walls to protect themselves from Vikings that they know will soon attack. The book that is being written is the famous Book of Kells-a real book housed in Dublin-that was written by Celtic monks around 800. It contains the 4 gospels of the New Testament. I enjoyed it.
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