OK for kids 9+
Magical animated adventure is intense but beautiful.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this Oscar-nominated animated movie is too intense for preschoolers and even young elementary school-aged kids. Steeped in Irish folklore, the movie includes scenes of Barbarian invaders sweeping through towns, terrorizing and killing people with their swords and axes as they go. There are also some frightening images of red-eyed, snarling wolves and an evil pagan serpent god. Some families might also be concerned with the tension between religion (the main characters are all brothers in an abbey) and paganism (depicted by a fairy and a monstrous creature in the woods). Mature kids old enough to handle the cartoon violence will learn about Irish legends, the tradition of illuminated manuscripts, and how every hero needs friends to succeed in his quest.
- Families can talk about Brendan as a hero. In what way is Brendan's adventure similar to other fictional quests? Who are his helpers, his mentors, his nemeses?
- Brendan disobeys his uncle, the abbott, to work with Brother Aidan on the book. Is his disobedience warranted? What would've happened if Brendan had listened? When is it OK to disobey?
- What is the significance of Brendan's return to Kells? Why is the completed book renamed?
- Kids: Did this movie make you want to learn more about Irish culture or Celtic legends?
The good stuff
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Messages: Although Brendan disobeys his uncle, he is ultimately trying to dowhat's best for Kells by preserving the famous illuminated manuscriptthat Aidan needs his help to finish. Brendan believes God has grantedhim a gift to illustrate the manuscript, and he follows this gift. But he alsolearns that what his abbot uncle called "pagan nonsense" wasn'tnonsense at all; there is magic in the woods, in the form of abeautiful fairy girl and an underground monster. Some families might not be comfortable with the depiction of pagan motifs and characters along with strong spiritual/Christian themes.
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Role models: Brendan learns to practice his gift, collaborate with Aidan, ask for helpwhen it's needed, and act bravely when he thinks his friend is indanger. Aisling could have been cruel to Brendan when he wandered into the woods, but instead she helps him, befriends him, and teaches him the wonders of the woods. Brother Aidan nurtures Brendan's talent and tells him it's a gift he must use.
What to watch for
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Violence: The tone of the animation can turn dark, gloomy, and downright scary in parts, especially during the scenes when the Vikings are shown with their axes drawn or when a pack of red-eyed wolves circle a boy in the woods. The Barbarian invaders mercilessly set fire to a whole town and bring their axes down to kill the fleeing villagers. Needless to say, the Barbarians are frightening and murderous. The sequence with the pagan creature that haunts the woods is also intense. One character is shown near death after he has been speared, and other characters are presumed dead due to a fire.
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Sex: Not an issue
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Language: Not an issue
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Consumerism: Not an issue
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
Fan Reviews provided by
5
Five Word Review by janetmiller
Visually amazing magical mystical engaging
5
Beautiful fairytale, few words it- comes through in animation and music by acstar
I wouldn't recommend this movie for children. It harkens back to when fairytales were truly scary becuase they were based on very real dangers. It takes place in a much more simple society with fundamental concerns of survival but there is still the importance of religion/sprituality and that that connection should not be lost to the people for the sake of survival. It is drawn flat but heavily stylized until you come to the book itself. The book that illuminates the soul and the connection to the divine is such breathtaking animation it seems impossoble to be made by human hands. It is a stark contrast to the heavy labors of daily life.
5
Five Word Review by Zig4
stunning beautiful celtic handdrawn imagery
5
The Book of Kells is a gem of an animated movie! by MomSquad1
The Book of Kells is what Hollywood is always searching for: An engaging, intelligent, uplifting "family film" that is so appealing, even film snobs will flock to it. The film by the way is not a Hollywood vehicle; it was made abroad by an Irish animator. It is top-flight, high-quality. A real treasure of an animated film with a great message for young and old alike.
5
A visual treat by lippert
This rich and beautiful movie is a welcome antidote to the over-rendered 3D look of most modern animation. The story is full of mysticism with bits of Celtic lore and myths as well as religious (Christian) overtones, and my two teenage sons found it a bit too open-ended for their tastes, as much as they loved the art; there are some intense moments which I think would be too much for much younger kids, but there are few movies that adults and teens can enjoy together these days, and this is absolutely one.