reviews by Shannon Bowman-Sarkisian

The Secret of Kells

June 2011 — The Secret of Kells is a stunningly beautiful movie inspired by Ireland’s Book of Kells. Like the book, which many consider to be Ireland’s greatest national treasure, the film is a work of art. Watching it is like being transported into a painting. Three countries — Ireland, France and Belgium — collaborated to create the animated feature.

A fictional account of the origin of the Book of Kells, The Secret of Kells takes place in Ireland during the ninth century. Brendan (Evan McGuire), a 12-year-old monk, works in the scriptorium while being groomed to take over for his uncle, the Abbot Cellach (Brendan Gleeson). The threat of a Viking attack looms over the village of Kells and Abbot Cellach has put all of the abbey’s resources towards building a wall to keep the raiders out. Brendan tries to focus on shoring up the village defenses, but instead he is continually drawn to the illuminators working in the scriptorium. His conflict only increases after Brother Aiden (Mick Lally) arrives from the island of Iona with a cat named Pangur Ban and the famous Book of Iona.

Under the tutelage of Brother Aiden, Brendan begins his training as an illuminator. His first task sends him into the forbidden forest beyond the great wall of Kells, where he meets Aisling (Christen Mooney), a Tuath de Dannan — a spirit of the forest. The two secretly become friends. As Brendan experiences more and more of the outside world, he finds that he’s unable to please both his uncle and himself.

All of the characters in The Secret of Kells face danger — they live in a violent world regardless of which side of the wall they come from. All have faced loss, and yet this is a story about how great beauty can be created from chaos.

The Secret of Kells, available on DVD, has no MPAA rating but features some scenes of intense violence that may not be suitable for young children. Running time: 75 minutes.

Tangled

If you’ve been pining away for a classic Disney Princess movie with big, rambunctious musical numbers and plucky heroes, then you’re in luck. Tangled may have been made using that newfangled computer animation, but it resembles The Little Mermaid, not Chicken Little, in plot and tone.

In Tangled, the infant Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) is kidnapped by the witch Gothel (Donna Murphy), who raises the girl in a tower. Rapunzel’s magical hair allows Gothel to remain immortal as long as the hair isn’t cut. On the eve of her 16th birthday, a handsome thief named Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi) bungles his way into Rapunzel’s tower. She seizes the opportunity to see the world beyond her prison and adventure ensues.

Tangled has everything a successful Disney movie needs: witty banter between potential love interests, Broadway-quality songs, and a villain who steals every scene. Gothel is by far the most engaging character in the film and she has the best solo with “Mother Knows Best.” The witch is overbearing and narcissistic — she would easily fit in with the moms on TLC’s Toddlers & Tiaras — but Murphy gives Gothel the right amount of brassiness.

Of course, the princess and her beau are the heroes in Tangled, and it’s cute to watch their relationship unfold. Rapunzel is naïve and innocent; Flynn is cynical and world-weary. It’s not the most original story every written, but it’s become a cliché because it works.

Parents are inevitably dragged to countless animated features by their children. All of those films are created to sell merchandise and the content can be unbearable for adults. It’s great that Disney’s still interested in keep adults entertained, too.

Tangled, available on DVD, is rated PG for brief mild violence. Running time: 100 minutes.