Read User Reviews and Submit your own for The Secret of Kells

10

UncleChuDec 13, 2010

Having been trained in fine art, having studied art history, and being an enormous fan of animation and cartoons, I must say this is one of the finest creations in the last five years. The story itself is simple and sweet, perhaps nothing toHaving been trained in fine art, having studied art history, and being an enormous fan of animation and cartoons, I must say this is one of the finest creations in the last five years. The story itself is simple and sweet, perhaps nothing to celebrate, and set in a medieval Ireland some 1200 years ago. However, the Tartakovskian stylization of characters, the backgrounds abstracted to a nearly Byzantine flatness, and the romanticization of monastic inspiration pay great homage to the original Book of Kells.

And if you don't like all the heady intellectual stuff, it's incredible to look at, the soundtrack is totally mesmerizing, and I will sheepishly confess being moved to tears by Aisling's Song to Panger Ban. Great for the family, spooky and lovely, I'd recommend it to any one with an interest in animation, Irish lore, or art history. Check it out! (As of December 2010, its Watch Instant on Netflix!)… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

All this user's reviews

9

Doodahday66Sep 1, 2014

Deep, beautiful, colourful, clever, and an intresting fictional take on actual historic events.
Nice animations, lovable characters and music. Ending could've been more but that would've caused the film to be far too long...

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

All this user's reviews

8

AoKuroiRaccoonDec 28, 2011

Very beautiful, fun and color-filled. It is interesting as a children's movie due to its art cinema characteristics and to the emphasis put into its visual artistic style. You may often find funny moments but this movie is not meant for aVery beautiful, fun and color-filled. It is interesting as a children's movie due to its art cinema characteristics and to the emphasis put into its visual artistic style. You may often find funny moments but this movie is not meant for a mindless audience. It takes the viewer through a wonderful and mythical story inspired in ancient Irish folk, filled with simple yet breathtaking scenes and a friendly atmosphere that will blow you away with creativity. Perfect for imaginative minds such as children.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

8

EnnaNov 24, 2014

THE SECRET OF KELLS is an unforgettable visual experience. The art flat-out blew my mind. It takes inspiration from medieval illuminated manuscripts, so the movie plays out like a series of pictures with the characters moving in veryTHE SECRET OF KELLS is an unforgettable visual experience. The art flat-out blew my mind. It takes inspiration from medieval illuminated manuscripts, so the movie plays out like a series of pictures with the characters moving in very straight, two dimensional ways through them. The plays with perspective and movement are endlessly creative. Furthermore, just like the titular Book of Kells, each frame is meticulously detailed and drenched in rich colors - greens, golds and browns for the beautiful forest, and harsh reds and blacks for the scary viking invaders. It's simply GORGEOUS. My description is by no means doing this film justice - you must see it for yourself!

Unfortunately, the story doesn't match the visuals - it's a collection of great ideas, story arcs, and scenes jumbled together with not enough development. Brendan's coming-of-age arc is thinly developed and never moves beyond the expected. The Christianity vs. Paganism conflict is falls flat because both sides aren't developed beyond Christianity = good, Paganism = evil monster worship (and we never see what makes them so. It's just taken for granted.) The vikings attacking Kells is a scary threat, but the storyline comes off as silly. (The Abbot wants to make the illuminators build the walls to keep the vikings out, and the illuminatiors want to finish the book of Kells. However, when the vikings nonetheless break into Kells, the Abbot realizes that his plan was wrong all along and that the illuminators were right in wanting to work on the book instead (??? This stuck me as bizarre because, well, if they had worked on the illumination instead, the monestary would still have been destroyed!)) Furthermore, these storylines are not tied well together, preventing the movie from gliding along and "casting a spell" on the audience.

Now, the movie is still very enjoyable. The storylines are still engaging, the characters are charming and likeable (especially Aisling!), and the setting of a 800's monastery is compelling, and unusual for a children's movie. The movie shines in certain scenes - the forest is full of organic, awesome beauty; Brenden's battle with Crom Cruach takes place in a dark, ethereal space with many strange glowing lights; and the scene where Aisling sings to Pangur Ban is filled with so much beauty, mystery, and visual poetry, it haunted me for days afterwards. I get chills every time I think about it!

So - THE SECRET OF KELLS is a little treat. The story may not be up to close scrutiny, but if you let yourself be swept up in its visuals and setting, you are in for a beautiful experience!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

7

Le__XenomorphDec 22, 2014

The movie managed to distract me with its gorgeous animation and amazing designs, but the story was too short and weak to support the animation. 7/10 (Good)

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

5

TitaniumDragonApr 10, 2012

This movie is beautiful but suffers from a singular flaw: it doesn't really go anywhere. The Book of Kells is simply not something that most people in the world know or care about, so the climax of the movie being that the book is DONE is,This movie is beautiful but suffers from a singular flaw: it doesn't really go anywhere. The Book of Kells is simply not something that most people in the world know or care about, so the climax of the movie being that the book is DONE is, well, anticlimatic. There is no closure with Ashley, there is no real resolution of mystery, and indeed overall only two characters develop, and then not enough to really feel like adequate payoff. The climax for most audiences comes in halfway, with the theft of the eye.

It's worth watching once to appreciate the artistry, but it left me unfulfilled.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

All this user's reviews

9

TruthslingerMay 2, 2011

I should preface my review by stating that I only give it a 9 rating instead of a 10 because I feel perfection should always remain unattainable. But certainly in the realms of animation, storytelling, and world-immersion, "The Secret ofI should preface my review by stating that I only give it a 9 rating instead of a 10 because I feel perfection should always remain unattainable. But certainly in the realms of animation, storytelling, and world-immersion, "The Secret of Kells" excels nearly all Hollywood prefabricated animated movies of the past 25 years. From the lush and almost pungent colors, to the stark and exaggerated shapes and dimensions, to the fluid and surreal movements, the animation in this film falls second to none for vision, distinction, and uniqueness. Those looking for a photo-realistic or purely verisimilar approach to animation should most definitely look elsewhere, since the style, nuance, character, and idiosyncrasy of "The Secret of Kells" do not fall in the realm of most contemporary, digitally enhanced, video game-lookalikes presented by the Hollywood studio-industrial complex and acting as the next wave in dumbing down our cultural discourse and homogenizing the human imagination. In addition, the themes of friendship, community, daring, assertiveness, and communion with the earth and all her creatures allow the aesthetically pleasing animation to find an equal complement in thematic richness and meaning. The character of Aisling, while not altogether unproblematic for her self-sacrificial tendencies, nevertheless offers children, young people, and anyone with an open mind and heart the opportunity to hear the voice of earth's children in a language any English-speaker can comprehend. In short, "The Secret of Kells" offers great aesthetic, empathetic, and ethical potential to anyone looking for an experience of beauty and meaning. You've been warned.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

9

TyranianApr 13, 2019

This has got to be one of the best animations I've seen, it is brilliantly made. Beautiful.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

9

ZalDec 20, 2012

In terms of animation style and visuals, this movie is gorgeous. I had to watch it several times just to take it all in. Something about it reminds me of Samurai Jack. On a story and character level, this movie is solid. The characters areIn terms of animation style and visuals, this movie is gorgeous. I had to watch it several times just to take it all in. Something about it reminds me of Samurai Jack. On a story and character level, this movie is solid. The characters are mostly basic, but likable and well developed. I just wish there was more.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

5

EludiumQ36Aug 30, 2015

Like most others have commented, the animation was decent enough though seen before, nothing special, and the plot was engaging enough until its denouement, which was hurried and not well motivated so that was disappointing.

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

All this user's reviews

9

ReubenIsAGodJul 26, 2014

Master-peace, from a visual perspective. The art in "The Secret of Kells" is some of the most sensational finest animation i have ever seen from any-over 2d animated film, truly breath taking. The secret of kells only real flaws are more toMaster-peace, from a visual perspective. The art in "The Secret of Kells" is some of the most sensational finest animation i have ever seen from any-over 2d animated film, truly breath taking. The secret of kells only real flaws are more to do with simplistic characters and an unsatisfying ending to a truly spectacular film.

9/10.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

9

NerdConsultantFeb 14, 2015

The Secret of Kells is one of the most visually stunning animated films i have ever seen achieving a great atmosphere through the great art style. it had an amazing story that was really engaging, I loved the characters and they are wellThe Secret of Kells is one of the most visually stunning animated films i have ever seen achieving a great atmosphere through the great art style. it had an amazing story that was really engaging, I loved the characters and they are well acted by the great Irish cast. oh and the soundtrack is one of the best i've ever heard. this is a seriously underrated film, i'm looking forward to seeing what director Tomm Moore will give us in the future. get this on Blu ray the animation really shine in the format… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

9

MacsMusicDec 30, 2017

The animation and style of this movie is unpreceded. It is magical, terrifying, profound, and funny all at different times. I've never seen a movie just like The Secret Of Kells. Fantasy at it's very best.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

8

DogeGamer2015Apr 20, 2021

La trama es decente, pero la animación y la banda sonora son elementos excelentes que la hacen disfrutable; no es la mejor película de Cartoon Saloon, aunque sigue siendo una experiencia muy disfrutable.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

9

DawdlingPoetNov 20, 2021

I really liked this film for two main reasons - 1) the folk music, with a celtic, mystical sound to it - I particularly like the violin and the harp and 2) the brilliant animation used, with some quite detailed celtic patterns/imagery presentI really liked this film for two main reasons - 1) the folk music, with a celtic, mystical sound to it - I particularly like the violin and the harp and 2) the brilliant animation used, with some quite detailed celtic patterns/imagery present (which I admired the intricacy of) and otherwise lots of geometric patterns. I particularly liked the detail shown in the individual snow flakes falling slowly from the sky, for one thing. Some of the animation looks like watercolour paint.

It has quite a fantastical and perhaps even spiritual feel to it. I liked the voices too, the characters sounded quite like like and vulnerable. Plot wise, it has a mythical element to it.

I thought it was a quite engrossing watch, although I didn't think it was quite as good as Song of the Sea, which is by the same Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon. In any case, I'd definitely recommend this film to fans of animation.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

9

gavinb215May 27, 2022

For only 75 minutes this movie puts so much in itself. The animation while limited is still fantastic and greatly expresses the beauty of the forest and the walls of Kells. The music can compare itself to the music of the Disney RenaissanceFor only 75 minutes this movie puts so much in itself. The animation while limited is still fantastic and greatly expresses the beauty of the forest and the walls of Kells. The music can compare itself to the music of the Disney Renaissance movies and Pixar's Up. The song Aisling's Song is my personal favorite and is one of the many highlights. Another is the performance of Abbot Cellach by Brendan Gleason, one of the best-animated performances of all time.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews