First Images from Zack Snyder’s LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS

by Matt Goldberg Posted:March 3rd, 2010 at 10:14 pm

The first images from director Zack Snyder’s animated film, Legend of the Guardians (formerly titled Guardians of Ga’Hoole), are now online and they’re a hoot. Because the movie features owls. And owls are known for making a “hooting” sound. Moving on, USA Today has a first look at the film and describes it as a cross between Watership Down (good) and The Lord of the Rings (also good). Here’s their synopsis:

The film, based on the first three books of Kathryn Lasky’s series, follows Soren (voiced by Jim Sturgess), a young barn owl who is kidnapped by the owls of the St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls, or St. Aggie’s. The academy is supposed to be an orphanage, but instead it brainwashes its pupils into becoming soldiers who will ultimately clash with the wise, peaceful owls of Ga’Hoole.

The books are aimed at children but have adult and historical themes, such as wars meant to mirror Normandy Invasion and the ancient Battle of Thermopylae (aka, the battle in Snyder’s 300). USA Today focuses on how Guardians will be a less violent film than Snyder’s previous three, but they do not explore how much speed-ramping will be used. The trailer, which is attached to Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, may answer that question. Hit the jump to check out five images from the film, each pertaining to a different character.

Each image is followed by USA Today’s description because they know what they’re talking about and my descriptions would boil down to “This owl is wearing a hat,” and “This owl enjoys drawing other owls.” You can also click on each image to see a larger version.

: Deborra-Lee Furness plays Barran, the queen of the great tree, a source of knowledge for the noble owls of Ga’Hoole. “She’s powerful, but a diplomat as well,” says Legend of the Guardians director Zack Snyder. Snyder says he chose Furness as much for her energy as her voice. “One of the things I looked for in casting voices was enthusiasm, and she had plenty of it.”

: Noctus, who is father to main hero Soren, is voiced by Hugo Weaving, whose hypnotic voice wafted through the Matrix and Lord of the Rings trilogies. “I was just trying to find a voice of that kind of dad you believe in, who won’t lead you down the wrong road. Hugo has the voice of a teacher, which is exactly what we needed.”

: Nyra is an evil queen of the St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls, where the birds are actually brainwashed into becoming soldiers. Helen Mirren, who played a conflicted monarch in The Queen, gets to “become kind of a female Darth Vader” this time around, Snyder says. Though she has a reputation for being regal, Mirren plays a vicious leader “who pulls some of the strings and has a need for power.”

: Emilie de Ravin plays Eglantine, left, a good friend of Soren, center, and a member of the owls’ search-and-rescue team. Jim Sturgess plays Soren, while Ryan Kwanten provides the voice for Kludd, right, Soren’s jealous brother. “Soren is a classic hero,” Snyder says. “He loves his sister, who is sweet, but smart beyond her years. He’s a dreamer. He loves myths and stories. Kludd sees all that as weakness.”

: Richard Roxburgh plays Boron, center-left, the kindly King of Ga’Hoole. He’s fond of scatological humor and carousing with sea gulls, which keeps things lively in the tree. “We’re looking to find a balance,” Snyder says. “The books are very layered and intense, which is why they’re so popular. But we want to make a movie the family can see, so you want to have humor and things for kids, too.”

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Guardians of Ga'Hoole, Image, Legend of the Guardians, Zack Snyder

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First Images from Zack Snyder’s LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS

by Matt Goldberg Posted:March 3rd, 2010 at 10:14 pm

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