The Secret of Kells Review
By David Kempler
Not much of a "Secret"
The Book of Kells is a manuscript created in either the 8
th or 9
th centuries, somewhere in the British Isles. It contains the four Gospels of the New Testament, along with numerous drawings, and is considered a masterwork of Western Calligraphy.
"The Secret of Kells" tells the story of the origin of the Kells, as fantasy and in animated form and, while it is very pretty to look at, it never quite connects emotionally with the viewer. The star is a young boy named Brendan (Evan McGuire) who lives in an abbey in Kells, Ireland. His uncle, Abbot Cellach (Brendan Gleeson), is in charge of the abbey and his primary concern is the defense of the community against advancing Viking hordes.
Brendan disobeys his uncle by wandering into the woods outside of the abbey. In the woods he meets a young forest fairy and they become fast friends. When Brendan returns, his uncle is furious that his nephew has disobeyed him and confines him to a room in a tower. But Brendan has a strong ally in the forest fairy and some of the other members of the abbey are supportive of the youngster in his personal quest to save the village.
The look of "The Secret of Kells" is visually appealing and the sound is spectacular. However, the rest is only ordinary and, without a strong story, the good points seem less powerful. Ultimately, it all feels a tad flat by the time of the final curtain. This is far from the juiciest secret you've ever experienced.
