SincereFinest disgusting, overrated, pointless

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Abegail Noëlle While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Irishchatter So I finally got to sit down and watch this film properly. You really would be jaw dropping the whole time because the animation was absolutely stunning, especially if it is a 2-D cartoon movie! The voice acting was good too, I honestly didn't know which character was voiced by Brendan Gleeson, all the men actors really sounded pretty much the same so I didn't know who was who!Even though I have heard a lot about the Book of Kells that's displayed in Trinity College Dublin, I just think the films crew weren't paying enough attention to much of what the book was actually about. The reason I just said that was because, there was no such thing as a young boy Brendan finding the book. Sure, no one knows who was the culprit that created the book! Apart from my little complaint, I thought everything was perfect. It does tell you a bit of history such as when the Vikings came to Europe and pretty much the detail of the books designs! Good all ages movie!Happy St Paddys Day Lads and Lassies! :D

Anssi Vartiainen The Secret of Kells is the first film made by the Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon, and the first film directed by Tomm Moore. And as far as debut films go, this is simply stunning. Telling the fictitious origin story for the historical Book of Kells, it is probably the animated movie with the most striking visual style I've ever seen. European medieval paintings suddenly spring to life on screen with this film, with most of the backgrounds and character designs heavily mimicking medieval designs, but with a distinct cartoonish slant.And it looks gorgeous! Every frame of this film is a painting ready to be hanged on a wall, and what makes it even better is the fact that the film's story talks about the illustration of a book. The Book of Kells has been a long time project for a Master Illustrator Aidan, but now he has been forced to flee from his island home into the Monastery of Kells because Viking raiders are coming, pillaging and looting everything in their way. In that monastery he meets young Brendan, an apprentice illustrator, who he sends into the surrounding forest to look for materials to make ink. In there Brendan meets many wonders and horrors, among them a female forest spirit named Aisling.This film is balm for the soul of anyone who has ever appreciated traditional hand-drawn animation. Everything from character designs to movement to rhythm works absolutely wonderfully, and at times you quite honestly miss what the characters are saying because you're so busy staring.Unfortunately, where the film falters a little bit is the story. It starts out very well, and is given more depth with the exploration of Brendan's two father figures. The strict abbot of the monastery, his uncle Cellach, and the more free-spirited and relaxed Aidan, who allows Brendan to explore his true passion. But after the second act the film simply seems to give up and the final third act is barely ten minutes long. It's like they ran out of budget and had to cram half an hour's worth of story into ten minutes. It doesn't rhyme at all and quite frankly ruins a perfectly good film. Now, it is possible that the choice was intentional in order to achieve a more mythological, legendary tone for the story, but in an animated film made in the 21st century it nevertheless seems extremely jarring.But, if you're going to see this film, see it for the visuals. The story is good enough to keep you interested, but it's the visuals that will probably bring you back if you're going to see it a second time.

adistyan I always love animation with different imagination with we see in daily animation. Here we saw magical colors spreads blowing our eyes by its beautiful light composition. And the ending is the best one. All it could be said in one word: gorgeous. But the story just so lame, hard to catch any message here. Or maybe it hidden and I'm too stupid to know. Very hard to know the meaning of pictures there and no alphabetical on the book. The Aisling song sang in unspeakable language. If anyone has it lyric please reply me. Its beautiful song, and voice, and I hope it meaning. Aisling voice is remarkably a picture of spirit, specially the giggles. Enjoy :)

jadepietro (Highly Recommended) The Secret of Kells was so secret that it may have been easily overlooked by many serious film-goers in 2009. With its poor distribution rights in the United States and lack of access to many theaters, this foreign-made independent film was hardly seen, but it is now available on DVD/BluRay and streaming on Netflix. (Against the odds, the film was surprisingly nominated for an Oscar that year for Best Animated Feature, losing to Up.) This is must-see viewing.The animated film tells the story of Brendan, a young boy living in an abbey during the 8th century. His stern and over-protective uncle, Abbot Cellach, forbids him to leave the monastery and venture out into the dangerous world. But Brendan has a calling, a need to complete an unfinished illustrated manuscript, the Book of Iona. So off he goes into a magical forest to collect to collect gall nuts to make special ink for new pages. With the help of a forest spirit, he overcomes many obstacles to finally reach his goal.The narrative itself is convoluted and in need of more concise storytelling with many transitions between scenes seemingly abrupt and too episodic. But the visual artistry on display is stunning. Directed by Tomm Moore, The Secret of Kells pays full homage to its source. (The Book of Kells is a Latin illuminated book based on the four Gospels of the New Testament that was created by monks during Medieval times. The actual book remains on display at Trinity College in Dublin.) The animators use the hand-drawn decorative motifs combined with traditional Christian iconography and create an imaginative and highly stylized work of art. The backgrounds are flat fields of color with vibrant patterns of ornate swirls and geometric Celtic designs. The film is remarkable in its visual beauty. With painstaking details, many of the film's images resemble the illuminated manuscript in comparison. Far from the average animated film from major studios, The Secret of Kells is demand viewing for any serious animation aficionadoVisit my blog at: www.dearmoviegoer.comANY COMMENTS: Please contact me at: jadepietro@rcn.com