Secret of Kells - Well Kept Secret  
| The Secret of Kells will be unfamiliar in many ways to American audiences. Its visual style is unlike much of what North Americans are used to as is the story structure. That in itself isn't a bad thing, but does the film succeed in doing what it is?
I'm not sure I think it does, completely. There are things that are incredibly impressive about it. The visuals are striking. From an animation only viewpoint, Kells is very impressive. It isn't done in some hyperrealistic CGI form which is the current fashion. It is a stylized 2D, drawn animation. It looks striking but not wholly unique. It will remind viewers of Tartakovsky's work (Samurai Jack). Still, it is not what American audiences are used to seeing on the big screen and that makes it worth while.
Viewers should also appreciate that the narrative style doesn't match what they are used to. Instead of following a more standard story structure, Kells focuses instead on myth making. The tale here is more about paying tribute to the subject of the film than in telling a compelling story. It sort of succeeds here but the lack of an engaging plot hurts the experience.
What I mean here is that it just doesn't grip you. The "plot" part is thin and the film never quite justifies why it is celebrating the Book of Kells, at least not in a way that makes the film work.
So overall, Kells suffers from being somewhat boring. Incredible to see but tiring to watch. Kells also suffers from simplistic moralizing and an uncomfortably xenophobic portrayal of Vikings. The film manages to be over simplistic in its history. This may be a common crime but Kells doesn't save itself by at least trying to reflect modern values of tolerance and cultural ambiguity.
Kells is really just for true animation buffs. I don't think there is something here to reach out to a wider audience. Unless that's your bag, you may want to check out the work of Tartakovsky. You'll get a similar visual experience that is more satisfying.
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