Review of Skellig (2009) by John D — 22 Jan 2011

A well written movie with a great cast and production qualities for its budget. Skellig is a kind and intellegent character demoralised and "ossifying" when two bright and somewhat socially isolate children discover him and coax him back to health and good spirits over the course of the movie. The origins of the character Skellig are left ambiguous; he is never confirmed as being a product of evolution, an alien or an angel. Audiences can read into Skellig as they like, interpreting him as a demoralized Christian angel, a misunderstood fallen angel, a pagan spirit of nature forgotten, a product of lost magic or an even an extremely unlikely product of evolution here or extraterrestrial. The "Owl Man" is not the best title they might have come up with as at no time is Skellig refered to as an "Owl Man" and he has no especially Owl-like qualities beyond two wings.

The two youthful main characters are inspiring and model admirable intellectualism and values. Their relationship is loving but platonic as it ought to be at their age; no American porn culture or sexualisation of child here thankfully.

All up an interesting and entertaining movie, although perhaps a bit slow for kids craving action, violence and profanity ;D.