Hello Group,


I would recommend the movie: "Legends of the Guardians" a high-quality, mutli-species Owl movie. A basic good and evil on wings plot with really beautiful bird images. For many outside the birding and research world, this may be the first that many people, including kids (who watch most animated movies many, many times) realize that there are many species of owl- Not just the dopey, fast asleep with swivel head image of a Great Horned seen in so many Hollywood features. They are seen side-by-side which will help some get size and color pattern perspective. I have not heard how successful the movie has been - but they may be "flying off the shelves" as an older kids movie, enjoyed by adults for Christmas.


See the movie trailer: http :// legendoftheguardians . warnerbros .com/ dvd /




Although many species are characters in this movie, Barn Owls are key characters. Actually, Barn owls are key players in two movies recently released on DVD- the other is based upon a apparently true story of a Psychologist in Nome who treated several patients who claimed "close encounters of the fourth kind: alien abduction". This is no ET movie and may be scary to some. But, the image of the Barn owl plays a key, recurring theme in the movie. It was recently on HBO.


I would enjoy hearing thoughts and reactions to the movie. Also if your kids saw it- what did they think?


And just think, we will have "the Big Year" competitive birding, comedy movie, with Steve Martin, J. Black and, I think, A. Houston, coming out this fall. Quite a year for birds.


Best regards,
Dan Reiff