Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010)

“Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole” is one of the best-looking animated tales I have ever seen: Golden hues of sunlight abound, and our owl heroes and villains at the center of this fantasy adventure are computer-animated with such jaw-dropping precision that the details of feathers and the glint of eyes make one stare with childish glee. But “Legend” is a wash, a gorgeous body with an empty soul. The story is based on a series of books, so far be it for me to proclaim this a rip-off of “Star Wars” and “Chronicles of Narnia,” but I’ll do it anyway, as our tale follows two brother owls (Jim Sturgess and Ryan Kwanten on voices) who fall into the clutches of an evil owl queen, with one sibling summiting to her will, and the other escaping to join a heroic rebel alliance. Bonus Lucas points: There’s a wise old warrior owl and an evil metal-masked owl. They duel. For all of director Zack Snyder’s (“300”) visual delights, I was constantly trying to sort out which owl was which, especially during a climatic aerial fight that left me squawking “Hoo?” “Hoo?” “Who!?!” Thankfully not out loud. C+

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” is No. 3 in the seven-book series by Christian writer C.S. Lewis. I only read Book 1, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” So, I shall not judge Mr. Lewis. I do know “Prince Caspian” was cinema dullness except for a cameo by Tilda Swinton, who rocked the first film as the temptress White Witch. She returns here for mere seconds as menacing smoke. (Also absent: Every actor of any merit.) “Treader” gives us the same plot as before at half-pace as two of the four Pevensie siblings (Georgie Henley and Skandar Kynes) are again zapped from war-torn England to Narnia for swashbuckling action on an old ship. The youngsters’ mission here involves a mysterious island and a smoke monster absolutely not meant to invoke “LOST,” but rather sin itself. “Dawn” smartly plays at the young audience Lewis was going after. It’s goofy fun and better than the recent “Harry Potter” dose of moodiness. Lessons of morality abound. There is a “Ghostbusters” reference so hilarious, it can’t be unintentional. B

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" takes everything that was good about the first installment and loses the magic to a plodding script and uninteresting characters.

"The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" stood out with a compelling story, action and actors (the marvelous Tilda Swinton made the evil White Witch someone you'd gladly follow, even onto death, and James McAvoy and Jim Broadbent provided great support). You didn't care that the four leading child heroes (Georgie Henley, Skander Keynes, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell) were just OK actors. They were supposed to be overwhelmed by the strange world around them.

This sequel has the child actors at a semi-better pace, but they have no real support either in cast or script. Swinton has a fleeting cameo that is the film's highlight, but she's gone in a literal flash. Instead we get three ho-hum, unknown actors playing a trio of power hungry villains -- they seek to crush all Narnians and kill the titular hero -- so one-note and interchangeable, I won't even bother looking up any names. Only Peter Dinklage ("Death at a Funeral") makes impact as a Narnian.

"The Lion..." made you feel a magical world was at stake as the White Witch took control of one of the hero boys and the Christ-like lion (voiced by Liam Neeson) sacrificed himself. Nothing comes close here. Oh, there's more action here and better visual effects, but no soul and no drive. God makes a cameo, by the way. There's a third film on the way, let's hope it's better. C