Bilal: A New Breed of Hero

Overall, the message is an inspiring one, of racial and class equality, spiritual freedom, and discovering the power that lies within.

The intentions are honorable, for sure, but the execution is awkward, not just visually but tonally.

Just who is "Bilal" for?

Where Bilal exceeds in animation and direction, it lacks in entertaining, cohesive story, possibly owing to either the directors' desire to remain accurate to Muslim texts or the huge span of time they are trying to cover in a single movie.

Suffers from a confusing narrative and a style of computer animation that blurs the lines between the real and the animated in a way that evokes the discomfiting artifice of "The Polar Express."

"Bilal: A Brand New Breed of Hero" took forever to get here, and probably will be missed by the masses. It deserved a better fate.

While "Bilal" is a noble effort, and quite involving if you sit back and drink in the visuals, there's a good story here that should have been told better.

Stirring, mythic hero's journey with rare Islamic hero and great voice cast. Too violent for little kiddies. But fine for older ones.

Bilal: A New Breed of Hero is a lush, impressive animated film, from an unlikely corner of the world, about a story not likely known to most Western audiences.

Bilal achieves a vibrantly noble tone even when it stumbles plot-wise.

For all of the impressive animation renderings of environmental backgrounds, structures, clothing and such, the characters don't appear real. (Full Content Review for Parents - Violence, etc. - also Available)

We don't get many animated adventures with Islamic heroes and historical Arabian settings, and while it may be too intense for younger kids, the film merits note for bringing these elements to Western family audiences.