The long-awaited fantasy and adventure animation “Rise of the Guardians,” directed by Peter Ramsey, is guaranteed to take audiences on a wild ride of discovery and wonder. The spirited film arrives just in time for the holidays, with an all-star cast of talented actors. With its traditional fairytale characters, including Jack Frost, Santa Claus, and the Tooth Fairy, the film is bound to be a hit with kids of all ages.
Rise of the Guardians” welcomes viewers into the wondrous world of Jack Frost (Chris Pine), a free-spirit who brings winter wherever he visits. With no other responsibilities to speak of, Frost is not a fan of rules or structures, choosing to live life for his own entertainment. While his powers are necessary for spreading the crisp bite of winter, Frost enjoys using them for fun.
While Frost plays out his life of merriment, evil is lurking in the world. As in many children’s films, a cruel presence is waiting to ruin the moment. In “Rise of the Guardians,” this role is played by Pitch (Jude Law), the sinister Nightmare King. Rather than being a welcome visitor, Pitch takes pride in scaring children and snatching the happiness out of their dreams.
Completely oblivious to the atrocities being committed, Frost continues to follow his own bliss until he is kidnapped by Bunnymund (Hugh Jackman), who is also known as the Easter Bunny, and is taken to visit the Guardians, a collection of famed mythical beings responsible for protecting children. This diverse group includes North (Alec Baldwin), Tooth (Isla Fisher), and the Sandman, who are desperate for Frost to join them to stop Pitch’s evil. The Guardians speak firmly about their powerful message of protecting the children from evil. Innocence is of vital importance to them, and smiling faces and joyful laughter are their end goals. Pitch represents a danger unlike any other they’ve seen, threatening their livelihoods and future. When Frost accepts their plea for help, his carefree life of fun and play comes to a screeching halt as he must fight to save the children of the world from Pitch’s clutches.
The makers of the film certainly took advantage of the $145 million budget, creating a film of incredible quality. Viewers will be stunned by the amazing animation work, stepping into a world of lifelike characters and background scenes. The setting is awe-inspiring, with brilliant mountain scenes and a seemingly impossible range of detail. With everything from freakishly realistic facial expressions to emotive glints in the characters’ eyes, this computer-animated flick is bound to gain attention.
More than just a simple family movie, the film dives into some serious subjects with ease. Heavy and dramatic at times, the film is an emotional rollercoaster for viewers. Audiences will feel everything from happy to hopeful as they take a ride along with the movie. Parents and other adults will enjoy the trip back to their days as children, and this unique aspect of the film makes it all the more enjoyable for audiences.
The characters are memorable, with a diverse assortment of hilarious personalities meshing together. From Frost’s typical teenage antics to Bunnymund’s witty quips, the character pool is rife with charisma, and Pitch is perfectly monstrous, clearly taking pleasure in his evil ways. “Rise of the Guardians” may well add to the list of all-time favorite characters for audiences to enjoy.
The impressive cast adds depth to the characters. Chris Pine is delightful as Frost, magically telling the tale of a silly boy becoming a man as he fights for what is right. Not to be outdone, Hugh Jackman is a scene stealer as Bunnymund, using his charm to draw audiences in and leave them grinning ear to ear.
While ostensibly based on “The Guardians of Childhood” book series by William Joyce and “The Man on the Moon” film, “Rise of the Guardians” uniquely combines spellbinding adventure, drama, and comedic elements into a masterpiece of a film that differs from both of these works. The result is truly amazing, resulting in an epic tale of legendary figures fighting to protect the youth of the world. For the must-see magical epic of the year, check out “Rise of the Guardians” when it hits theaters on November 21.
