I first came across this movie as a gifset while I was Tumbling about. Though I wondered what animated film it came from, I was never curious enough to do the research.
I came across another gifset, this one focused on a particular character from the movie. I loved the gifset so much and was inspired to know more about the character to which I turned to Youtube for answers and there I found the trailer for The Rise of the Guardians. A Dreamworks Animation-produced and Peter Ramsey-directed film, this came out late last year in November and toted as a holiday flick for the kids.
I am completely flabbergasted at how this movie hadn't blipped my radar back then. It was totally right up my alley: amazing animation, fantasy-adventure genre, liberally sprinkled with comedy, and brilliant created characters.
The Rise of the Guardians brings together the mythical characters of Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, and Sandman as protectors of children, guarding the wonder, hope, memories, and dreams of every child all over the world. Enter Pitch Black, the Boogeyman, a character so resolute in engulfing the world with darkness and fear and erasing every child's belief in the Guardians. With that oncoming threat, winter spirit Jack Frost was chosen by the Man on the Moon as an unlikely candidate to join the band of Guardians and protect the children.
The Guardians: (L-R) Jack Frost, North, Tooth, Bunnymund, and Sandy.
Now, let's rave.
I tremendously enjoyed the characters and how they were portrayed but I especially liked North (Santa Claus), Bunnymund (Easter Bunny), and Sandy (Sandman) in the film.
North is completely different from any other Santa Claus I'd ever come across in pop culture. From the Russian accent to the tattooed forearms, I just thought that this character was the most badass St. Nick in history. And despite the badassery, North possesses this child-like wonder that helps him see the amazing in everything and that's what he represents and protects as a guardian. Alec Baldwin lends his voice to North and I barely heard any semblance of Baldwin in his voice acting for this role which to me says a lot about the work that was put in for the character.
Bunnymund is not your typical Easter Bunny. Against all stereotypes, he is about 6 foot tall and instead of carrying a basket filled with Easter eggs, he has a boomerang and egg bombs as tools for his trade. Bunnymund is portrayed as such gruff and rugged character yet he creates these utterly wonderful and colorful Easter eggs that play their part in bringing joy and hope to children all over the world. I don't know with anybody else, but giving Bunnymund an Australian accent just fit so well with the character, though I did wonder if Hugh Jackman made the accent a bit more pronounced for the film.
I just adored Sandy. He is the cutest Sandman ever. Though Sandy had no lines in the film as he did not speak, it certainly didn't hinder the character in anyway. I thought it was just darling the way Sandy communicated through images he creates with sand. This character had the prettiest animation effects in the movie; it was so detailed but simple and just so perfect for the character.
Speaking of animation effects, this movie had the best that I had ever seen. The work on Sandy was impeccable but so was the animation in the rest of the film. As I've mentioned before, it was incredibly detailed and there were a lot of nuances that made the effects all the more better, like in how the ice fragments around Jack as he breaks through the frozen lake in the beginning of the movie, how the plumage of the Tooth Fairy changes color when she moves a certain way, the filigree-like details in the frost that Jack creates, and, of course, the golden sand Sandy uses to create dreams. The art in the movie is truly gorgeous to behold. The scenery was incredible especially in Bunnymund's warren with its rainbow vibrancy and North's workshop where these fantastic toys were created by yetis and elves. The creative team behind the film certainly put a lot of work and imagination to it and comes across in such beautifully rendered animation.
Jack creating frost on one of the trees he touched in the beginning of the movie.
As far as the story goes, I definitely related to Jack Frost's inner turmoil with trying to discover who he was and what his purpose on earth is. I think everyone of us is just trying to figure out who we are and, just like Jack, sometimes it takes looking into the past to really know ourselves and how it has shaped who we are now. Jack was chosen to be a Guardian because in his last moments as a human he saved his sister's life and he comes full circle in becoming a Guardian.
With the film, I can honestly say that I have never watched anything like it. I thought the concept was truly original. Bringing together these creatures of myth and translating them to today's audience has never been done and it was such a fresh take on it. It was a superhero movie with a unique twist and though it is generally regarded as a movie for kid's this 22-year-old immensely enjoyed watching it. And I think that's the underlying theme of the film, keep the wonder in everything alive even as you transition into adulthood. Just because you're an adult, it doesn't mean that you have to stop believing and enjoying the things you did as a child.
Watch the movie and see for yourself. It's perfect for marathons during the holiday, or any day for the matter.
