Rise of the Guardians (A.K.A. The Best Animated Film I've Seen In A Long Time)

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.

Jadie Attempts to Do a Review: Lothaire by Kresley Cole

I finished this book a few days ago but because of work I am only now able to write about it. I’ve been following Kresley Cole’s work on the Immortals After Dark series since my early college days and with every mention of the titular character, Lothaire, I grew more and more curious of him and I often wondered when Cole would write his story. For those who know me well enough you’ll be able to picture my absolute joy when I finally got my hands on a copy.

It took me a while to get to reading it. I was previously engaged in reading George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones, so Lothaire was stuck in my reading list limbo. When I did manage to start reading it, I found it really hard to put it down and loathe anything that would keep from reading. But of course I had other things to accomplish so I had to squeeze reading breaks in between work and responsibilities at home.

The book tells the story of the Enemy of Old, Lothaire. A master at manipulation and deceit, Lothaire has been seeking revenge against those who have wronged him, plotting to take over the Horde and the Daci (two factions of vampires within the series). He seems to have found the key to realizing his vendetta in Saroya, vampire goddess and his Bride, but with one dilemma – Ellie Pierce, Saroya’s mortal host.

In reading the series, I’ve wondered who Lothaire’s fated Bride would be. I’ve guessed that it would be a number of female characters mentioned in the series but the conundrum that was Ellie and Saroya was actually more than I expected.

I like Ellie. Her nerves of steel and her strong-headedness made her a character to admire. I liked that she never backed down from Lothaire and that even if she had so much to take in with the new world of immortals she was thrust into, she kept an open mind and held her own. Even in the face of death, she was determined not to go down without a fight. She took the fact that people underestimated her and made it into her advantage which kept Lothaire reeling and I think that’s what made Lothaire fall for her despite his blindness to the truth of his Bride and despite his need for revenge.

Lothaire is a ruthless male but I liked how the book showed more than that. He was a vampire who, as a boy, was forced to bear the demise of his mother while unable to do anything to save her. He has been forsaken by his father and betrayed many times. In order to become more powerful and exact his revenge, he willingly spiraled downward to the gaping mouth of insanity. It was enlightening to finally know what made Lothaire tick and why he does what he does.

Let’s talk about Nix now. First of all, I was really excited to read about the valkyrie’s relationship with Lothaire. It was truly unexpected but I adored it. The book was particularly illuminating on how big a role Nix and her soothsaying plays in the grand scheme of the series. As I had done with Lothaire, I am just clamoring for even a sliver of detail as to who Nix will end up with. When will her book come out and will it be soon, Kresley Cole? Until then I will be waiting with bated breath.

This book is by far Cole’s more sensual (sexual) work. Love scenes depicted were on the really steamy side which I thought was appropriate for a character like Lothaire. It would only make sense that sex with this vampire would be raw and animalistic with some (a lot) of biting.

I’m very interested in reading more about Lothaire’s relatives, the Dacians, and what role he and Ellie will play in their stories. I know that one book from the Dacian’s spin-off series has already come out but I haven’t managed to get a hold of a copy. This one called Shadow’s Claim and it’s the story of Trehan Daciano and I will be remedying my lack of the book soon enough. 

This has been a Sunday post brought to you by The Purple Madhouse.