Rise of the Guardians

Remember how important your childhood heroes were? The animated fantasy movie Rise of the Guardians, based on the book series The Guardians of Childhood written by William Joyce, was released on November 21, 2012. Directed by Peter Ramsey, it takes place both 3 centuries ago and the present day, so likely the early 1700s and 2012. Starring Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, and Hugh Jackman, it is rated PG.

Since Jack Frost, the winter spirit of fun, came into being 3 centuries ago with no memory of his past life, he’s been lost, unable to be seen by humans because no one believes in him. In the present day, the Guardians, made up of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and the Sandman, are gathered together in their never-ending goal of protecting children to stop Pitch Black, the Boogeyman. They learn that Jack Frost has been chosen to be a new Guardian. Jack is not too happy about this, both because he dislikes being held back by rules and because he has some bitterness because they have been believed in while he hasn’t. As they start to work together, they bond, trying to stop Pitch while Jack still tries to learn about his past. Can Jack stop Pitch and find out who he really is?

This is a movie I enjoyed watching as a child and it still holds up for me as an adult. The story has an interesting concept as, similar to how The Nightmare Before Christmas combined Halloween and Christmas, this movie combines Christmas and Easter, along with teeth and dreams. I decided to review this now, as Easter is coming soon. They do tie in the two holidays together plenty, as there is a lot of time spent at the North Pole, while it takes place around Easter. The movie also reminds us how important these people were in helping us through our childhoods. And each of the characters are given a unique design compared to other portrayals, like Jack resembling more of a normal teenager for example. Pitch provides some of the scarier parts of the movie to add an ominous feel, but it is well balanced out by how pleasant and innocent the movie generally is. They also take more of a superhero route with the characters, making them more epic than they’re usually portrayed in a way that still fits with who they are. It is also an example of great worldbuilding, as they add little touches to what we already know about these people to reveal more about them. I do have one problem with an overused cliche that’s thrown in the plot at one point, but even then it isn’t the worst example of it I’ve seen. It is a fascinating plot.

The characters and the actors who play them are well done. I do like that this movie has an all-star celebrity cast that works together well. They weren’t just hired because they’re famous. Jack Frost is voiced by Chris Pine, who brings a sense of mischievous fun to the role. Unlike most portrayals of Jack Frost where he is a sinister threat, this Jack is clearly a good guy. There is also depth from his emotional need to be believed in and figure out who he is. Santa Claus is voiced by Alec Baldwin, who is a perfect mix of both jolly and a fighter. He is clearly the nicest one on the team, always sharing his enthusiastic spirit, even when he fights which he clearly enjoys doing. The Easter Bunny is voiced by Hugh Jackman, who shows off his trademark gruffness to the role. He is the jerk on the team, as he constantly squares off with Jack, but he’s also just as good as the others are and is just as dedicated to protecting children. The Tooth Fairy is voiced by Isla Fisher, who adds a motherly charm to the character. She does embody the caring nature of the Guardians and also adds some humor with her odd fixations on teeth. The Sandman is voiced by no one as he’s mute, but the animation nevertheless does a phenomenal job conveying his emotions. He is a gentle soul who still is not one to be messed with. Pitch Black is voiced by Jude Law, who demonstrates a creepy villain that is still sympathetically portrayed. He is literally the stuff made of nightmares and is an effective threat for the Guardians to go up against. The characters and cast of this movie are memorable.

Overall, this is a classic film from DreamWorks Animation. It ties different heroes for children together, even some holidays, to make a movie that reminds us why our childhoods were so wonderful. This almost feels like a full on movie version of those meeting scenes from the second and third Santa Clause movies. If you have not seen it, I recommend checking it out. Maybe this Easter or wait until Christmas, either one works.

This movie shows off how magical childhood can really be, with Jack Frost shown helping the children to have fun, even if they can’t see him. The truth is, fun and unstructured play are very important for children. Research has actually shown that fun and play are instrumental to a child’s development and can really help them. Unfortunately, that is not where the focus has been. For years, you’ve heard that playtime has to be sacrificed so children can focus on what they really need to in school. This includes the ongoing debate on whether recess should be removed. The truth is that children are actually being hurt more this way. Of course, it’s important for children to learn things and start to do hard work so they can prepare for that later in life. However, what many fail to realize is that children will likely do better in school when they’re allowed to have fun. That’s what being a child is all about, you can work more when you’re older. Not to mention the lack of fun certain parents force onto their children by overscheduling their days. Not every child goes through this, but it’s still a problem. I say we can do something about this. You can talk about it with others to raise awareness so people talk about it more. You can try to have things put in place that will increase fun for children by attending local school board meetings, which is a form of peaceful protest. If you are a parent with children, encourage fun and play for them. We can make even more magical childhoods if we show how much we care.