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Shelley Bewick

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Movie review: Rise of the Guardians

Journal Entry: Thu Apr 4, 2013, 1:36 PM

Hi all

I did a movie review via Tumblr but I've had a few issues so posting it here too. I can't stress enough about the SPOILER ALERT so please don't read if you have seen the movie.

Movie Review: Rise of the Guardians. SPOILER ALERT

So I decided on a whim to do a movie review for Rise of the Guardians. NOTE: SPOILER ALERT!!!

Ok so I've been itching to see this film for AGES! I've avoided all art related images etc in an attempt not to spoil the storyline for myself.

The first thing I'll say is that I haven't read any of William Joyce's books but I do intend to sort that.

I have to say I did enjoy it as a stand alone movie. I love all the characters and the interactions they have between each other,. I'm quite bias when it comes to animations. There's not many animations I don't like and if I don't like them (as far as I'm concerned) there is often a very good reason for it. Even though I enjoy animations, I have a strange ability to pick them to bits but I can still enjoy them as much as any child would.

There are a few part of this film that I find quite bizarre. Please be aware I'm picking parts that stick out for me. You may or may not agree with these thoughts.

To start with the length of the film is the average 90 minutes but I found that, for me the finale seem to come and go in a blink of an eye. It seemed too quick.

Pitch goes from running in the town area to running across the lake. The very lake that appears during the majority of the film at a substantial distance from the town. Jack has to fly there…….how does Pitch run there so fast?? Also Pitch apparently has spend a long time perfecting his nightmares. Clearly he hasn't done enough. For me he wasn't the epic villain I was expecting him to be. He was very good to start with, well designed and Jude Law as his voice actor made for a very good character but by the end I didn't see where I hoped he would go. Yes the villain shouldn't win but normally there is an epic battle, which tends to give the viewer goose bumps (personally speaking). For example, the huge dragon that Hiccup and Toothless have to face at the end of How To Train you Dragon only appears for (guessing) about 20 minutes and that gives you a "will they? won't they?" moment. I'm afraid the ending for RotG didn't have that effect for me. Not to say it wasn't good but I was hoping for more. Especially after the build up of the Big Four and Jack's attempt to find his place and the loss of Sandman etc.

Despite that I like the idea that its the children who save the day. For all their powers, if the guardians are not believed in, then they are helpless. Its a nice concept for younger audiences. Its like clapping your hands and believing in fairies. It empowers the children in thinking (and believing) that they are the heroes.

The comedy part between the characters are brilliantly timed. A Russian Santa and an Aussie bunny is just asking for a laugh. They are very unique depictions of our favourite legends. Pitch Black makes for a scary villain visually but like I said he didn't have that "WOW" factor. And finally to Jack Frost. I'm sure I'm going to upset a lot of serious fans out there but here I go.

I do love the character of Jack Frost. The amount of emotions this character goes through is evident. My favourite scene has to be when he is finally seen by Jamie. The expression was perfectly beautiful. It was joy, excitement and relief all in one. I like how it could have been emotional but it was kept as 2 boys being typical boys. The fact he's been seen for the first time in 300 years is quickly pushed aside to make way for: "And do you remember when you were on your sled the other day? That was you? That was me! Cool!!"

The annoying thing I find about Jack's story is that he can't remember his past. Now this for me is too cliché but never mind that. The fact that it isn't explained why is more frustrating. Tooth makes a point saying that they were all someone before they were chosen. Therefore implying they all know who they are. Why shouldn't Jack? Is it because of his death in the lake? Who knows? Then he gets his memories back and realises why he was in the lake and remembers saving his sister. However, after seeing these memories he looks to the Moon saying "That's why you chose me?" in realisation …….Eh what?! Clearly I missed something. I'm not embarrassed to tell you that I watched that section again just in case I missed some vital information. I didn't. The only conclusion I've had to come to is that in making the fear of falling into the lake into a game and saving his sister in the process, he was deemed worthy to be a higher being while finding that "Fun" is his centre. I have to say the fact that the Man in the Moon didn't speak frustrated me more then I think it did Jack.

The final part I will mention is the soundtrack. Some of the music is perfect and fits very well but there is nothing in this film that grabs me. If I can use How to train you dragon again, the scene between Hiccup and Toothless know as Forbidden Friendship was a song that hit me the moment I heard it. It was ideal for that scene. Now Alexandre Desplat has composed music for film such as Twilight and both Death Hallow parts of Harry Potter. I listened to the music for these films and found they seem to gel better with the visuals for those films then the music does for RotG. The soundtrack isn't bad but for me there is not immediate connection between film and soundtrack that you find in other films.

Even after all of these parts I still thoroughly enjoyed the film. I can still watch it as an animation and like all the other fans I'll probably contribute to the masses of fanart that has been collecting on the net, The story itself is a wonderful story and the visuals are the usual amazing standard from DreamWorks and I'd like to hope there is another. I think because the characters are so unique and well portrayed, the focus is more on the general storyline and less on the finer details only noticed by us sad few.

I hope you've enjoyed reading this. I'd love any feedback or comments about either the movie or the review

Thanks

Anyway, have fun all