Rise of the Guardians – Triple Play (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy Blu Ray – Chris Pine, Hugh Jackman

DreamWorks computer-animated family adventure film based on the book series by William Joyce. When the nightmare king Pitch (voiced by Jude Law) launches his evil plan to engulf the whole world in darkness, the Guardians – Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin), the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher), the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman) and the Sandman – enlist the help of a young and reluctant Jack Frost (Chris Pine) to stop Pitch in his tracks and protect children everywhere. But with the powers of the Guardians waning, will they be able to convince the world’s children of their existence and overcome the power of Pitch?

Based on William Joyce’s the Guardians of Childhood book series, Rise of the Guardians is a gorgeously animated film about Boogeyman Pitch Black’s attempts to spread darkness and fear throughout the world and the guardians’ attempts to foil him. Charged with the duty of watching over the children of the world, guardians Sandman, North, Tooth, and E. Aster Bunnymund are loved by children everywhere. When the Man in the Moon appoints Jack Frost to be the newest guardian, the other guardians doubt that Jack can be of much help against Pitch, especially considering that the children don’t even believe in Jack Frost’s existence. But when Pitch prevents Tooth from collecting the children’s teeth, keeps E. Aster Bunnymund from hiding eggs on Easter, and turns the children’s happy dreams into nightmares, the guardians realise that they’re going to need all the help they can get. The children stop believing in the guardians one by one, and the question that remains is what can one fun-loving, somewhat immature boy with the power to freeze everything he touches possibly do to counteract the fear and darkness enveloping the world? The animation effects are excellent in this film–especially the images of frost and ice spreading across ponds and windowpanes. The characters are interestingly quirky, the action is constant and well paced, and the considerable voice talent includes Alec Baldwin, Chris Pine, Jude Law, Isla Fisher, and Hugh Jackman. A familiarity with the books aids deeper understanding of characters like North and Sandman, but viewers unfamiliar with the books will have no problem enjoying this film. (Ages 7 and older) –Tami Horiuchi