Santa and co. battle a villain in 'Rise of the Guardians': movie review
William Joyce’s popular children’s book series “The Guardians of Childhood” is the basis of the 3-D animated “Rise of the Guardians,” which manages to work in not only Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin), called North here, but Bunny (Hugh Jackman), Tooth (Isla Fisher), Sandy (voiceless), and Jack Frost (Chris Pine). This child’s menagerie of gift-givers – a pipsqueak version of the Avengers – are all battling the hideous Pitch (Jude Law). The conceit has its charms but too much of this movie, directed by Peter Ramsey, is more clamorous than inspired, and little kids might find parts of it too scarily intense. Grade: C+ (Rated PG for thematic elements and some mildly scary action.)
