INCOMING WORDBARF: Rise of the Guardians

So I went to watch Rise of the Guardians legit!

Now, I wanted to do a normal movie review, but after watching the entire movie, I feel as if what I felt emotionally from it overshadows it's quality.

Let me put it this way, I think Rise of the Guardians is an okay movie. Nothing spectacular, although the animation is GORGEOUS. The story is very good but a bit kiddish at times, though that's probably the center, seeing as this is, through and through, a kids film. I'd say it's a good film, not a great one.

But what struck me most about the film is how much it reminded me of what I believed in.

Now, don't get me wrong, I never grew up with these tales of Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and what not (hell I never heard of Jack Frost because it DOESN'T SNOW HERE! DX). My parents never though it was a good idea for me to grow up with such things. The only thing they've made me believe in was God.

In Rise of the Guardians, The Moon is sort of the 'God' here _{In the name of The Moon, the Guardians will kick your ass!}. Now obviously, this is rather silly at first sight, and I know The Moon is merely God's creation. But it was pretty close! The fact that it never gave Jack his answers, rather it told Jack what he has been called to do, letting him find the answers ourselves.

Isn't God like that? He could never give us the answers straight. How would we be able to comprehend them? Even if we could, in our stubbornness, would we believe him? We probably wouldn't. Children, though they have a strong sense of belief, don't have the knowledge. Adults, though they are knowledgeable, lose most of the faith they had as children.

And yet, children still invented these make belief tales to preserve their faith. What do I mean? Well, Sandman is happy dreams, Jack is fun, but what about the other Guardians?

Nicholas St. North (Santa Claus). His Center is Wonder. Nothing says wonder than opening gifts on Christmas Day and discovering what a wonderful present you have. Of course, I know a LOT of ya are gonna argue than presents aren't everything and that the true meaning of Christmas has been warped thanks to this guy, but is that really true? The original meaning of Christmas was the birth of Jesus Christ, wasn't it? Am I not right in saying he was the greatest Christmas gift of all? What wonder can surpass the wonder of seeing him?

Toothiana (Tooth Fairy). Her Center is Memories. Or rather, Nostalgia. She says to Jack that the teeth are precious to them because they contain the memories of all the children. If you're like me, one who hasn't believed in a Tooth Fairy, you've probably kept the tooth somewhere else. Or if you do, you cherish the nickle you get back in return. Years later, when you pick up that tooth or that nickle, don't you remember that day with a smile?

E .Aster Bunnymund (Easter Bunny, but booo, that's a lame pun). His Center is Hope. Now you'd wonder why, seeing as all children care about are the Chocolate eggs. But they have to find the eggs first, right? And what are eggs but the beginning of a new life? Not to mention, what if you find your egg empty? Does that mean there's no hope of a gift? Not at all. Again, I direct you to the original meaning of Easter: celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Like that REALLY dickish move Pitch did in the movie, he crushed all the eggs, all our hope, whilst we were distracted by fear. But then, suddenly, they returned. Jesus, our only hope, appeared to have died, but in fact, he rose once more. His tomb is empty. There's no more death, no more tears. And when you find that out, the only thing you can feel is absolute joy at your hope being restored.

Speaking of Pitch, the Darkest Hour of the movie really showed just how murky our lives can become. I'd like to question the logic behind Jamie being the ONLY child left who believes, but it's not ENTIRELY far-fetched. We've all been where he has been, hot and passionate for all these tales, then suddenly getting smacked in the face by 'reality'. The reality of life being jaded, cold, and dark. Suddenly, you're an adult, dragged down by the expectations, laws and rules of life. No longer are you a child where you made up your own rules.

And yet, Jamie didn't let go of his faith. Jack Frost happened! He rekindled his faith in the Guardians through something as simple as his snow creations. We need a 'Jack Frost' in our lives too. Someone who reminds us of the Wonder, the Nostalgia, the Dreams, the Fun and the Hope we had as a child. We all need a Jack Frost to remind us of this.

And you know exactly who that is for me.

Though, have you noticed how QUICKLY the children lost their faith? It may appear selfish and rather high on expectations of the Guardians...but haven't we done the same? We've depended on someone so much, that the SECOND they disappear, our hopes go down the drain.

In the case of the movie, it's because of fear. Fear of never being able to experience all that happiness again. And sometimes, we are so caught up in this fear, we forget there is a single light that never extinguishes, that can chase away all of the darkness if we just believed.

I'm looking RIGHT AT YOU, Seth! Though our RP on that was fun, I stand by my statement.

But point made. I know for certain that when I'm afraid, I forget Jesus is there, right next to me, and all I have to do is believe in him.

And now I'm going back to center of it all. Jack, for most of the movie, raged over how much he wasn't believed in, but also how he was uncertain as to why all this happened. He wasn't just afraid, but cold and bitter (no pun intended) that nothing seemed to make sense. He demanded answers, but got a job, and in his stubbornness, like all of us, nearly rejected it. And yet, through what seemed like painful experiences, he got his answers. And those answers rekindled his faith. Suddenly, his destiny as a Guardian made sense.

Nothing is made clear to us. Our paths and duties often make little sense. People try to guide us, help us, comfort us, but we never get answers because they are like us, uncertain of their purpose. In the end, only one person knows. He hates seeing you cold and bitter, but he wants you to learn. Yet, in the end, he gives you the answers. They are right there.

I sure have mentioned God and Jesus a lot haven't I? That's because we were his creation. There is God's essence in everything. In your Wonders, In your Nostalgia, In your Dreams, In your Fun, In your Hope. Even though your life may seem broken and murky from the laws of reality as you grow up, he can return you to having that faith you had as a child again.

All you have to do is believe.







I guess this means I'm not a Jack Frost fangirl anymore seeing as he's not much of a hug magnet anymore!

Yeah that was fast