Rise of the Guardians

Rise of the Guardians is a beautifully animated film about identity, imagination and festive charms.

Jack Frost (Chris Pine) is a young and somewhat lost boy, who leads an invisible existence commanding the elements of winter.  When he is chosen to join the prestigious ranks of the Guardians, the iconic characters of legends who protect the children that still believe in them, Frost finds himself unwillingly drawn into conflict with the villainous Pitch (Jude Law), a dark parallel of Frost's own character.

The film is visually captivating, with showers of sparkling ice and snow beautifully captured with stunning detail.  From the frosting on Jack's hoody through to the glittering sand that is used to both construct and shatter dreams, the outstanding level of animation at once heightens escapism and produces a sense of realism.  This level of detail is also carried throughout the landscape, such as the ice covered lakes, swirling northern lights and the Easter Bunny's rainbow burrow, producing a world that is at once highly engaging and enchanting.

The characters are each confronted with a sense of loss, as their identities are threatened by the children's loss of faith.  This perhaps produces a social critique of children within contemporary society who grow up too soon, while inviting the audience to indulge in a blissful state of youthful innocence and imagination.  The supporting cast of highly entertaining confused elves (who don't actually make Santa's presents... they're just left to think that they do), fluttering baby fairies and eager walking eggs facilitate this by constructing a world that is both entertaining and enchanting.  The sophisticated artistry and themes of childhood imagination will therefore produce nostalgia in an adult audience, allowing the film to have resonance for audiences of all ages.

A very enchanting family film, which will evoke the nostalgia of childhood while drawing you into a fantastical festive landscape; perfect for Christmas.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Returning to an iconic landscape of plucky dwarves, silver-haired elves and fiery dragons, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first film in Peter Jackson's promising new trilogy.

The dwarves once possessed a glorious kingdom, Erebor, but when a dragon sets the skies alight with flames and they are brutally attached, the dwarves lose everything.  Years later, in the homely haven of the Shire, an unexpected visit from the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and a band of dwarves suddenly upturns the life of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins (a perfectly cast Martin Freeman).  Together they are thrust on a quest to restore the mountain kingdom to the Dwarf-Prince Thorin (a dark and gleaming Richard Armitage), who refuses to forget or forgive the past inflicted on his people.

Delving into the themes of revenge, courage and choice; the plot introduces a new set of characters within a familiar Middle-earth landscape, producing the perfect fusion of old and new.  Middle-earth is, after all, a potent symbol of a lost and idealised past, that was rich with fantastical possibilities.  Nostalgia therefore plays a powerful role throughout the film, evoked through the signature notes of music, familiar sweeping panoramic shots of stunning landscapes and several notable parallels with the original trilogy's narrative.  The stunningly improved visual effects and immersive 3D entices you to lose yourself in Middle-earth in a way that was not previously possible.  Rivendell, in particular, is divinely beautiful, for the 3D introduces a new and rich depth to the valley of cascading waterfalls and sparkling rivers.  The production design is once again incredible; evoking a medieval landscape that is at once heightened and told through exquisitely fine detail.

Where the film can perhaps be slightly faulted, however, is within the treatment of the narrative's pace.  In many ways, The Hobbit felt like one of the unabridged versions of The Lord of the Rings films, with some scenes lingering on screen far longer than desired.  By constantly dipping into the backstory, the progress of the story feels at times limited, particularly given the film's long running time.  However, the richness that this produces cannot be disputed.  "All good stories deserve embellishment," as Gandalf tells Bilbo.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a prequel rich with a strong cast, stunning visuals, a charming nostalgia and an underlying sense of impending danger; which will leave you curious to see the second part.

The Man in the Scarlet Cloak

The newly released trailer for Man of Steel, starring Henry Cavill and Amy Adams.  In cinemas 14 June 2013.