This movie is INCREDIBLE, yet it doesn't get half the recognition it deserves. Kung Fu Panda isn't NEARLY as good as this movie, yet it gets so much more love and appreciation.
Rise of the Guardians should've been nominated and won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature instead of that mediocre, goddamn Brave.
I agree, it's one of my favorite movies period. Yet I don't know anyone who knows of it or remembers it! Such a shame, it's brilliant. The message it gives is beautiful and important too. Wish it was recognized for how good it is. You're right it should have won a ton of awards.
shareKung Fu Panda has its own charm and engagement, so I don't see either KFP or RotG as 'better' than the other.
To your topic, I really can't figure out why this film didn't do very well. I first watched it on my laptop and even with the small screen and limited speakers, it was still very impressive. The day it came out on DVD was the day I had my wisdom teeth removed, so I convinced you mom to get it for me and watched it at least four times while I rested up (probably zoned out during bits of it but the animation seemed more gorgeous during that time).
The animation was so detailed and remarkably done that I'm sure the 3-D showing was well worth it, I love the soundtrack (Alone in the World, Tooth Collection, and Jack Betrays being my favorite sections), the characters were unique and creatively designed, Jack's journey had me hooked throughout the whole movie, there were nice moments of suspense and levity, and there were really great messages layered through the whole movie.
I can't really speculate why it's not highly remembered since I didn't really follow movies like I do now. Maybe the name got people thinking of "Guardians: The Owls of Galoree" (?) and didn't attract their attention (I actually have friends who confuse both those two and "Guardians of the Galaxy" sometimes). The Avengers came out that year, so maybe people found the idea of a team up movie a bit of a rip off? Wreck-It-Ralph was released earlier in November, is a Disney film, captured the nostalgia of arcade games that combined with a modern set up, and stuck around enough for Thanksgiving crowds to go see it again (I assume?).
Plus, DreamWorks' marketing is not the best. The little I remember of its advertising, it seemed very Christmas-y so assumptions were probably made about it possibly being a dime a dozen holiday movies (ironic in a way since the movie's setting is during Easter xD). I can't say the fairytale aspect was a turnoff since that's a cornerstone of Disney, so yeah, marketing is a likely culprit.
Could also be some people didn't find the story engaging. Since I love that part of the film, I really can't figure out why people would find it a turnoff. "Different strokes for different folks" I guess.
I really wish this movie was more well liked though. I loved the world they created and wish we could explore more of it. The animation is so beautiful that this film should have at least been nominated over some of the other choices. Brave has a decent story but when comparing Merida to Jack Frost in both personality and design, she ain't got nothing (save that she's Pixar and 'a strong, don't need a man, I'm so independent!' caricature (sorry if I'm overly harsh on her, but her character annoys me)) over Jack Frost. I haven't see the other movies in the nomination besides Brave and WiR, but RotG should have been included.
What's probably helping RotG is a very engaged fan base (though I wish the "false-Snow Queen" and Rot"B"TD were not included in this grace) and Joyce's book series that helps expand on some of its lore. The books and movies were meant to be separate worlds, but people like me do enjoy connecting obscene references and the like just for fun. My dream is that DreamWorks might one day want to take another shot at RotG, and I hope there will be enough old and new fans that will support the movie.
Agreed so hard on the marketing, I think Dreamworks just shot itself in the foot with it.
I remember it emphasizing the barely-in-the-actual-movie elves, and being annoyed because they were clearly trying to copy the minions.
Hopefully now that DreamWorks has been sold to Universal, there'll be some sort of followup like a TV series or a sequel. Fingers crossed.
shareToo long to read, jb.
shareI think it was probably just bad timing.
I don't agree though. I think Brave is one the best movies ever made.
Although my wife is Scottish. So I'm probably biased
I think it was probably just bad timing.
I don't agree though. I think Brave is one the best movies ever made.
Although my wife is Scottish. So I'm probably biased
For me this is a 9/10 movie. It may be that it is a bit too novel and inventively clever in this area of myth-loving movies to be appreciated by some.
shareFirst, the title. It's so generic and doesn't tell anything about the movie. What are guardians? Why are they rising? Why should I care? Compare to Kungfu Panda. It's a panda. That does kungfu. It's crystal clear, and more importantly, it's interesting. Also, there were already an animated movie called Legend of the Guardians: Owls of Ga'Hoole just 2 years prior (which was also a terrible title in my opinion.)
Second, character designs. As with the title, they look generic. And not only generic, they look like fake Santa, fake Easter Rabbit, etc. Jack Frost's design is so uninspired I thought he was just a random kid in a scene that's not important to the movie. Tooth Fairy is just creepy looking in a weird way. The big bad villain looks like bootleg Hades from Disney's Hercules. And I don't even know what that gold dust dream maker guy is supposed to be.
This movie is way better than it has any right to be, given the twee subject matter and dreadful title, but that doesn't mean it's all-time awesome great.
It's just a good family film, surprisingly good, but it's not a hidden classic. Still, I recommend it to anyone who needs to shut up some kids, or just enjoy an undemanding good movie.