â??Rise of the Guardiansâ?? too dark for holiday fare

There are too many distractions in Rise of the Guardians to make this a holiday treat for the whole family. It's too dark and intense for young viewers and even a few older moviegoers.

The film, based on The Guardians of Childhood books by William Joyce, reveals that North (Alec Baldwin), better known as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman), The Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher) and the Sandman (no voice actor; he never speaks) have a bigger calling than just providing gifts, eggs, quarters and sweet dreams. They've been charged by the Man in the Moon with the task of watching over all the children of the world.

They need help when Pitch (Jude Law) – better known as the Bogeyman – shows up to bring misery to children everywhere. The impetuous Jack Frost (Chris Pine) is recruited to fight the evil darkness that's trying to turn children into non-believers.

Director Peter Ramsey created a film with two distinct halves.

Parts of the movie are light and funny. Then there are the efforts of Pitch to ruin some of the major things that make childhood bearable. Each foreboding moment – from death to despair – drags the movie further away from the holiday spirit. The film is beautifully shot but fails to find the right story tone to fit the gorgeous look.