As a fan of this movie and someone who has read the book series, the Guardians of Childhood, Iโd give this prequel? sequel? Reboot? a 3/5. While the world-building, character interactions and premise was well done, I donโt think it really set up the characters well enough to ask for a sequel. Look, the character designs and dynamics are great, but it also needed a good story that grows the characters. Rise of the Guardians is about restoring the belief of children by defeating the villain of Pitch Black (the Booeyman). Do they accomplish their goal? Yes, but it didnโt feel like the plot was moving to the next chapter of events that grew the characters. It felt more like they were just fighting Pitch, and fighting him and fighting him. Even when (SPOILERS) died, the Guardians just..kinda..let it go. They were sad, but it didnโt feel like they were emotionally affected by this, which would had led them to begin their revenge or something. I understand what Dreamworks was trying to do by starting the movie off where it was, but it didnโt add up when watching it. I mean, even they wanted a sequel for this movie.
Personally, the studio should have stared us off by getting to know the Guardians. I mean, COMPLETELY. Not just them on a mission to defeat Pitch, that couldโve come in time. It should have begun with showing us the internal struggle of each character. Maybe each film would be a sort of deep analysis of the characters with a gripping story. At the end, they all come together to defeat Pitch, the cause of all of their problems. I donโt know!
So, yeah 3/5. Visually stunning movie with great characters dynamics, just not a gripping story that really leaves you wanting more, besides Jack Frost.