Rise of the Guardians. Rated PG (mild fantasy themes and violence). 97 minutes. Directed by Peter Ramsey. Screenplay by David Lindsay-Abaire. Based on The Guardians of Childhood novels by William Joyce.

Verdict: The picture perfect way to launch into the festive season.

If there is a more perfect way to launch the festive season on the big screen, it’s impossible to imagine what it might be. Rise of the Guardians is not only bravura, ground-breaking 3D animation, but also a story for children that refuses to shy away from the grand themes of fear, belonging and the importance of believing in the quintessential goodness in ourselves and each other.

When the Boogieman ‘Pitch’ (voiced by Jude Law) threatens to replace children’s dreams with horrifying nightmares forever, Jack Frost (Chris Pine), Santa (Alec Baldwin), Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher), Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman) and Sandman (an unspoken role) must band together to defeat the evil spirits of fear and darkness once and for all.

Lindsay-Abaire’s (Rabbit Hole, Robots) smart and sophisticated screenplay and debut director Ramsey’s inspired direction, deliver a sharp, relentless and action-packed adventure that takes complete advantage of state-of-the-art 3D technology to bring the Guardians’ special powers to life in visually dazzling wonder.

Patrick Hanenberger makes an impressive debut as Production Designer, with each of the Guardians’ domains realised in often quite breath-taking splendour and attention to very fine detail. Alexandre Desplat’s (Argo, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) rich and evocative orchestral score powers the action sequences beautifully, while Joyce Arrastia’s editing is pitch and pace perfect.

Law is the perfectly malevolent villain, while Jackman’s very Australian (boomerang-throwing) Easter Bunny and Fisher’s fey Tooth Fairy are well-matched to Pine’s recalcitrant Jack Frost and Baldwin’s noble Santa Claus. If the wordless Sandman gets most of the visual joy, then the little Christmas Elves get all of the laughs – and their equally-wordless journeys through the perils of the story are well-worth looking out for amidst the fast and fabulous spectacle.

This review was commissioned by the Geraldton Newspaper Group.