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Rating: 4.5 stars

All movies seen on 02/09/2005

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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

Directed by Andrew Adamson

Fantasy

Most recently watched by lordofthemovies, seanCduregger, GMOM65, sleestakk

Overview

Siblings Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter step through a magical wardrobe and find the land of Narnia. There, they discover a charming, once peaceful kingdom that has been plunged into eternal winter by the evil White Witch, Jadis. Aided by the wise and magnificent lion, Aslan, the children lead Narnia into a spectacular, climactic battle to be free of the Witch’s glacial powers forever.

Rated PG | Length 143 minutes

Actors

Georgie Henley | Skandar Keynes | William Moseley | Anna Popplewell | Tilda Swinton | James McAvoy | Jim Broadbent | Kiran Shah | James Cosmo | Judy McIntosh | Elizabeth Hawthorne | Patrick Kake | Shane Rangi | Brandon Cook | Cassie Cook | Morris Lupton | Shelly Edwards | Susan Haldane | Margaret Bremner | Jaxin Hall | Terry Murdoch | Katrina Browne | Lee Tuson | Elizabeth Kirkscey | Felicity Hamill | Kate O'Rourke | Sonya Hitchcock | Lucy Tanner | Tiggy Mathias | Gregory Cooper | Richard King | Russell Pickering | Ben Barrington | Charles Williams | Vanessa Cater | Allison Sarofim | Alina Phelan | Stephen Ure | Sam La Hood | Ajay Ratilal Navi | Bhoja 'BK' Kannada | Zakiuddin Mohd. Farooque | M. Ramaswami | Praphaphorn 'Fon' Chansantor | Nikhom Nusungnern | Doungdieo Savangvong | Rachael Henley | Mark Wells | Noah Huntley | Sophie Winkleman | Liam Neeson | Ray Winstone | Dawn French | Rupert Everett | Cameron Rhodes | Philip Steuer | Jim May | Sim Evan-Jones | Douglas Gresham | Michael Madsen

Viewing History (seen 1 time)

Viewing Notes

This review originally appeared on Mediasharx.com. As of the last snapshot on August 16, 2006 it had received 374 views.

On Saturday, I stepped through a wardrobe and I was impressed by the magical world of Narnia.

Several years ago, I heard while reporting the news for ZENtertainment that Walden Books had purchased the rights to The Chronicles of Narnia and, to be honest, I was a bit worried. Walden was a fairly new production company at the time, if I remember, and thus, unproven. I was worried that this young buck of a company would destroy the sacred texts of my youth. My worries were apparently unfounded.

If you’re unaware of the series, TCON was a series of seven books written by C.S. Lewis. The series began with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in 1950, although there is a prequel, The Magician’s Nephew. This movie is, of course, based on the first novel. It follows the four Pevensie children: the sickeningly sweet Lucy, stubborn Edmund, the heroic Peter and motherly Susan. The four children were sent to live with Professor Kirke after being evacuated from London after the Nazi bombing raids during Word War II. While playing hide n’ seek, Lucy discovers a magical wardrobe that takes the children to the parallel dimension of Narnia. Here, magical creatures such as gryphons, centaurs and talking beavers abound; humans do not exist.

A fawn, Mr. Tumnus (played wonderfully by James McAvoy), figures out that the four children are actually the Two Sons of Adam and Two Daughters of Eve, four human children that are prophesied to bring an end to the eternal winter brought on by Jadis, the White Witch and current dictator of Narnia. After Edmund betrays the other Pevensies and is kidnapped by Jadis, the other three set out to rescue him and destroy the White Witch with the aid of the lion Aslan (and real ruler of Narnia) and his army.

The heirs to Lewis were and are vehemently opposed to the books being adapted to the silver screen for fear that they would be destroyed. They have good reason. After all, many books were hacked to death when translated for the silver screen. However, this film has more in common with Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings adaptations than other adaptations. The film is well acted, and above all, presents a realistic magical world which rarely gives a hint that most of these characters were built on a computer.

Director Andrew Adamson, new to live-action films, has assembled a solid cast, full of Actors and not super stars who couldn’t act their way out of a wardrobe if their lives depended on it. Jim Broadbent (The Professor), James McAvoy and all of the vocal actors, especially Liam Neeson as Aslan, convince you that they are their characters. Broadbent actually fulfilled the vision I’ve always had of C.S. Lewis the man. Adamson also assembled a young core of actors that not only exude the innocence that the Pevensie children should have, but they actually look like family. Above all, though, stands Tilda Swinton (Constantine) as Jadis. She is the White Witch, in both look and demeanor.

There are changes between the film and the book, and perhaps that’s what the Lewis family and the purists fear. For instance, the opening scene to the movie is only hinted at in the book and Lucy is made into a perfect child. The most noticeable change, however, is the emphasis on the final battle between the forces of Aslan and The White Witch. In the book, it is mentioned, but not described in detail. In the film, it encompasses the last 30 minutes. While some will contend this is a betrayal of Lewis’ vision for his original target audience of children, I say that it is wholly necessary, especially in the expectations created in this post LOTR-film world. The novel works in its original portrayal, but to build up to the destruction of Jadis in the film and not give a spectacular payoff would be to essentially remove the climax and all of the events leading up to it.

You may be blissfully unaware, but The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is a parable of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for mankind. The Lewis family should be proud, as that parable, as well as that of the theme of the bond between family members, is intact. Just like the novels, the Christian themes are not overt, and in your face. Thankfully this is not Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ with magical creatures; it is simply a wonderful fantasy of love and sacrifice and of good and evil.

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