Friday, December 16, 2005

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe


Directed by: Andrew Adamson

*** Stars


The adaptation of C. S. Lewis's children's masterpiece "The Chronicles of Narnia" is an amazing film to look at, filled with charm and excitement. Many will forgive its early pacing once the true adventure of Narnia begins.

It tells the tale of four siblings, Peter (William Moseley), sister Susan (Anna Popplewell), brother Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy (Georgie Henley) are sent to an old and mysterious house for their safety during WWII.

On a rainy day, the four children decide to play hide and seek. The youngest, Lucy, finds a lonely Wardrobe in an abandoned room. She hides inside it and literally steps into another world. The view and scope of Narnia is Oscar Worthy.

Lucy meets a faun and soon befriends it. When her friend is taken by the evil Witch of Narnia for not reporting that a human has entered the world, Lucy quickly goes back to tell the others. Eventually, Lucy takes all the other children into the world. And by the way, Lucy is played by an adorable Georgie Henley who gives true emotion and skill to her role.

Edmund, one of the children is taken capture by the evil witch. There is a prophecy saying that four humans will come to end the hundred-years winter and bring freedom back to Narnia from the evil witch. He can only be rescued with the help of Aslan the lion (a perfectly cast voice by Liam Neeson). Together, battles will be fought, and death seems inevitable.

The Chronicles of Narnia plays like a Lord of the Rings Jr. It's exciting and scary, yet charming and lovable. It takes some time to get into the excitement, but once it starts, it's hard to resist.

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