The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

*** Stars

Note: In this review, you may not understand certain plot points and comparisons if you haven't seen The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

There is still life left in this Lord of the Rings Jr. series. However, what that life consists of is certainly debatable. Is Disney still afraid to go for PG-13 even after something like Pirates of the Caribbean? I guess so. The Chronicle of Narnia: Prince Caspian is a rousing spectacle, but like its predecessor, it still manages to fall shy of greatness.

Like my prediction for this film, Prince Caspian is awfully similar to other fantasy epics, especially The Two Towers. Not only do both rein the same battle formations, but the story's climax consists of the Narnians using the same strategy that the men of middle earth did during the Battle of Helm's Deep. When Aragorn and the free men are in need, Gandalf comes in the end to save the day. Here, when King Peter and the Narnians need rescue, the lion Aslan appears in almost equal fashions. In fact, the only real differences between these two battles are the settings. Prince Caspian is set during a sunny day where The Two Towers fights in the darkness.

However, you will be surprised to find that everything I said in the last paragraph is actually positive. The Two Towers is part of the greatest trilogy ever assembled. So for me, Prince Caspian is a friendly reminder of that greatness.

During its predecessor (The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe) Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy were swept away into a fantasy world where they triumphed the evil Witch (played by recent Oscar winner Tilda Swinton) and ruled Narnia for decades. After being sent back to reality, the four return one year later to Narnia to help defend what is left of the nearly extinct Narnians. Someone new has joined the rebellion. His name is Prince Caspian.

Caspian is played by new-kid-on-the-block Ben Barnes. He is a charming and rightfully cast teenager whose handsome looks are placed to attract ticket sales. His character has been forced into hiding after his Uncle Miraz looks to fight for the heir to the throne, even if that means killing his own nephew. When Caspian is on the run, he calls for help using Susan's magic horn, which was the signal to the four children to return now 1300 years into the Narnian future. The five must conquer the evil that has poisoned everything throughout the lands. With the help of a dwarf named Trumpkin (an awesome Peter Dinklage), a brave mouse, and other miscellaneous creatures, the battle between good and evil will finally come into play.

Part two of the Narnia series suffers from the disease of repetition. It feels as though Peter and the gang are only coming back to Narnia for the hell of it rather than giving a true stance as to the balance between their mortality in London and their fantasy lives in Narnia. What did they do for that whole year they were gone? I guess they just hung out complaining about homework and train schedules.

Luckily for me, I am a sucker for fantasy epics. When done well, they can be everything a movie should be. Prince Caspian gives us a taste, but always takes the fork away right when we are about to enjoy the entire slice.