The Diva's review of
The Chronicles of Narnia DVD (2005)

Rated PG; running time of 2 hours and 20 minutes
Genre: Children's Action/Adveture
Written by: Ann Peacock and Andrew Adamson and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, based on the book by C.S. Lewis
Directed by: Andrew Adamson
Cast: Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Liam Neeson (voice)

WARNING - SPOILERS BELOW.

The Digest

As World War II bombs drop and explode around their heads, threatening to destroy their home, the four Pevensie children - Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy (Georgie Henley) flee London to a small town and take up residence with the eccentric Professor Kirke (Jim Broadbent).

The Professor is rarely seen and the children are becoming restless and bored. As such they amuse themselves by playing a game of hide and seek. The youngest Pevensie child, Lucy, takes up hiding among the coats in the Wardrobe closet. As she seeks shelter among the many coats in the back of the closet she creeps backwards futher and further only to discover that the wardrobe opens up and right outside into the snow.

As soon as she makes friends with faun, Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy), she quickly learns that she is another world. One that for the past 100 years has been stuck in winter, but never Christmas. Lucy also learns that this is because the White Witch (Tilda Swinton) has cast a nasty spell on the world of Narnia. Lucy also learns that because she is a human child, or "a daughter of Eve"(as in Adam and Eve) she is in grave danger because the prophecy states that the White Witch will cease to rule when the children of Adam and Eve step foot in Narnia.

Lucy returns to her own world, and tries to tell her siblings about Narnia, but none of them believe her. It is only by chance that they all end up in the closet one day and follow it out the back and see Narnia with their own eyes. Quickly they are told of their fate to save Narnia with the help of the true King, Aslan the Lion (voiced by Liam Neeson). They have the help of two beavers who are tasked with helping the safely find Aslan who is building an Army, now that the humans are there. But, meanwhile, Edmund, who has always been jealous of his older brother, has fallen under the persuasive trickery of the White Witch and has left his siblings.

The children are determined to save the world of Narnia. Even if that means that must face their brother Edmund.

The Dish

I really liked this movie. I took the children with me - ages 2,4, and 6. As anticipated the 2 year old was ready to go after 60 minutes and thought the movie was too loud. The other two liked the movie but couldn't tell me what it was about when asked. They did not make the connection between the movie and the books we've been reading. Speaking of which, I've read several reviews that list The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as the first book, but the series I have this is actually the second book. I'm not sure what to make of that. I felt that the movie was a true to the book as possible, even parts of the book that are ridiculous and thin on plot.

But to me none of that matters. The world of Narnia is an amazing one with talking animals, minotaurs, fauns, Cyclopes, giants, witches, and even Santa Claus. I think it was as real looking as it possibly could be. And most notably, the kids took away the importance of working together and sticking together.

Tilda Swinton captured the White Witch with uncanny accuracy. Even I was a little scared of her. But the stars of the movie were the largely unknown actors who portrayed the children. I could close my eyes and visualize them in the books and as expect Lucy was still my favorite. Also, it has always been stated that the book series is a guide to Christianity. I would agree, because redemption, forgiveness, and rebirth are heavy themes throughout.

If I have a complaint, it's that they should have spent just a little more putting the time in perspective. I knew it was World War II, but sadly not everyone else knew. It caused a fair bit of confusion.

The DVD

DISC SPECS

Meet all the strange creatures that fill Narnia: Minotaurs, unicorns, centaurs, fauns & more Interactive timeline and 3-D map

It took me about 4 days to wrestler the DVD from the hands of my 3 year-old. In fact she is watching it again as I type. Thie is the second time today that she has seen it. She has taken breaks for the essentials - food, sleep and bathroom, and we made her turn it of so we could go swimming and get some fresh air. But she just loves it and there isn't much I can do about the time she spends in front of the television watching it. The fact that it is holding her interest so intently says quite a bit. I haven't shown her the 10 hours worth of extras or I'll never see her again. Speaking of extras- these extras are what I expect from a DVD. The most interesting part for me are the informational parts. The featurettes on how the costumes were made and the background on the mythical creatures.

The Directive

While the younger kids might not really get it, it's still worth seeing and the Christian themes don't hit you over the head so anyone can see it without being too offended.

This is what a DVD should be like. Filled to the brim with extras that are both informative and fun.

Copyright Kamal "The Diva" Larsuel-Ulbricht, 2006
EMAIL: thediva@3blackchicks.com
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