Outstanding - on a visual level

Rating: 7/10 (10 December 2005)

If you feel uncomfortable at a (very) thinly veiled Christian message then don't see this film or if you do, be prepared to give it a chance. It's standard good overcomes evil fare but lifted by some superb acting. I went determined to leave any cynical preconceptions behind and simply to enjoy it for what it was - a good adventure story. I read the book as a child (9) and loved it, returned to it at 25 and felt put off by what seemed to be the worst sort of mealy-mouthed Christianity. The film hasn't changed my overall impression of the story as a Christian allegory likely to annoy the hell (no pun intended)out of anyone with atheist tendencies. As a confirmed agnostic, several bits did make me cringe inwardly, but I was able to enjoy it as a superb piece of film, rather than anything with a Message. If this is the first of a series, I await the sequels with interest.