Not bad... we'll call it solid.

Rating: 8/10 (7 December 2005)

Saw the movie at a preview screening, going into it with a little preconceived notions as possible. I'm a student in my early twenties, and like many of my peers, hadn't read the book since my younger years in elementary school.
I will say this, the movie does a remarkable job of keeping as true to the book as possible- i found myself remembering smaller details i had forgotten about the novel originally. Swinton does a spectacular job at bringing the White Witch to life. I believe only small details were omitted (wasn't there a talking rat-warrior character who lost its tail in the original?), but nothing that seems to have dramatically changed the story.
Kids will enjoy this movie, for the most part, as there is little that should go above their heads (the younger ones will be entertained by the young cast and talking animals, while the pre-teen and teen audience will be able appreciate the film for its worth). Adults who enjoyed the Narnia series and movie-fare such as LotR will as well enjoy it.
However, i wasn't astounded. Yes, the battle scene was impressive, but while it triumphs over the LotR battles in variety of warriors, orchestration and execution was done better in the LotR trilogy (for those who will argue that the battle was not one of the main points of the novel, i argue that it was heavily emphasized enough, and well done, but simply not the best out there). There are points where the action and story falls into lulls that are not all that interesting, however true to the book, that leaves the movie feeling less-than-whole. The movie is heavily (though understandably) fueled by special effects that cannot alone the movie through its weaker moments. Add in a very Disney (double) ending treatment, and i firmly say that while this is in no way a bad movie, i wouldn't call it the best.
It's a good movie for the season, and one to see if you're a Narnia fan. Though don't feel you're missing out on anything if you don't catch it at the theaters. Knowing Disney, it'll be on DVD mid-Spring.