Visually spectacular

Rating: 10/10 (8 December 2005)

I have just returned from the midnight session of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe". I read the books in 1991, so I could remember there being some wardrobe, and a lion or something, so wasn't sure how I'd find it. But turns out the memory is a great thing, and seeing, say, the lamppost, would instantly bring back the memories of the story. There will surely be many comparisons made between it and Lord of the Rings, and it's a shame that it comes out in the same week as King Kong, because it is a visually spectacular film with a compelling story that they've kept true to from the books, but is being overshadowed by the massive publicity surrounding the great ape. The animals created in the movie are incredible, especially the wolves, and while it is certainly more of a family-oriented movie than the LOTR movies, there were so many scenes where I wish I could have freeze-framed and just looked at all that was there - every scene was so detailed. Don't miss this one, plus you get to play spot-the-New-Zealand-landscape again :)