Pretty, but something lacking

Rating: 5/10 (14 December 2005)

My fiancé and I saw Narnia on opening weekend. Visibly, I thought it was a beautiful film. But something was missing in the plot-- it seemed too superficial and rushed to me. Granted, I haven't read the book in twenty years, so it's possible that the children would become instant friends with a lion they'd never met. Or perhaps it's just my adult mind looking at a childhood story where it doesn't seem plausible anymore. Plus, the "main characters" (being the children) didn't seem important as leads at all. They were just sort of... there.
Tilda Swinton was wonderful as the White Witch. She has such a unique beauty about her that can go from elegant to fierce evil with just a change of expression. She sold me.
I could see it being a fun movie to take the elementary age group children. But as adults, it was just okay and won't be on my DVD purchase list.
There's something lacking in this movie... and I just can't figure out what it was...