OK, but that's all.

Rating: 6/10 (2 January 2006)

Narnia is a OK movie and it will entertain children from ages of about 10-15.
However what must be remembered is CS Lewis was a good friend of Tolkien, the man whose books were recreated masterfully by Peter Jackson. One gets the nagging feeling that Lewis wanted a different interpretation than the syrupy tripe that Disney manages to offer.
Firstly, the two eldest children are not even endearing for 2/3 of the movie and it makes the idea of empathy and being brought along this world with them all the more difficult. The character development is thin, with the idea of Peter suddenly becoming the hero that he is, isn't really explored.
Secondly there is the idea of casting. Tilda Swinton doesn't seem all there as the White Witch and doesn't seem as menacing or masterful as Voldermort, nor as drunk with power as Saruman, and it is somewhat difficult to see how she got the power in the first place. However, the animals are good and Jim Broadbent though underused, is good as the Professor.
Finally there is the Americanised tripe that Disney seemed to plow in just to please. This comes in the form of Santa Claus, who turns up to give the children presents ( in the form of weapons ). There are more scenes like this one and it truly takes away from what could have been a great film, but instead seems to trip over itself.
This is no Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, and nor should it have been seen as such, but while these two movie franchises had intricate plots, great casts and memorable dialogue as well as Spectacular, but not OTT effects Narnia drowns the audience in syrup and it only half comes off as it at the expense of characters and plot. A shame , as this could have so much more...