Great Rendition for Children and Adults Alike

Rating: 6/10 (10 December 2005)

Ever since the departure of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy there has been a huge gap left in fantasy cinema since then. Now Disney is obviously trying to fill in the gap with a big screen rendition of CS Lewis' (Tolkien's college friend and fellow fantasy enthusiast) seven-part fantasy saga The Chronicles of Narnia. Though, in my mind, that LotR gap can never be filled, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe does a damn good job at keeping our love of epic fantasy going.
Staying true to the book (with some extra added scenes to explain a little more depth of the story) and using a lot of the books dialogue this is an enjoyable treat for all the family. Though some of the performances are a little wooden, from the actors such as Liam Neeson for example and the kids especially. Even Tilda Swinton, who looked fantastic as Jadis, the White Witch, could have put a bit more malice and venomousness to the role. But this is the films only fault. The final battle is excellent (some bloody deaths could have been added, but that's just me) and the effects are satisfactory (I would have like to have seen some real animals used every now and then).
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a great teat for the whole family leaving a sweet taste for the next installment, the Horse and His Boy. Just look out for some familiar props from Lord of the Rings like the circular sharpening stone, or, if you look carefully, the sword Narsil itself in the hands of a petrified Centaur.