I liked it.

Rating: 8/10 (2 July 2006)

I liked the acting in this movie, and I liked the action, and I liked the story.
Never having read CS Lewis, I was able to enjoy this movie for what was actually in it, not what it "should have been".
I knocked two points off: 1/2 point for Deus Ex Machina and 1/2 point for the Christian undertones, which, as in daily life, if Christians would just keep their hate and nonsense to themselves, I'd never even know they existed. I also took 1 point off because the story... lacked a certain sense.
I dug Jadis, but I didn't understand exactly what she was doing as Queen of Narnia. The entire Queen of Narnia bit makes no sense any way you hash it. Aslan was the quasi-founder godhead of Narnia. I've read in numerous places that Aslan was "all powerful". How does an all-powerful entity allow itself to be killed? Why does an all-powerful entity not deal with lesser powerful entities that want to muck up it's creation. If Aslan could have killed Jadis at any time, why didn't he? If he couldn't have, how did he at the end? That's something that I dislike about these messianic children's stories; they make NO sense whatsoever.
So, I made up a kind of backstory that if it was accurate, would make the story make sense to me. Then I got into the movie.
On to Deus Ex Machina. "Oh, and btw, it turns out that that pot-metal sword you found in the garbage is really the Silver Sword of Narnia Ruling +5 against White Witches". "Oh, by the way 007, This note is to inform you that there was a late addition to your utility belt. Conveniently placed anti laser of death remote control which will also cause the shark tank door to open exactly when the bad guy is over it" The time to explain some magical effect which causes death to turn backwards and completely ruin the badguy's plans is not after it's happened. "Oh, girls, you, like the white witch, didn't know this; but, if you kill an innocent on the stone table with a dirk instead of a butcher knife after 11:37pm but before 3:12 am, after cutting off all it's hair, you automatically turn death backwards." Obviously CS Lewis was a lawyer working in product liability.
And last but not least, on to the whole Jesus risen nonsense. If it hadnt been touted as a "Christian" Story, I never would have noticed.
All in all, good music, good fight scenes, pretty young actors and a fairly good time for all. Except kids and Xtians.