Narnia - Very Good, Could It Be Better?

Rating: 7/10 (12 December 2005)

First, the overall rating of the movie is good to very good. Narnia is true to the original story and well done. The production values are good and so is the acting. So there aren't any clinkers to trip up the audience as the story progresses. I do recommend it. I want to make this clear up front before I begin to criticize it since most of my disappointment stems from expectations. I don't expect others to have the same expectations that I had for the film.
However, Narnia has been on the horizon for some time, as has been the new Harry Potter film, Goblet of Fire. The difference is that with Potter I already knew what to expect  super design and production values, good to very good acting, and somewhat trying adolescent themes :^). With Narnia there was the hope that it might be entertainment of epic proportion. After all, the story lends itself to that end. It didn't seem to me to achieve that goal.
In the inevitable comparison between the Potter film and Narnia, Narnia comes up short. While there are equally stunning scenes in both films, the impact of Narnia is less. It is in the wonderment department that Narnia falls down. Watching the film, one has the thought that director is no Peter Jackson. The action flows, all the elements are there but the magnitude of the impact is not as great. The casting is good and I have no complaint there. The director has a good eye for faces and uses it in his film.
I was going to say originally that the film did not have enough inspiration or creativity in it. But upon additional thought it was clear that there is much to admire in the film. A lot of the sets, costumes, and makeup designs are superb. The integration of computer graphics and actors is well nigh seamless. Any inspiration that is missing seems to come in framing the shots or the storyline. In fact, if it was possible to have Jackson re-cut the film, he might make it twice as good. All the elements are there after all. It just seems to progress from event to event in a way that sometimes makes the story plod a bit.
It will be interesting to see if Narnia does well and, if it does, where Disney will go with the series. One thing about the Potter franchise is that the films have been consistently good - something that moviegoers know happens but rarely.
There is the issue of whether the film is suitable for children. Although the gore is not excessive, there are lots of battle scenes. And the makeup/design of the monsters is quite good, certainly good enough to scare young children. I am guessing 8 and up would probably be fine. Anyone younger and the violence or monsters could be a bit much or the quiet parts may make them fidget rather than stare properly. Children vary, of course, but I saw one Dad with his 3-year-old there. This film is just too much for a child of that age.
All of this commentary is from the perspective of someone who has read the books. I know the significance of Aslan to the series and the import of the allegories. I find I can't guess the reactions of people who are not familiar with the series and it will be intriguing to read some of those reviews.