Magickal

Rating: 9/10 (24 February 2006)

This review is for the THEATRICAL VERSION.
I must say the beginning of this endeavor brought the Lemony Snicket series immediately to mind. I do realize, of course, that the SoUE was written much later than the CoN; however, the casting choices for the parts of the children is more to what I refer. Naturally, there are four children here in the LW&W, where in SoUE there were three, but I think anyone could see the similarities quite easily. Indeed, in the opening moments of LW&W, I more than half expected to hear Jude Law's voice smoothing through the speakers to caution us that this would not be a happy tale.
Many reviewers have (at this point) been quick to extol the striking similarities between the LW&W and the LotR, while others were more keen to demonstrate each detail of Christian symbolism Lewis found appropriately necessary to insert throughout his works, so I won't bore you with loads of those details. I have to point out a few, but that's only because the story is built around Christian myth and Tolkien's stolen ideas (reportedly alleged by Tolkien himself, not by this reviewer).
I will, instead, attempt a different route and see where it leads us.
*The introduction to our principal characters was an emotional one, setting up a small bit of character development, allowing you to "know" them as well as a few minutes' insight into their lives will allow.
*Edmond is the petulant one, Pete(r) is the responsible "daddy-like" older brother.
*Susan is "just trying to be smart," and Lucy's duty to the cast is to be adorable; a task which she performs beautifully.
The comparison to the Baudelaire children is astounding.
*Susan is darker haired, pouty-lipped, wannabe braniac very much like Violet. The physical and characterizational similarities are astounding.
*Both Edmond and Pete(r) serve to give us Klaus.
*The two characters combine to constitute the depth of character given us by Liam Aiken which says a great deal about the quality of his acting abilities.
*And Lucy takes the place of the cutesy-kins, Sunny. Of course, Lucy is a bit older and therefore offers us a tad bit more than cute expressions, meaningless gurgles, and "offered meanings" to her indiscriminate noises.
*Their lives begin with startling parallel to the Baudelaires, in that their parents are absent from their lives, and they are sent to live with strangers.
From there, the only resemblance to the cinematic SoUE work is the personalities of the characters, themselves. There are striking similarities between Count Olaf and the White Witch (portrayed brilliantly by Tilda Swinton who also was more than adequate in her role as the Archangel Gabriel in Constantine).
As far as the Tolkien references/rip-offs/similarities, there are simply too many to detail, but to name a few...
* the entrance to Mr. Tumnus's lair looks remarkably similar to the entrance to Bagg's End
* the archetypal fiend was the "White Witch," whereas the LotR bears Saruman the White
* beloved Gandalf sacrifices himself to save his friends, namely Frodo and dies at the hand of Magick used darkly and is "reborn" even more powerful because he was not dark, himself...just as Aslan dies at the hands of those who use Magick darkly, and is reborn through the means of a Magickal sacred stone altar which will crack and negate a sacrifice made erroneously (Aslan gave his life in Edmond's stead so Aslan was not the traitor, but was sacrificed as one which activated the spell on the sacred stone.).
* the battle scene build-up was very reminiscent of the larger, more involved Lord of the Rings battle at Helm's Deep, but not nearly as well done
* the gryphons served the part of the Elves in that they were airborne in their assault...shredding beaks and rending talons rather than archer's arrows, but in the air none the less
* ents
* the maps were extremely Tolkien
* Aslan returns from the grave like Gandalf, and for the same reason (the Laws of Magick)
* the traveling party all received gifts from Santa Claus (also known as King of Elves)
* right after Mr. Tumnus is released, the shot of the troupes marching across the rock bridge atop the mountains looked like it was straight out of LotR! Call it "homage" if you will, but to Me, that was blatant...
Now, I realize these Tolkien similarities (and there are more...many more) also involve the filming, direction, casting choices, location choices, DoP's choice of angles, etc. rather than what Tolkien and/or Lewis has written, hence My hesitation to sit here and go over any more of them. Those listed above are among the most obvious and blatant examples. There are more, to be sure.
All in all, I found this movie more Pagan through its use of Nature and Sympathetic Magicks than Christian. Aslan did rise from the dead, but due to a Law of High Magick, rather than "divine intervention," thereby negating the Christian undertones completely.
Honestly? I loved it. It was wonderful. It was the children's version of the Lord of the Rings saga.
The CGI was decent, but Aslan was not as well done as he should have been, considering the staggering budget this movie was awarded, and the name "Disney." I always expect the very best from Disney. I am often disappointed. The CGI in no way failed. It just was not what it should have been.
This one nearly lived up to its potential. It should have been epically filmed. At any rate, I found "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" to be highly entertaining, heart-warming, and endearing.
It rates an 8.5/10.