Even when it almost takes itself too seriously to be fun, it still is an enjoyable experience

Rating: 7/10 (12 December 2005)

Andrew Adamson, who gave us animated gems such as Shrek and Shrek 2, directs his first movie involving real actors with mixed results. The first entry in C. S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia is certainly a good movie to watch, but somehow lacks the magic of movies that stay with you after the film is over.
It's not easy to adapt a famous book, but in that aspect Adamson and his team of scriptwriters manage to stay faithful to the novel although still the story has suffered a few minor changes. The plot is simple, four siblings travel to a magical world using an old wardrobe, they will have to free the land of Narnia from the eternal winter that Jadis, the White Witch has sent.
The acting is good for the most part; experienced actress Tilda Swinton dwells more into mainstream movies and give her usual great performance as the White Witch, giving power to a character that is always diminished by the majestic Aslan, who clearly is the star. Liam Neeson does a good job as his voice, giving him dignity, but at the same time it focuses in the messianic side of the character.
This would not be a bad thing if it not were by the fact that Adamson focuses more in those aspects of the story, leaving poor development for the children and the adventure aspect of it. Too much time is given to how great Aslan is, that there is few time to explore that sense of adventure every kid has in it.
The movie takes itself too serious as an epic to a point that it almost forgets is aimed for the fun of younger audiences. It feels as if they were trying to make the story a new "Lord of the Rings" epic when the story doesn't go that way. Fortunately, this never gets too serious to become a problem and the movie still manages to be entertaining.
The film is not a masterpiece, but it can be entertaining for younger audiences. Do not believe the hype, it's not a perfect movie, just go to the theaters with an open mind, and don't expect any more than entertainment. 7/10