Faithful and Inspiring Fantasy Which Brings Out the Kid in All of Us

Rating: 10/10 (29 December 2005)

C.S.Lewis died the same day John F. Kennedy was shot, which partly explains why his passing went unnoticed. Known to the academic world as a literary critic and to the religious world as a defender of traditional Christianity, Lewis nonetheless deserves a high rank among literature's great story tellers. Countless children have thrilled to the story of Lucy and Peter and their siblings discovering the magical land of Narnia where it is "always winter and never Christmas" by passing through a musty wardrobe while visiting a remote English castle. Now that tale has been cast on the big screen, and what a production it is!
The graphics work especially well with the live action stars because any evidence of animation adds to the dream quality of the story. The battle scenes are simply breath-taking and the pending attack by wolves frightening even for adults. This is not a movie for preschoolers but one which ought to be required viewing for every teenager with any interest in literature or the Christian faith.
This movie works on so many levels that it is difficult to highlight its successes. The child actors are exceptional and the make-up for imaginary creatures leaves viewers as believers. The scenery from New Zealand, and Czech Republic, and Guatemala, and Los Angeles (oh, I forgot Poland!) suggest someone had a lot of fun tracking down film locations.
References to the Blitz and Turkish Delight bring a charming English quality to the film, but it transcends all nationalities. The only reservation one might have is the blending of myth and history in the modern day miracle play (Saint Nicholas is real, as are unicorns and fauns and satyrs, which may raise doubts about the symbolic lion or the reality of the White Witch in real life) yet this is a story about human nature. Edmund is Everyman who blunders his way into betraying an innocent friend of his sister for the sake of sweets. We see innocent and credulous Lucy, the "daughter of Eve" in all of us, who hardly doubts for a minute the reality of what her child like faith has revealed to her.
Don't miss this show for gorilla!