fabulous (seen it six times)

Rating: 10/10 (27 December 2005)

I couldn't believe my eyes. Since when does a 42-year-old see a movie like this six times--twice in one day? The whole thing is outstanding. The only piece I could do without was the Santa Claus figure (I guess "Father Christmas," since it's British through-and-through except for Oreius the centaur)--it was just too smarmy. Then again, they certainly needed the not-so-peaceable "gifts" he provided. But everything else was wonderful. And never mind Georgie Henley--for my money, Skandar Keynes can out-act anyone three times his age. I predict four Oscars: male lead (Keynes), music, costumes, and effects. Also, I was just a tad disappointed that Aslan just came back to life with little or no attempt at explanation other than "Had the witch truly understood the meaning of sacrifice she might have interpreted the deep magic differently." I did not once get the idea that the witch was an imbecile! And she CERTAINLY could handle swords--who the heck trained her? Two at once against a guy with a shield?? Oh, and her chariot pulled by two polar bears was a cute touch . . . Several viewings later, it just keeps getting better and better. I can't imagine how some people find it "boring" when it's so chock-full of thrilling chases and hairbreadth escapes. Make sure you see it with an evening crowd so that they'll laugh heartily at the wisecracking of the Cockney beaver and the interplay between Maugrim and the fox ("Greetings, gents: lost something, have we?" "Don't patronize me; I know where your allegiance lies. We're looking for some humans," and so forth). I didn't even mind the obvious inconsistencies, e.g., the witch slaps Edmund on the right cheek but he develops a black eye on the _left_ side of his face. But I'm sure you can find Web sites offering far more "inconsistencies" than this obvious one, if that's how people choose to devote their energies.