Breaking the Spell...

Rating: 10/10 (9 December 2007)

So usually I'm a book purist, especially when I read the book before I see the movie. I almost always prefer the book over the film version. However, I loved LWW quite as much as the novel. This may not be such a huge feat as this book was never my favorite of the series. I'll reserve my harshest criticism for The Horse and His Boy or Magician's Nephew, providing we make it that far. I even adored the old BBC version, furry-baked-potato beavers and all. Its sad how laughably that version had aged.
Anyways, to the movie! It was lovely in every way. I must sadly admit that even my imagination did not do the stories as much justice. The scenery was gorgeous and the costumes were lovely.
As far as the casting went- I was tremendously pleased. Lucy has massive potential to come off as an annoying twerp, but thankfully Georgie was not at all grating. I liked Skandar very much- almost too much. I always imagined him extremely sallow. I heard many complaints about the kids being cast too old, but I always think people are younger than they are, so it didn't bother me. Hands down, though, my favorite character was James Macavoy as Mr. Tumnus. He was simply adorable! The animals have vastly improved from the puppets of olden days. Things look so real. I often wonder if in 10 years they will no longer look as real, since I'm sure people thought the same thing about effects made 10 years ago.
As far as the storyline- I really had no problems with anything- except one scene. The melting of the river icecapades. And that wasn't even because it deviated from the book. It simply bordered on cheesy. The whole time the movie felt like a fairytale, but for a few minutes it just seemed like a sequence of Indiana Jones was slapped in. Very jarring. And I always wonder why nobody's faces were extremely red or tinged with blue and why there was never any steam coming from them- something I'd expect from an ice bath. I hate when something in a movie takes me out of the story and makes me focus on the anomaly.
So overall, it was really really good. Possibly more moving than the book. I really will have to read it again to be sure. I am dying to see the sequel and hopefully the series!