A beautiful rush of emotions and fantasy!

Rating: 9/10 (9 December 2005)

I just went to see the midnight showing, and first off, let me say, it did my heart so good to see it *jam packed* full of college students! In fact, the only people there were college students, or people of equal age. =) I remember hearing critics and fans say that marketing young people, specifically males between the ages of 15-25, would be difficult . Never fear! The atmosphere was electric with whoops and hollers and clapping and open crying (yes, a lot of it on my part as well!). So there we go! I have to say that the acting was superb! I had no trouble buying into the characters. In fact, I didn't see them as anything but characters! I didn't have to think, Oh, this is Tilda Swinton from Constantine, or this is an unknown actor playing Peter. I just looked at them as The White Witch, Peter, Tumnus...etc. They all flowed wonderfully together. I even wound up forgetting that Liam Neeson was Aslan's voice. It just turned into Aslan. The special effects were amazing. I was looking at them to study at first, but finally just gave up, and was able to accept it all as real. The only shots I didn't do this with were the shots from a distance, and the animals looked animated. The fox wasn't nearly as well done as the others, but it still looked top of the line, though not photorealistic. The other shot was a blue screen of the children on the stone bridge looking out, it looked fake, but it was a quick shot, and pretty much the only blue screen shot that was visibly fake. Out of a CGI intense film, that is amazing I think. The cinematography and score were beautiful, breathtaking and awe inspiring. I couldn't have been more pleased! It all went together seamlessly. For a little gushing now....okay, yes I bawled and bawled. =) When Lucy first entered the wardrobe, when she met Tumnus, the Stone Table (ohmy!), and the battle. I just couldn't help myself. And hearing the beautiful Aslan roar was amazing. The cinema was literally shaking! Fans, to forewarn you, not everything is in there. Yes, I do agree, hands down, that this is an extremely faithful adaptation. And I don't think they could have done better. However, as an extreme Narnia fans since the age of 6 (I'm 21 now), I was a bit saddened that certain parts aren't in there.
~**Spoiler**~
There is no romp with Aslan after He comes back to life. I must say this saddened me most of all. That is the one and only scene I was truly longing for, and alas, it is absent. But, because of the battle going on at the time, I understand it. Also, I wish they would have said the infamous line, "Safe? Course He isn't safe, but He is good." Although they do make a nice try at it between Tumnus and Lucy at the end. And they do not explain to the children that Aslan is a Lion. Wish they could have done that. However these are tiny little pieces, and although important and very special to me, like I said before, I can understand it.
Overall....SUPERB! I am so very happy! The job was brilliantly done. I am hoping for an extended edition DVD, because indeed it did feel a bit rushed, which I must say surprised me. The scenes seemed a bit short, not quite as in depth, but everything was done beautifully....and the gushing of emotion, the clapping and the happy, light and beautiful storytelling is put forth in a beautiful film that I believe will become a classic. I am very well pleased indeed!!!!!