Solid children's fantasy epic

Rating: 7/10 (1 April 2006)

This major theatrical adaptation by Disney of THE LION, THE WITCH and THE WARDROBE is not only faithful to the book, but an entertaining adventure film in its own right. It stands right up there with LORD OF THE RINGS and the HARRY POTTER films. Four siblings are shipped off during wartime to a distant relative in the country, and quickly discover a wardrobe that opens onto an alternate world, called Narnia, populated by talking animals and mythical creatures like griffins, centaurs and mermaids. The ruler of Narnia, a wise and compassionate lion named Aslan and voiced by Liam Neeson, is being challenged by the evil White Witch, played by veteran British actress Tilda Swinton, who may be a new face to many viewers here. After various adventures involving a helpful faun, fox and beaver family, a pack of extremely vicious wolves and Old St. Nick himself, the children join Aslan's army and do battle with the witch and her gruesome minions. The final battle may remind you of the final battle in LORD, but keep in mind LION was written before LORD. The actors playing the children are adorable and believable as siblings, the actors voicing the animals are for the most part OK, the special effects are seamless, and the music works 90 percent of the time. My only real complaint is the night scenes were much too dark, to the point I literally could not see what was going on in some scenes. I wonder what the director could have been thinking. Anyhow, see LION. This big-budget version (there are two previous TV adaptations and a wonderful cartoon) would not exist if it were not for HARRY POTTER, but LION is head and shoulders above the Potter films.