Narnia, for who?

Rating: 5/10 (23 December 2005)

The special effects were great. The talking animals were the most real I've ever seen on the screen. Their facial features were fluid even when they talked--without being "over-animated." By far the best role in the movie was the White Witch (Swinton was a near perfect match for Jadis).
HOWEVER
WHAT audience is this movie for?! Certainly not for children due situations like the uncannily LOTR-like "orks" fighting on behalf of the White Witch. Anyone with a child under the age of nine or ten could not possible watch this movie comfortably as a result of the child's burying his or her head into their lap or asking to leave because its "so scary." Those "orks" are pretty damn scary and considering that 3/4 of the theater I was sitting in was filled with families of this nature got to be really annoying. Should they know better? How can they not?! We have come to be a slightly leery of Disney productions due to its more mature pieces such as Pirates of the Caribbean and what not and so that was not the issue. The issue is when McDonalds starts making happy meal toys out of it. Promotions such as these are what makes little kids come see the movie and get the crap scared out of them. However, once again, WHO were these people supposed to market for? There is no blood, the fight scenes exist but they are cheesed up so as not to scare a younger audience. This detracts from any sort of realistic experience of Narnia that a reader and rather avid fan of the book such as myself would hope to achieve through seeing this movie. Obviously it is exclusively for readers of Lewis' actual Chronicals. Anyone who has not read the book has no idea what they are in for and essentially sits through a movie of the little rascals meets LOTR and wind in the willows. Granted, anyone who knows Lewis' Christian motives understands that the events and characters all have deep and heavy symbolism attached to them. However, even for fans of the books,there were too many loose ends not covered in the film. A prime example is when Aslan is "sacrificed" on the stone altar. Obviously a crucifixion reference. However, he just gets up and changes the rules without there being the slightest hint or reference that there were so many intricate "rules" of Narnia that could be changed or reinterpreted to begin with. There were some glossings over but no one, especially as an outsider to the book would really know what was going on.
As I said before the best part in the entire movie was done by the White Witch. The children themselves were not marketable in acting skills or in looks. Bravo on the voice of Aslan, Liam Neeson was a perfect choice. The set, of course, was beautiful and the costumes were superb as well. I loved the faun. McAvoy was perfect for the role. I do not recommend going to the theater to see this movie. At best, I can see myself one day showing it to by ten year old when he or she is sick in bed with the flu and slightly too delirious off of Nyquil to piece all of the film together anyhow. That is quite possibly the only audience who could gain full satisfaction from this work.