What Families Want to See

Rating: 9/10 (11 December 2005)

I saw this film with my family: wife of 25 years, daughter (18) and son (15). We don't generally go out to the theatre as a group, but this was CS Lewis, so we made the exception. All were greatly pleased with the result. This is a wonderful film, wholesome and honest, childlike (rather than childish) and innocent, meant to edify and hearten the young of age as much as the young at heart. To me, this film helps support the contention that there is no need for filmmakers to shy away from this kind of family entertainment and that it can be done with rigor, skill and even artistic subtlety, just so long as the participants put their heart into the effort.
One wants to cheer everyone connected but let it be said that Tilda Swinton does especially well, bringing the White Witch to eerie and unsettling life. One is not surprised by the lengths to which the character will go but Ms. Swinton never reveals more about the character than she needs to and until she needs to.
Some have not been fully pleased by the special effects. I did not trouble myself about them, and found them quite satisfactory with rare exceptions.
See this film, please. You will be happier if you do, which is a nice state to be in this Christmas.