The Wrong Director, The Wrong Producer

Rating: 6/10 (1 June 2006)

I watched the movie twice, first at a multiplex and next at a economic single screen theatre. May be I didn't notice how good the movie was the first time, but no,I found more faults and wished Peter'King Kong' Jackson had directed the film. Were it were not for the 10 minute war sequence, Narnia would have been one of the major disappointments of 2005. Especiallly when the plan is to bring out six more movies.Irrespective of the box- office collections it garnered, Narnia is below par . Andrew Adamson doesn't get the characterization right. It takes a while for Aslan to appear, and therefore, not much time remains for the character of the king and not a mere jungle lion to encompass the audience. When Aslan and the White Witch go inside a tent for a meeting , there is an awkardness, as we see a Lion and not Aslan. Similar thoughts occur in the war sequence, the children would be believably dead than so unbelievably skilled to fight war. A little bit of practice and they are ready to battle! Unfortunately Disney hasbagged the rights for the movies, as a result there will be no blood where blood should be, and mild violence. The dilemma for the producerswas the question of doing away with the christain influences of the story or retain it. The result is a ambiguous reference to religion. The father Christmas scene is a drag and could have been crisp. It seems a scene out of a TV series. The air - raids, and the following scenes, in the opening sequence, takes up precious time of story teling. It is a while before all the children walk through the wardrobe. When they do, screen time is running out for the other characters to come. The final scenes of the crowning and " Long Live" cries is again awkward, and unintentionally ironic. Although Narnia... like the Harry Potter series, will be popular, but not everlasting cinema. Prince Caspian(2008), the next movie in the sequel, is been directed by Adamson again, hope he realises where he went wrong last time. Of course there is always Shrek.