Like being ten years old again

Rating: 8/10 (10 December 2005)

Wonderful way to spend an evening! I had my doubts going into the cinema (the early trailers reminded me more of a Series of Unfortunate Events than Narnia) but any fears I had proved unfounded. Although not a flawless work, it is an extremely well-crafted, entertaining one. The film opens amidst the London Blitz of WWII, which results in the Pevensie children (Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy) being evacuated to the countryside for safety (there's a compelling moment at the London station as Peter gazes at a soldier who's only a couple of years older than he is) where of course, the whole story kicks into high gear.
The early scenes, though necessary, are a touch slow (apart from one literally explosive bombing raid at the start) and are used mainly to serve as our introduction to the children. However, once the wardrobe is discovered, the magic moments come thick and fast - particular favourites are Lucy's first visit and meeting with Mr. Tumnus the faun, the appearance of Father Christmas, the charming Beavers, the whole waterfall sequence, and of course Aslan (a triumph of CGI - I swear you'll be dying to stroke him) and the climactic battle at the end of the story.
There are some genuinely dark moments amidst all this, balanced out by some wonderful humour from the talking animals. The negative aspects are few and far between - the ending felt a bit rushed, and the characterisation of the children was a bit overdone; half-way through the film you'll probably feel like saying "yes, Peter doubts himself but is ultimately a hero, Susan's the bossy one, Edmund the sulky one, we get it already!" But these are minor gripes when the entire spectacle can produce the wide-eyed wonder you'd thought you'd left behind with childhood - particular acting kudos goes to a deliciously malicious Tilda Swinton as Jadis the White Witch, Liam Neeson as Aslan, and Georgie Henley who makes a wonderfully appealing, brave Lucy. A wonderful Christmas treat for kids and grown-ups who still tap the back of the wardrobe ... just in case.