Enormously entertaining...

Rating: 8/10 (10 December 2005)

The long-awaited film version of C.S. Lewis's 'The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' has arrived, and I'm largely impressed. The material has become more nuanced and compelling in it's transition from book to film, the action is very good, and Narnia is perfectly realized. The film, while enormously entertaining, is not perfect.
One of the main problems with the film is the spotty direction of the child actors. Georgie Henley is magnificent as Lucy, and Skandar Keynes brings some depth to Edmund (watch his face harden when he tells the others, "I've seen what the Witch can do."). Peter (William Moseley) and Susan (Anna Popplewell), alas, do not fare as well; they are stiff, awkward, and wooden compared to their siblings. Fortunately, this is only a minor problem.
What I'm really impressed by are the inhabitants of Narnia. Aslan (voiced terrifically by Liam Neeson) looks great, as do the Beavers, the Fox (Rupert Everett), and the assorted animals and fantasy creature. But especially the Beavers. They add greatly to the enjoyment of the film, and Ray Winstone and Dawn French are clearly having fun as the voices. Tilda Swinton is awesome as the White Witch, and she relishes getting a chance to play a figure of pure evil.
Director Andrew Adamson (both the 'Shrek' films) handles all this material nicely, even if the kids get a little annoying once in a while. 'Narnia' is no 'Lord of the Rings' or 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'; it's clearly intended for family audiences. This doesn't hurt the film, though, and it's a highly enjoyable fantasy adventure.