The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Rating: 6/10 (31 December 2005)

Everyone was looking forward to a big screen adaptation of the classic children's book by C.S. Lewis, and director Andrew Adamson (Shrek) has done a good job making that happen. Basically the four Pevensie children, Lucy (Georgie Henley), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Peter (William Moseley) and Susan Pevensie (Anna Popplewell), are evacuated to the country after war has broken out, staying with Professor Kirke (Jim Broadbent). One day, when playing a game of hide and seek, Susan hides in a large wardrobe of an empty room, and goes through a magical porthole leading to the land of Narnia, where she meets faun Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy). She quickly returns when he warns her of the evil White Witch (Tilda Swinton), and next to enter the land through the wardrobe is Edmund, who meets the witch, calling herself the Queen, and she wants to meet the other children too. Soon enough, all four children are in Narnia, and it is only when Edmund is kidnapped he knows the "Queen" is evil, and it is up to Susan, Peter and Lucy to find him and get him back. When they are all brought back together, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver (Ray Winstone and Dawn French) take them to the true king of Narnia, Aslan (Liam Neeson) the lion, who ends the winter, and tells them of the prophecy they are part of. Now they are set to go into battle with the Witch's army, with all the other good guys, to bring peace and harmony to the land, and become the new leaders. Also starring Rupert Everett as Fox and Michael Madsen as Maugrim the white wolf. The performances, especially by the nasty Swinton and the majestic Neeson, are good, the special effects are well done, and the action is as good as you'd expect, it may not be amazingly good, but it a great family fantasy adventure. Filled with marvellous effects and made in Britain, this is a very good adventure story. It won the Oscar for Best Makeup, and it was nominated for Best Sound Mixing and Best Visual Effects, it won the BAFTA for Best Make Up/Hair, and it was nominated for Best Special Visual Effects and Best Costume Design, and it was nominated the Golden Globes for Best Original Score and Best Song for "Wunderkind". Good!