Magnificentin its making and storyline, but disappointing in its acting by the kids

Rating: 8/10 (29 December 2005)

For five years, since I've read this book, I've been waiting to see this film. Finally, after five eager years, it has arrived with an almost smashing success.
The story is unforgettable and childlike; the plot is simple, four kids are sent away to an old man's mansion, and shortly after arriving there, they find a wardrobe, and when they step into it, they enter a fantasy world called Narnia, filled with awesome locations and talking creatures, both the good and the bad. The story goes on about a wicked Witch who turns everything into winter and ice has ruled the world for the last hundred years. But hope arrives with Aslan, a giant and computerized, but fabulous looking, giant lion, with the aid of the talented and tame voice of Liam Neeson. Together, they must defeat the witch, before the world is destoryed by evil.
So, almost everything was great in this film, from the stunning visuals that are in a comparison of King Kong and Star Wars, the uplifting score from Harry Gregson-Willams (Kingdom of Heaven), the settings, costumes, make-up, and storyline. But the acting from the four kids almsot made me laugh.
Why? First of all, the girl who played Lucy reminded me of an annoying little sister that had the look of Chucky. Then, the teenage girl who played Susan, was dry, boring, and an overall pain throughout the film, and the kid who played Peter, was just as equally as dry as Susan. However, the kid who played Edmund was great, and seemed not rehearsed like the others (if they were). The actress who played Witch was probably the best cast member, because she was so evil, that she is good comparison to a female and fair version of Darth Vader. And ironically, her servant was an evil Humpa Lumpa with a beard.
My bottom line is that the good guys were grand, and the villains were very evil and wicked. I honestly have to say that this film should not have been PG, instead, it should have been a PG-13, due to its scary images. Anyway, it's hard to do good battle sequences with a PG rating, not that I mean the film should've been violent like Alexander or Gladiator, but needed, in my opinion to at least have some intensity like The Lord of the Rings films in terms of violence, to have more feling, and making them more intense and realistic.
I enjoyed this film, that's the truth. About buying it? I probably won't because it's not an everyday movie, except for children. So, my rating is a ****1/2 out of *****
Parents, if you wnat your kids to see it, watch the film first, for some material is a bit disturbing for young kids.