C.S. Lewis would be proud of this movie

Rating: 10/10 (10 December 2005)

To see this movie brought to life so fully brings a joy to my heart. As a long time fan of the series, I was worried about how this film was going to be portrayed, but they absolutely nailed it.
When they veered from the book, it only was to enhance the tension at certain plot points, never to change the essence of the story.
Of course, the goal of a good movie isn't only to follow the plot of the movie. It's to make an exciting movie experience. In this case, it was also important not to violate the spirit of the book. Adam Adamson didn't.
Perhaps the most brilliant decision he made was to cast four unknowns as the Pevensie children. They prove unequivocally that level of fame coming in is not synonymous with talent. These children give the movie, and their characters, extreme depth. At its core, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is the story of how these four children grow into their destiny. This movie nails that.
By succeeding overwhelmingly in constructing the movie's core, Adamson satisfies his core audience. Which is why it is so easy to accept the other slight changes from the book -- there is a certain trust that any changes will be made by someone who is in tune with C.S. Lewis' spirit and vision.
In a pre-CGI world, Lewis once said that he couldn't envision a live-action Narnia movie that worked. Thanks to Adam Adamson the rest of us can.