Narnian Delights

Rating: 10/10 (14 December 2005)

I just saw the movie "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" tonite. This is actually the third time I've seen it since it opened last weekend. I just thought this was superb.
Full disclosure first though: I've been a "fan" & admirer of C.S. Lewis for many years; and have read the whole Chronicles of Narnia many, many times. For those who don't know what the Chronicles of Narnia are: these are a collection of 7 children's books written by Lewis. Yes, children's books. And I'm 51 years old. And I love them. So what already ... ? ;- )
Anyway, I was already "biased in favor" when I saw the movie for the first time. But when I saw it I really had no idea how much it would pluck at my heart strings with so many themes like Desire, and Longing, Longing, and more Longing; for the Coming of Justice and Right. This movie was released during Advent Season: a few weeks before Christmas. Perfect timing given the themes.
The little girl who plays Lucy in this movie is just absolutely enchanting. And if you're like me and feel like you know Lucy ... and Peter and Susan and Edmund ... from the full Narnia series ... then you'll remember just how very, very special this little girl is in that series. This little girl Lucy in the movie really opens wide her child's eyes and my eyes looking at her eyes and her face. Her response and reaction to, well, everything, was so appealing that to me this little girl made every scene that she was in. And that's almost every scene of the movie.
All four of the children, though, were very well played by this young cast. Again, I almost feel I know these children from the books: and they come across with all the individuality and complementarity that they do in the books.
Character development is an interesting feature of this movie. Edmund's development is by far most profound; well acted, well scripted, satisfying. Peter has a strong character development as well. Susan has some character development. Lucy ... as far as I can see ... exhibits no character development at all ... and this is wholly welcome: one simply wants Lucy to change in no way at all!
Relationships ... among the four children; between the children and the Great Lion, Aslan; between the Children and the Narnians; were modulated in an ongoing appealing manner that was both complex and straightforward.
Speaking of the Narnians: McAvoy's Tumnus was perfect; Tilda Swinson's White Witch was simply perfect as well; the Beavers were wonderfully appealing and convincing. The Centaurs and Minotaurs and Wolves and Ogres were wonderful. The manner in which Dryads were depicted was quite imaginative and a successful adaptation from the books.
The scenery was beautiful, delightful ... and the music, which I thought at first I wouldn't like, actually turned out to be a wonderfully lush, well-integrated feature of the whole film.
Comparisons with The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter movies are inevitable. I very much have enjoyed these series as well. And frankly I think all three contributions to this common imaginative/fantastic genre have unique features to commend them to us. I think other than that I'll pass on comparisons for the moment except to say: if you liked one of the three, you may find that, like me, you'll like all three.
Just a delightful, wonderful movie ... And just as LOTR and Harry Potter have developed multiple movie installments, I very much hope that cinematic celebration of the Narnian Chronicles continue!