Just one little gripe

Rating: 9/10 (10 December 2005)

Narnia is far better than I ever hoped it would be due to the amazing effects and the wonderful Tilda Swinton, but here is my one problem with the film. I never new fully appreciated Daniel Radcliffe and his fellow Hogwarts classmates until today. Strangely enough I liked this better than any of the Potter movies (haven't seen Goblet yet), but I had a big problem with the male children and a lesser problem with the females. They simply were not up to the task. The boy who played Edward made me feel that I was watching a school play. He was quite awful. I have only read the Magician's Nephew which had a different set of children in the story. I hope the other 6 books are the same way. Let's put it this way. Dakota Fanning doesn't have to worry about losing any future roles to any of these kids. I found the Christian elements of the film were handled quite well also. This was a rendering of Lewis's vision and to downplay it too much would not be faithful to the story to overdo it would have made the film play like a Sunday School special. It was a difficult task and the filmmakers are to be applauded. Certain to make gobs of money. Would not recommend it to the very little ones. My daughter is a very bright 6 year old. she loved it, but she held on tight and looked away several times. Don't go any younger than a bright 6 year old. And if you don't have any kids go anyway. You're bound to enjoy.