This story stands alone, and well

Rating: 10/10 (9 April 2010)

The true test of any work of literature, or any theatrical performance in any medium (be it stage, film, or TV), is: Can this story stand alone, and impress those who have never before seen this story told in any other medium? In the case of Andrew Adamson's adaptation of C. S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," the answer is an unqualified "Yes!" On one level, this story is an entertaining and indeed rousing story of action, adventure, and suspense. It takes a very common children's fantasy--climbing into a confined space, like a closet or, as in this case, an armoire--and having all manner of adventures without ever actually leaving that space. That is a game that all of us have played as kids at one time or another. But this time it's different. This time it's for real--and some elements of the adventure are not very nice. But then again, that's what makes it satisfying--it presents our heroes with obstacles to overcome.
Or in one case, it teaches a lesson about letting yourself be seduced by someone who tells you what you want to hear, long enough to take advantage of you. In the classic "be-careful-what-you-wish-for" department, "special treatment" might not be at all what you thought you wanted.
On another level, it is--yes--a passion play. Christians will recognize at once which character makes the supreme sacrifice for another person's rather dreadful sins. And even if you don't know that story, perhaps if you hear the Christian story after watching this film, you will understand why it is so powerful. Have you ever wished that you could do something over? How grateful would you feel if someone were to lay his *life* on the line for you? C. S. Lewis also takes a jab at those who assume that a story is "logically impossible" just because it sounds fantastic. His point is that the credibility of the witnesses must sometimes trump even the "fantastic" quality of the stories that one witness tells, if that witness has never been known to tell a lie. Andrew Adamson has not lost that lesson.
Happily, the solid cast, and not the special effects or the fantastic story concept, carry this show. Georgie Henley makes an adorable Lucy, one that will always carry your sympathy. Skandar Keynes is equally excellent as Edmund, the mean kid who falls right into a trap laid by one who knows just how to play him. William Moseley and Anna Popplewell are incomparable as the older kids who learn the real meaning of responsibility. Seeing William Moseley's Peter confess his failings as an older brother before Aslan the Lion is almost alone worth the price of admission.
Nor should one leave out the villain in this piece. Tilda Swinton plays Jadis, Queen of Narnia, aka "The White Witch," like every schoolteacher in the middle grades who was ever accused, with any justice, of seducing the male students in her charge. To see her whisper sweet nothings at Edmund is to feel a chill up your spine if you have any relation whatever to a boy in "middle school" with a teacher with a reputation for...! Her abrupt change from the beguiling seductress to the harsh enemy has all the shock value that one could ask for--and to see how those two clash in the end will definitely give you a rich sense of irony. You will never want your son's teacher to offer your son a piece of "Turkish Delight," or any other kind of candy, ever again! And yet, for all that, it is entirely family-friendly and handled in the best possible taste--or as good as one can handle it when it includes a major battle. "Battles are ugly affairs," says one supporting character, and this is no exception, so beware allowing children to see this film who scare easily.
That aside, this film has something for everyone, adult and child alike. It makes a great start to what promises to be a very heartwarming series.