Exceeded my expectations

Rating: 10/10 (9 December 2005)

The feelings leading up to watching this movie was a mixture of skepticism and anticipation - I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe a million times as a kid and I reread it in my most recent years since my cousin gave me the series two Christmases ago (God bless her).
But now after watching the movie I have to say ... well, I don't really know what to say first because I can't say enough good things about it!
Superbly cast, excellently acted, wonderful cinematography and special effects... and most importantly, it followed the book to the T. This is how movie remakes of books should be like - for once, Hollywood executives didn't leave anything out and instead added their own little bits and pieces where they felt needed a boost.. yet they still maintained all the important elements of the story AND made it flow correctly. Not an easy task and very well done. I mean, it is a blockbuster movie, so I'm sure they had to spice it up a bit, but I love how the story just picked right back up at the precise moments mentioned in the book after the extra elements were added... you didn't miss anything.
For kids no older than 18 years of age, these actors can convey such great emotion in their eyes and faces that it's not even imperative to have words leave their mouths to explain what they're feeling. Another daunting task, but well executed.
And finally, the Pevensie kids are exactly how I pictured them. Peter as the tall, handsome looking and righteous boy, that really plays out his elderly brother role (how about that final scene with Edmund, huh? Amazing). Susan as the pretty, logical, matter-of-fact girl - tall like her brother, brave enough to do anything. Edmund as the black sheep, the shorter, dark haired kid, always looking scruffy and having that look of mischief in his eyes. And Lucy, with the brown bob haircut and the adorable buck teeth when she smiles.
I could go on and on about this movie. But I'll let the others handles the rest. Can't wait for the rest of the series. C.S. Lewis, you are my hero.