Thelionthewitchandthewardrobe....

Rating: 6/10 (6 December 2005)

Chronicles Of Narnia Shane Gannaway One of the most daunting tasks a director can possibly try to tackle, has to be that of a movie that was based on a book. It's not just the regular movie goers he has to please, it's the thousands upon thousands of fans that he also has to satisfy. I can't say whether Andrew Adamson did a quality job of putting the book's magic on charm on to the big screen. I've never read the book. He did put something on there though. And while however beautiful it is, it has its flaws.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, is as a good friend of mine put "a visual feast." The movie is amazingly stunning in visuals and CGI. This helps bring some magic to this movie. The animals are amazingly done, looking extremely lifelike. The faun, or as some might know him, Mr. Tumnus is also very well handled. The way they added goats legs onto the second half of James McAvory is flawless. This movie doesn't lack on the visuals. It's got plenty of eye candy and many people probably won't mind watching it muted.
If the movie is not muted, then you have to sit through what seems like could have a solid story. Instead you are rushed through an adventure that was seemed to be squeezed into two hours for no apparent reason. The obvious Christian allusions are all still there, but there is a sense of rushed-ness as we fly through this film. There are times when you may watch certain scenes and wonder why they are in the movie at all. Basically, besides the rushed story it's the small things that start to grate. The fact the at a little girl no older then 10 can make a bulls-eye with a knife. The never convincing fake snow that the audience sees so much of. The feeling that Narnia was toned down a little, just for the kiddies. This movie is rated PG, so I don't know what I expected when I went to see it. It is though, a very violent movie. And the only reason it keeps this PG rating is by taking out in what would have been some very gory scenes, all blood. I hate it when this happens. When a movie is toned down, when the artistic value of film is compromised, just for more ticket sales, I get angry. And a kitten dies. It's a horrible thing. Anyway, that's what Narnia does. They tone it down and speed through all the while impressing you with some pretty sights and sounds. Like I said, I haven't read the book. It's my belief though, this book should have been made for the people who first enjoyed it, and not the little kids Disney usually shoots towards.