"If it's a war Aslan wants, it's a war he shall get." - White Witch

Rating: 6/10 (22 December 2005)

There really couldn't have been a worse time for 'The Chronicles of Narnia ' to be released in theaters in my opinion. It was released right on the tale of the much more elaborate 'King Kong' which will no doubt beat the hell out of it with box-office numbers. I really didn't know what to expect from 'Chronicles of Narnia'. In my mind it could have either been a really great action-packed, visually stunning film or it could have been a childish sappy-as-hell flop. Well, my thoughts after leaving the movie theater playing 'Chronicles of Narnia' were somewhere in between, but closer to the positive. 'Chronicles of Narnia' has real excellent special effects and action, but in a way the film takes itself way too seriously. There are parts so sappy they make you feel almost embarrassed to be in the theater, but there are parts so amazing from a visual effects stance that you can't take your eyes away from the screen. Although there are parts of 'Narnia' I didn't really get into it, I enjoyed it for the most part.
'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' takes place during WWII. Four children, Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skander Keyes) and Lucy (Georgie Henley), are transported out of England to safety to live with their Uncle the professor (Academy Award Winner Jim Broadbent - Iris). While staying with their Uncle, the kids discover a passage way to another ice-covered fantasy world (Narnia) in a old wardrobe closet. In the land the it is up to the four to save the good guys led by a gigantic, fierce yet wise and lovable lion, Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson) from the evil White Witch who calls herself the Queen (Tilda Swinton - The War Zone, Broken Flowers). The film also features a lovable beaver who helps the kids (voiced by Ray Winstone - The War Zone, Sexy Beast), Father Christmas or Santa Claus who also helps the kids (James Cosmo - Trainspotting) and Mr. Tumnus, a half-man/half-goat (played by James McAvory).
Like I had mentioned previously the action and effects in Narnia are amazing to say the least, but the story kind of drags. I felt in my heart that the beloved children's story could have been adapted to film better script-wise. The acting is kind of a mixed bags. The adult actors are all fantastic - Jim Broadbent, Tilda Swinton, Liam Neeson, Ray Winstone and James McAvory, but the kids kind of split. Skander Keyes and Georgie Henley are the two-standouts of the kids who both give great performances, while the two older kids William Moseley and Anna Popplewell are to put it nicely "less impressive". Andrew Adamson's direction is surprisingly very good, with a lot of neat camera tricks and cinematography.
If you are into the action / fantasy films I can recommend 'Chronicles of Narnia', but only after you've seen the modern-day masterpiece King Kong (also in theaters). 'Narnia' is a film to take the little ones to and I don't find anything wrong with it that wouldn't be appropriate for kids 5 and up. Grade: B- (screened at Harkins Arrowhead 18, Glendale, Arizona, 12/19/05)