The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe Reviews
Visually a feast to the eyes, but sometimes the story is unengaging.
I thought this a very well done film indeed. I will say the motion picture looks but excellent, peculiarly the scenes in Narnia, with beautiful snowy sets (some looked as though it had come from the LOTR trilogy). Nonetheless, some of the scenes looked as though they had been computerised, such as the scene with the children and beavers running beyond the ice. There were too some attempts to put some humour into the story like the professor's line "ah yes, the weeping one" in reference to Lucy and the beavers especially, simply because the director had taken liberties to make the story darker, the humour didn't quite work. However at that place are a number of positives, like the spirited performances of the children, Georgie Henley especially, better than Sophie Wilcox's rather goofy portrayal in the 1988 serial. James McAvoy is charming as Mr. Tumnus, and Liam Neeson was majestic as Aslan. Just the acting honours go to Tilda Swinton equally the White Witch, even with her calmness she dominates the screen, in a sometimes chilling portrayal as the character. The film was fairly faithful to the book, merely the added scenes and dialogue failed to engage as much. All, a flawed just enjoyable film. seven/10 Bethany Cox
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Splendid!
With an appeal to both adults and children, the British author C. S. Lewis wrote seven books in his Chronicles of Narnia series. The stories are rich in mythology and religious symbolism, cartoon upon archetypes from the Norse, Greco-Roman, Persian, medieval chivalric, and Judeo-Christian traditions.
Now comes this wonderful film of the get-go chronicle, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." The beautiful cinematography and the terrific performances of the children make this film outstanding for family unit viewing. As integrated with the live actors, the colorful beast characters, especially the King of beasts (Jesus), reveal bright technical motion picture-making every bit well.
Lewis'southward books are non overtly allegorical. Rather, the symbols and the messages are subtle. The four children in the story (Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy) were inspired by the actual children evacuated from London during Earth State of war Two, who spent time in Lewis's home. Lewis wanted his books to be enjoyed past young people who would later in their lives describe the spiritual meanings from the stories. In this surface area, the picture is enormously faithful to the original book and would have made the author extremely proud.
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A Archetype for all Time
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe should go downward in the history books correct upward at that place with the likes of Lord of the Rings. I went to see it expecting a very practiced moving picture. I came out stunned by the magnitude of the pic. Everything about it is so well washed, the casting, the scenery, the score. Lord of the Rings is the only thing I can recall of to compare it to. I experienced the same overwhelming sense of awe watching both of these phenomenal pictures. The CG images are very good, though not quite as startlingly realistic as those in LOTR. I cannot detect fault with the casting in whatsoever way.
Though the voice of Liam Neeson is non as I would have imagined a king of beasts's at start, information technology is smooth, confident, and constructive. Aslan is given the presence and then essential to the centre of the story. I must comment on the performance of James McAvoy equally Mr. Tumnus, which I believe was the best in the flick. Lucy was adorable, and surprisingly convincing, and Peter was given a very house performance. I was a little nervous about how Edmund would plough out, only I needn't have worried; those large, startlingly dark eyes are perfect for the change from traitor to hero.
I commend the directors of the movie on their strict adherence to the volume. Narnia isn't only "based" on the volume. It IS the book. The scope, depth, and wonder of Lewis'due south earth have been captured in a timeless style that should exist cherished for all ages. This is a movie for everyone, at a level for children to understand, all the same with a fast plot and exciting battle sequences that will keep anyone interested. The last battle scene particularly is as touching as whatsoever I take ever seen, including those in LOTR, putting tears in my eyes even while my center soared. Get see Narnia for an exciting, well-done pic, and a timeless bulletin that our earth so desperately needs.
10 stars!!
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Astonishing fantasy, breathtaking adventures and overwhelming battles
This enjoyable story produced past Walt Disney Pictures is based on C.S Lewis books. It begins during German air raids over London in WWII. The Pevensie four children(Henley,Keynes,Moseley and Poppewell) are sent to live at the state house of eccentric teacher Kike(Jim Broadvent). Meantime they're playing hide and seek, Lucy encounters a foreign wardrobe that atomic number 82 the snowy land of Narnia . There, she finds a sympathetic but coward faun(James McAvoy). Later she returns at dwelling house and the others don't believe her at start, simply soon are convinced. And so, all of them go throughout the fantastic world with fauns and centaurs and where animals speaking, a beaver( voice by Ray Winstone), fox(vocalization by Rupert Everett) and furthermore the Father Christmas(James Cosmo). This magic land with perpetual winter is ruled by the nasty White Witch(Tilda Swinton). But the children are the chosen ones, according an aboriginal prophecy, and they team upward with Aslem, the mighty Lion and real male monarch of Narnia , fighting to defeat the evil witch in an ballsy finale battle.
The moving-picture show is a magic story with rip-snorting adventures, exciting fantasy, sensational scenarios and good feeling. Plenty of activeness and emotion and with an incredible boxing scenes similar to ¨Lord of the Rings¨. Provide plenty amusement to keep the chat rooms humming until the epic ending comes out. In spite of overlong runtime and the difficult of adapting, the film nonetheless managing to keep a quick enough step for those unfamiliar with the lengthy literary and highly detailed work by C. South. Lewis. This two and a half hour film stays closer to the original work than any of the old efforts, generally animated. The film displays a colorful and evocative cinematography by Donald McAlpine. Musical score fitting perfectly to the action-adventure by Harry Gregson-Williams. The motility motion picture is marvellously directed past Andrew Adamson, he's the director,producer, writer of ¨Shrek¨ trilogy. Rating : Above average and worthwhile seeing . It's a very likable risk-fantasy and enormously appealing for kids, adolescents and all family.
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Jadis, Aslan, Four Humans, and Wintertime Hell
Warning: Spoilers
After the massive success of LORD OF THE RINGS information technology would exist only fitting to continue the exploration of other dimensions as created by equally talented authors, then when it was appear that C. S. Lewis' THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDBROBE would be given the film handling I was more than than anxious to run into what would come of it. Early screenings gave it great reviews, and when I viewed I wasn't disappointed despite the Christ references.
Four children are sent abroad from their London abode to a professor's estate in the countryside in gild to escape the bombings from the Nazi invaders. What they detect there, aside from a severe identify not unlike what V. C. Andrews would depict in FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC, is a wardrobe that opens the doors to another world -- a parallel i if you may -- in which winter is e'er present, only Christmas never takes place. This is Narnia, and it is under command of the White Witch Jadis who is aware of a prophecy that four humans will put an cease to her wintry empire, and sets out her minions against the children who have entered her globe while bribing one of them -- the rebellious Edmund -- to join her as she holds him prisoner much like the witch in Hansel and Gretel did. Her plans are to overthrow the Lion King, Aslan, and rule forever. Parallels to her world and the world as threatened by the Nazis are hitting, and Tilda Swinton's transformation into the very Aryan looking Jadis is chilling, more and then in her seductiveness. At times I was reminded of Cate Blanchett (they take very similar features), but I think Blanchett is to Galadriel as Swinton is to Jadis. Marvelous actresses both, but Swinton tin can merits her breakthrough with her role here.
With much less gravitas than the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA arrives much faster to its goal than the one-time does and the reason is that the books C. S. Lewis wrote are fairly slim volumes while J. R. R. Tolkien's volume is a massive tome. Also, there is always the sense that the NARNIA books are more geared towards children and for much of the movie's duration in that location is little doubt that this is what it is: its four leads are children, many of the talking animals they run across are drawn in a way to entreatment to children, and even the White Witch's castle has a storybook quality to information technology. But in the appearance of Aslan does the story take a much more than adult form, and its Messianic theme volition not be lost on the older audience. Even then, the implications surrounding Aslan'southward cocky immolation can exist interpreted in not-religious forms: if anything, it's too very similar to Gandalf's fall into the pit with the Balrog in tow in THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. Both character'south 'death' symbolize their own necessary transmogrification, only to ascend more powerful than earlier and take their troops to victory.
NARNIA is a visually stunning flick even in its quiet moments when the children, one past one, are entering its globe through the wardrobe. I was reminded of Stephen King's DARK Tower series: unless the characters believed in the world behind the wardrobe, it didn't exist, and this is true here. Narnia only exists if you believe difficult plenty in it, and fourth dimension, of course, stops... or allow's say, information technology marches at a totally different beat, besides visible in Stephen Rex's Dark TOWER series.
Performances are quite remarkable, peculiarly for a fantasy motion-picture show. All of the actors doing the voice overs bring their characters to bubbles life, and Liam Neeson as Aslan is wise and all-knowing. The kid actors are definitely comfortable in their roles and while I saw glimpses of the children of the aforementioned 5. C. Andrews Gothic novel, they are real people: The younger ones fare better than the older ones, but and so again they are on screen more and their stories are more crucial than the older ones although all four eventually converge into the climactic battle sequence.
All in all a not bad pic, equally meant to be enjoyed by children and adults akin, and 1 which should spawn a very interesting post-obit.
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The perfect Christmas movie
To sum things up: I loved this movie.
I had been waiting for it ever since it was announced, so of course I couldn't reject the chance to see a press preview this morning. And, while in that location were some definite weaknesses (mostly in the quality of the animations), overall I was completely convinced. Naturally information technology did non coincide 100% with my ain vision of Narnia visually, but emotionally it rang absolutely true, choking me upwardly several times and actually touching me. I walked out of the theatre with a warm, contented feeling - merely like I experience every time I read C.S. Lewis' volume!
The stand-out functioning was definitely Tilda Swinton's equally the White Witch, but I liked all actors/voices, from beautiful trivial Lucy (newcomer Georgie Henley) to royal Aslan (Liam Neeson). I thought the children did a cracking task, considering their relative inexperience and the corporeality of blue screen work involved.
Tip: Stay seated through the role player credits - afterwards at that place's another modest scene.
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A Truly Moving Picture show
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this film on November 30th in Indianapolis. I am one of the judges for the Heartland Film Festival that screens films for their Truly Moving Moving picture Honour. A Truly Moving Picture "…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life." Heartland gave that award to this motion-picture show.
Four young children enter the timeless world of Narnia through the door of a wardrobe piece of furniture while playing hibernate-and-seek. And what a globe it is. There are talking animals, dwarfs, giants, beasts, centaurs, and indescribable half-homo combinations. And, in this globe of Narnia in that location is a titanic struggle between the White Witch and her evil army and the proficient lion Aslan and his noble army.
Although it doesn't seem possible, you tin can suspend atheism and get engaged in the story considering the artistry and technology are so outstanding. The art direction, special effects, cinematography, editing and sound will most likely and should be nominated for Academy Awards. The king of beasts Aslan dominates your attention in every scene he appears in, and equally the story unfolds, he becomes as man-similar as whatsoever of the four children.
The 4 children seem normal enough with their constant teasing and fighting among themselves, but when events truly matter, they come up together and exemplify the highest standards of sacrifice, courage, allegiance and heroism. Both children and adults will find inspiration and role models in these four children.
The lion Aslan is a mystical and almost biblical hero. There are many parallels between Aslan and Christianity, and you can watch this pic anywhere in the religious-secular spectrum you care to. I suspect that over many years the other six books that make upwardly The Chronicles of Narnia will be made into movies and they will have the same type of fiscal and artistic success as The Lord of the Rings film trilogy had. That is loftier praise indeed.
FYI – At that place is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where at that place is a listing of by Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.
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Centaurs, Fauns, and Gryphons all come to life in this great body of piece of work.
C.South. Lewis' classic is reborn in 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe', when four children from war-torn England notice themselves transported to a land of myth and fantasy. It has been foretold that they will bring peace to Narnia. Simply can they survive the evil treachery of the mysterious White Witch who claims to exist Queen?
In this rendition, C.S. Lewis' imagination is brought to life with amazing special effects. Centaurs, Fauns, and Gryphons all come to life in this keen body of work. The whole family will relish this pic. Liam Neeson is wonderful as Aslan the Lion.
I can not say that was all that impressed with Tilda Swinton as the White Witch. She looked the part, but did not seem as treacherous as I had hoped.
Overall this is a really good flick. If yous are familiar with the story, then there are no real surprises, but makes up for it with incredible CGI animation.
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Breathtaking (after a weak offset act)
Warning: Spoilers
In that location is ane scene in Andrew Adamson's new film THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE Lion, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, that for me walking into the theater that needed to exist perfect. If not the whole movie and (the connected franchise of sequels) would autumn flat on its face. If the flick did non capture this scene I believe the heart and soul of C.Southward. Lewis and his magical earth would have been completely destroyed.
But I digress! Walking into Narnia is an interesting experience for me. In all honesty I notice C.S. Lewis to be a great author that I can hardly read. His books are hailed left and right and I just tin can't read them. It's not Lewis's fault. I realize it's my ain media saturated thick head that blocks me up. And so a few weeks ago after a screening of a 10 minute super trailer for NARNIA I decided to grit off my onetime copy of THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and decided to give it a chance. I read the beginning two books in nearly a week and I wondered to myself. What was my trouble? What took me so long to become enchanted by this mystical world? I've come up to realize I cannot appreciate the classics. I really think that's my loss and something I intend to piece of work on in the new year's day.
So anyway, sitting downwards in the moving-picture show theater I psyched myself up I intended to be wowed. I wanted Narnia to come live on screen like it did in my heed and I think it fell a fiddling short of my expectations simply in the end made me smile.
NARNIA tells the story of four children. When the youngest named Lucy (Georgie Henley) finds a magic wardrobe that transports her into the magical land of Narnia. Narnia is a land of talking animals, magical fauns, and the evil White Witch (Tilda Swinton) whose enslaved the land causing it to exist forever winter and never Christmas. Her sister Susan (Anna Popplewell), and brothers Peter (William Moseley), and Edmund (Skandar Keynes) don't believe her story. Until the twenty-four hours all the children enter the Land of Narnia. A land and get defenseless upwards in a war that may fulfill a prophecy that volition bring peace to Narnia.
NARNIA is a fascinating example of a film that doesn't exactly add upwards just in the end is satisfying. The screenplay is riddled with the bug from the very beginning. It tries and so hard to stick to the book that the early on moments of the film feel flat. Fifty-fifty when the children get to Narnia you lot feel the same style. Narnia feels just similar the British Country side the children have come from. Narnia should feel different and it doesn't. Why is their a calorie-free post growing in the eye of the forest? Why are the animals talking? Why is information technology e'er winter and yet never Christmas? These questions should inspire awe. NARNIA should glow and leap off the screen, just the kickoff deed is to busy getting from point a to indicate b than to let us to immerse ourselves in the NARNIAN landscape. If your similar me yous'll notice yourself thinking "why does this feel like a 3rd charge per unit LORD OF THE RINGS?" I call back what'south missing is the thing that made the novel and so enchanting. It'south Lewis'southward self enlightened narration. Even when at the greatest peril information technology was Lewis's kind words and silly aside comments that lightened the situation. Admittedly that would be difficult in a film but It would have been nice if they'd tried. Instead they stuck humor in places that seemed out of place.
But fear not, all is not lost. Because if y'all can get through the outset hour (which actually isn't that bad). You'll come out on the other side and into a much better and powerful movie. Once Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson) the Mighty Lion comes on the screen you lot're in for the ride of your life.
I mentioned before there is one scene that needed to exist perfect or the moving-picture show would be destroyed. That scene involves Aslan and the stone table. They got it correct, and oh boy was I impressed. If Aslan is non stiff, if Aslan is not seen equally a threat even equally he is being tormented this scene falls apart. But Adamson and his team make Aslan a character to be reckoned with. If yous don't gasp as Aslan climbs those stairs and the beasts and the White Witch part the way for him, if you don't experience the pain and anguish of Aslan's torment, and if your tear ducts don't well upwardly when the scene is over, I would doubtfulness your humanity ( just a little.) After that the film simply gets better, at that place is an awesome boxing sequence, and even Narnia begins to have a life of its own. Information technology gives each character their moment to shine and it wraps itself upwards neatly enough. Subsequently the film was over I can't await for PRINCE CASPIAN (or THE HORSE AND HIS BOY) to hit the big screen.
I would also like to single out little Georgie Henley (watch out Dakota Fanning) the piffling girl who plays Lucy. She gives the early function of the picture show a lot more than life and fills the screen like very few child actors can. This petty girl (in her debut role) has an innocence and yet a maturity that belies her age. This fiddling daughter gives a performance that should actually net her an Oscar nod. It probably won't merely if I didn't bring information technology up who would? While this film has a few rough spots and a first deed that needed some work THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE King of beasts, THE WITCH, and THE WARDROBE is an enchanting journeying that is worth the price of admission. Seek information technology out.
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A Magical Journeying Through Narnia...
stiva 31 December 2008
A wonderful movie. The characters are beautifully made from a well chosen characters. The CGI and special effects are top notch. The centaurs, beavers, trees, tigers, bears, fox, all are taking. Oh! yeah, they are talking. The creators have done an first-class job in bringing out the emotions, the lip sync, and the body language of various animal, very well. The White Witch was scary as hell. The final boxing sequence was spectacular. I was amazed with the battle sequence.
Aslan's graphic symbol was the best. I dear the mode the Lion talks, walks and emotes. Information technology'southward simply amazing.
Amazing direction. Amazing music. First-class make-up. Amazing editing piece of work. A very proficient adoption of the Narnia serial. Very funny moving-picture show too. Worth watching.
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A truly beautiful flick
When Peter Jackson made The Lord of the Rings into an ballsy trilogy, I knew that someday soon my favorite story as a child would come up to life. This film is everything I could have hoped for. The special effects were astonishing. When the various creatures spoke, it didn't seem like a puppet was speaking, it seemed similar the animate being was actually speaking. And I don't think anyone has e'er managed to make CG fur wait this realistic. I am likewise very impressed with the centaurs. They blended a real person on what was probably CG horse. These centaurs were about 100 times better than the last centaur I saw, which was in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. This is also a wonderful movie about forgiveness and how families will always stand past one some other, even in the darkest of times. This aspect of the pic is well acted by all four children in the leading roles. No picture is perfect, however. There is at least one shot where the children are very obviously against a backdrop, though I practise think there is at least ane shot like this in every effects laden pic. And while the centaurs are quite impressive, what I recall are supposed to exist Minotaurs are not impressive at all, they just look like guys in big fury suits, which is probably what they are. There has also been a lot of controversy almost how this is some sort of Christian propaganda story, which it'due south not. It's a fantasy simply like Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, or Star Wars. I'thou really surprised more controversy hasn't been raised over the fact that you basically have children leading others into battle. This thought is kind of a risky notion in today's political climate. This idea volition probably go over about children'southward' heads, but it is definitely something to think about every bit an adult. I saw this film in an auditorium full of children, parents, grandparents, and teenagers and the cease was met with thunderous applause. This is a truly beautiful picture that appeals to the young and the old in all of u.s.a..
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Ever Wintertime But Never Christmas
As a child, I was never a great lover of C. S. Lewis's "The Chronicles of Narnia". The books were e'er likewise preachy in tone for my liking, and if there was one thing that was guaranteed to kill a book stone dead for me information technology was the suspicion that the adult globe were using it to put forward some morally improving message. My suspicions were confirmed when a classmate of mine, a boy whose cracking ambition, fifty-fifty at the age of ten, was to exist Archbishop of Canterbury when he grew up, explained to me that the whole serial was essentially i long extended Christian allegory. (And yeah, he probably did use the word "allegory" even at that tender historic period).
I have never been tempted to revisit the books in adult life, so was surprised that I enjoyed the film version of "The King of beasts, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and so much. The story opens in London during the 2nd World War. Four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, are evacuated during the Blitz to a large house in the countryside, owned by an eccentric professor. While playing hide-and-seek 1 solar day they discover a wardrobe which acts every bit a gateway into the fantasy land of Narnia. One time at that place, they become caught upward in a power-struggle between Aslan the Panthera leo and Jadis, the evil White Witch. White witches, of course, are usually portrayed as being on the side of good, as opposed to the evil blackness witches, but in the case of Jadis the adjective relates non to her moral grapheme but to her love of dressing in that color and to the fact that under her rule Narnia is an icy wilderness, a land "where it is always winter but never Christmas".
From what I can recall, the movie follows Lewis'due south plot fairly closely, so for those who like that sort of thing the religious symbolism is still there. Aslan clearly represents Christ and Jadis the Devil. There are parallels to the Fall of Man, with a bowl of Turkish Delight standing in for the apple, and to the Crucifixion and Resurrection. This symbolism is, however, applied lightly enough to enable the moving-picture show to be enjoyed equally a family unit fantasy run a risk rather than as a beginner's guide to the Christian religion. Lewis was a colleague and close friend of J R R Tolkien, so it is possibly appropriate that "The King of beasts, the Witch and the Wardrobe" has something in common with Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, which was besides shot in New Zealand, especially during the boxing scenes near the stop. It is, however, somewhat lighter in tone than Jackson's mighty epic.
On the acting side, the i actually outstanding contribution comes from an icily seductive Tilda Swinton as the White Witch. Aslan comes across as a bit one-dimensional, noble and heroic and not much else, only that is less the fault of Liam Neeson, who provided the voice, equally of Lewis, who wrote him like that.
Lewis's mythology was essentially a hodge-podge of various other mythologies, especially Greek, so the film features such creatures as fauns, centaurs, griffins, minotaurs, dwarfs and diverse talking beasts, and the computer-generated imagery is able to bring all of these vividly to life. 1 matter which did not strike me equally a kid was but how surreal Lewis's world tin be, possibly because surrealism was not a concept with which I was really acquainted at the historic period of x. This is, however, something brought out in the film version, specially in the early scenes where the children enter that eerie snow-covered world, a world where Victorian lamp-posts mysteriously sprout in the middle of a dense coniferous woods, where rather camp fauns invite you back to their homes for tea and cakes and where beavers talk with cockney accents and eat fish-and-chips. Who could neglect to savour a world like that? Maybe Lewis, the staid, conservative, devoutly religious Oxford don, had more in common with Salvador Dali than he might take liked to admit. viii/10
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10 out of ten stars.
The Chrinicles of Narnia, the lion the witch and the wardrobe, is now my favorite flick! this pic was FANTASTIC! the actors are amazing and the flick is merely so exactly like the book. If you read the book and are going to see the movie, y'all will not be disappointed. The movie was better than i expected actually. It's such an amazing and imaginative movie it'south just enchanting. I wouldn't commonly give whatever movie 10 stars, simply i gave this one 10 stars out of 10. When i was watching the movie, and seeing all the sets and the props, i felt like i had already seen them before. Like they had taken them right out of my imagination when i was reading the book. I know not everyone volition have this feeling, but i did, and it was magical. Even if y'all don't want to encounter this movie, go considering it really is a spectacular and magical moving picture.
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excellent filmization of CS Lewis'due south novel
The King of beasts, The Witch and The Wardrobe is an extremely enjoyable filmization of CS Lewis's magical childhood ballsy. The story expertly weaves in childhood themes with a modern solar day Christian plot line (including a slightly grisly 'crucifiction' scene) to create an enchanting motility picture. Tilda Swinton is superb as the sinister White Witch. The children are average though young Georgie Henly stands out. The Special effects are more than adequate, with a specially impressive rendering of Aslan. The picture moves slowly initially and its epic nature go apparent only towards the end with a vicious (but bloodless) final boxing. All told, a pleasant surprise indeed!
Overall 8/ten
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Heartless Adaptation
A strangely disappointing experience given the quality credentials of just near all involved.
The relative inexperience of the writers is clearly axiomatic. Whether seen equally a metaphor for a globe without God (hell), or the Nazi authorities, the cultural and social landscape of Narnia is ripe with potential, none of which is realized here. The White Witch's regime is not explored, we are not told who she is, where she came from, how or why she took over the globe. She lacks whatsoever motivation or real emotional drive. Similarly, the children seem happy to throw themselves into a war without a second thought of home. Nothing in this story is ever explained, we are simply expected to accept it without question, which is a far more than dictatorial representation of Christianity than Lewis ever intended. The plotting lacks energy and momentum, with no real sense of suspense. The characterization is weak and one-dimensional. But fifty-fifty more surprisingly from the creators of Shrek, is the complete lack of sense of humour.
The acting is sound from all simply the leads. The 2 older children struggle to bring the necessary range of emotion to their roles, with Moseley in item presenting a incomparably weak estimation of heroic kingliness. The two younger children luckily brand up for their on screen siblings' shortcomings, with Henley bringing the wide-eyed innocence to Lucy that the role requires, and Keynes displaying a surprising amount of subtlety every bit the eternally wronged and resentful Edmund. McAvoy and Swinton are both excellent and at times are required to carry the motion-picture show solitary.
The CGI is competent, but niggling more. It's always skillful to see Fauns and Centaurs running effectually, but it doesn't intermission any boundaries in terms of design or execution. There'southward none of the thrill of the vast armies of Middle Earth, or the attending to the minutiae of Narnia that is really necessary in realizing a new earth from scratch.
Disney clearly hopes that this will bring them the rewards that 'Lord of the Rings' brought New Line Cinema and 'Harry Potter' is bringing to Warner Brothers. But 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' lacks the emotional depth, epic range, creative inventiveness and dramatic urgency of the 'Rings' trilogy. Similarly, it has none of the sense of humour, camaraderie, charisma or amuse of 'Harry Potter'. Judging from the audience that I saw it with, it will exist very popular, and a sequel is very likely, only unless Narnia finds some heart and soul, the complete cycle seems unlikely.
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An Splendid Start
I remember watching this when I was younger. Even know when I watch information technology, I experience younger, the magic is still existent.
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cute
The visuals for this film are absolutely stunning. Just breathtaking. The interim is done well, the vox-overs included. the CG animation on the creatures are marvelous.
I read this series over and over as a child and just re-read them recently in apprehension of the movie. Although as a purist-at-centre I was slightly disappointed to see even a second of the precious work edited, overall I am amazed at how well they adapted the tale to fit into a neat piddling two 60 minutes fourth dimension frame. I feel that nothing important was omitted and the parts that were adjusted in the script were washed and then well that it nevertheless could have passed for C.Southward. Lewis' own hand.
I was lucky enough to preview this film (and to see it costless, to boot), but I am certain that I volition be trekking to the theatre to come across it a few more times on the big screen. BRAVO!
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Narnia thaws out frozen New Yorkers
Alarm: Spoilers
The audience at this afternoon's preview screening of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, at New York'south AMC 25 theater in Times Square, broke out in spontaneous applause at least three or iv times. Information technology seems that managing director Andrew Adamson has brought a thaw to ordinarily-jaded New Yorkers as well as to the 100-twelvemonth winter of Narnia. The moving picture pulls the viewer into the story right from the opening scenes of war-ravaged England, where siblings Lucy, Susan, Peter and Edmund (wonderful performances past all) are sent from their homes to the relative safety of 'the professor's' state estate where, during a game of hide-and-become-seek, young Lucy hides in the wardrobe just to find the passage to the state of Narnia. From this point, the multi-layered story of betrayal, courage, sacrifice, redemption and hope unfolds into a briskly paced 2 60 minutes and 10 minute adventure that leaves the viewer emotionally charged and thoroughly entertained.
The musical score is appropriately stirring and moody. The computer generated creatures are sophisticated to the point where the technology disappears and you begin to accept the operation, and not the special event! This brings us to Aslan - if the talking lion didn't work, the motion-picture show would fold in on itself and get away. Aslan works,still, and works very well. Voiced by Liam Neeson, Alsan is both conceivable as a 'literal' lion and every bit Aslan, talking lion, King of Narnia. Aslan's face is expressive and noble, and Neeson's vocalism acting has strength and dignity.
This film succeeds on so many levels, information technology would be possible to talk over it in many unlike veins: the direction, the story's surface-level themes, the theological possibilities, the drama, the fantasy, the chance.... Yes - it'south an activeness picture show, a dramatic film, a fantasy, a somewhat-nighttime (yet hopeful) fairy-tale. It has humorous moments and frightening moments, like near truly great 'family' films always seem to have.
The bottom line is, this is a film that will go out y'all the better for having seen information technology. There'due south much to reverberate on and much to simply enjoy - there's certainly enough to proceed you thinking for a while, and that'south always a good thing. Aslan, indeed, is on the motility!
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Children's Escapist Fare
At that place's i good rule most the writing of children'south stories, that yous should never treat children like children. I believe that is the reason for the success of C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia down through the years. And it'due south the reason for the success of this pic, sure to take home some Oscar gold this twelvemonth for special effects if goose egg else.
Earlier writing this review I did a lilliputian research on C.Due south. Lewis. I found that he had started writing this beginning story of the Narnia Chronicles during Globe War Ii. Lots of British families did like the Pevensies, transport their kids to the country side to escape the bombing of cities. They sent them abroad if they could afford to.
What Lewis did was bring his Christian background and a vivid imagination in creating an escapist world for four kids who were in an unfamiliar surface area in the first place. These kids faced the real prospect of losing one or more parents and siblings. Enough of them did.
Like American kids grow up on cowboys and Indians, British kids grow upwards on Knights of the Round Table and Robin Hood. Add together some animals who all have the souls of humans, some mythical creatures, a wicked witch, and the King of Beasts and put these four Pevensie kids through a magic door and you've got Narnia.
Past the manner I don't retrieve it's an accident that Aslan, the Christ figure in the pic is a lion. Think the British national symbol is likewise a panthera leo. Lewis didn't have the saviour of the kingdom be a Russian bear or an American baldheaded eagle.
I'm likewise certain that the success of the beginning book had a lot to do with the fact that it was published in 1950 at the height of the Common cold War which a lot of people thought could go hot whatsoever minute. Parents wanted escapist stuff for their kids and for themselves as well. I'll bet reading all The Chronicles of Narnia was a surreptitious pleasure.
I think this film will exist a guilty pleasance for a lot of folks.
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No disappointments here
Warning: Spoilers
C.Southward. Lewis encouraged his friend Tolkien with his imaginative writing, simply the favor was not returned. As his elaborate system in Lord of the Rings shows, Tolkien evidently liked to create a globe that was an internally closed system. He didn't like the way Lewis worked in whatever familiar community or myths fell to hand. Narnia most notably incorporates central aspects of Christianity; information technology's also a world where the children the stories are for enter the story, merely every bit Lewis Carroll's pet child Alice Liddell enters his fantasy world in Through the Looking-Drinking glass – in Narnia's case, plain, through a wardrobe. Lewis'southward and Carroll'south books also have in common talking animals, though the Narnia ones aren't as droll and crazy as the mathematician's. But Narnia is a wonderful story for children, considering it has children who are real, simply who become heroes.
The first Narnia picture show, directed by New Zealand visual furnishings and Shrek man Andrew Adamson, is perfect in its way. It's almost too perfect: you may wish somebody or something would stand out more. Peradventure Tilda Swinton stands out a bit. Unless you recognize Jim Broadbent behind all his whiskers and makeup, Swinton is the only known actor we actually see on screen (Liam Neeson'south voice is all too recognizable but it's attached to the Christlike panthera leo, Aslan). Swinton blends in too, though. She'south so sure and discreet – and then familiar these days equally a wicked sprite (cp. her role in Constantine), fifty-fifty her presence may seem routine. She'south fifty-fifty perfectly attired in changing outtits for each scene or season to help her alloy in. But she deserves credit, every bit usual, for her integrity. She plays her role with accented seriousness and poise. There's no cuteness about it.
The children, Georgie Henley as Lucy, Skandar Keynes as Edmund, William Moseley as Peter, and Susan Prevensie as Anna Popplewell, a most carefully chosen quartet, are mannerly, distinctive, and very good actors. Somehow the boys seem to carry the action, while the girls bear the feeling.
The movie is like a big beautiful toy box. The children and the animals come up out and do their things, the white witch has her great battle with the forces of Aslan, and then they go away and we feel cozy and satisfied like a kid who's been read to in bed and dozes off, dreaming of snow in a warm room.
Similar the classic Conrad Aiken short story "Silent Snow, Secret Snow," the winter world of Narnia may abound out of a child'due south sense that snow is magical and unreal, beautiful merely perilous. The snowy landscape of the film is enveloping and lovely, and it doesn't thing if information technology'south real or not.
People may have Aslan, the king of beasts of God, differently, but nobody in his right mind can avoid the fact that what happens to him makes him like Christ and his slaughter similar the Crucifixion, and his rising dorsum to life off a large slab of rock that cracks like the Resurrection. And the two girls mourning over his body are the two Marys. And young Peter, the Rex and leader of the army of the expert, is St. Peter, the founder of Christ'south Church. C.S. Lewis was an adult convert whose enthusiasm for Christianity was so bully he had to tell. But one tin can see Tolkien'south point. This is what stands out: the Christian symbolism walks away with the story and spoils it a flake; Tolkien had a point.
Or maybe it's that, seeing all these symbols in a movie simplified, reduced to music and visuals and the vocalism of Liam Neeson, no longer working solely through the supple linguistic communication of C. S. Lewis, robs them of some of their original literary mystery and resonance. Once over again the accommodation of a volume into a film, while making it lovely and brilliant for usa, has macerated something that in words is accessible to all, more than subtle and circuitous.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a wonder, a delightful film, simply it hasn't the visual richness of Lord of the Rings, nor has the story the complication of Tolkien's elaborate mythology, or its immense variety, its real magic – though with the Harry Potter series running dry, it looks fresh. Information technology'southward bright and shiny, like a Christmas tree ornament. It'due south a huge project nonetheless, every bit you see when you lot watch the credits of Narnia coil. Similar Kill Bill'southward they continue so long the audience is long gone and the cleanup coiffure is well on its fashion to getting all the pop cups and corn bags and wrappers gathered upwards and the floor swept before the names have stopped scrolling. There are consummate crews for Los Angeles, Czechoslovakia, Poland, New Zealand, Guatemala, and the San Francisco Bay Area, and special effects people for each location. I wonder what an Oxford don would accept made of all that.
Tilda Swinton is the all-time androgynous sprite ever, just it's time (here's a plug for the small-scale project) for her to do more roles similar the needy mother in Mike Mills's Thumbsucker. She may have taken home a smaller paycheck, but she delivered manner more humanity. As for the not bad battles in The Chronicles of Narnia, they fade quickly from the mind. Better than anything else are the tender early scenes between Mr. Tumnus, the fawn (James McAvoy), and immature Lucy. Those who know the volume much better than I do tend to say the first part of it is the best. The battle of good and evil may exist too much to take in on first viewing, and may sink in when the other parts come up out. This is not a groovy motion-picture show, just information technology's impeccable. And the early scenes will stay in the heed a long time. _________________
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Stupendous...
...is the only discussion I can apply to describe this motion picture. Information technology's glorious to encounter how well Lewis' creation is brought to the screen. Everything is conceivable, from the recreation of the Rush, to the children themselves, to the Wardrobe (which looks exactly equally I imagined it when I read the books so long agone!) and every facet of the recreation of Narnia, the mural, the creatures, the White Witch, the Lion, the faun, and the Beavers!
What an achievement. I was weeping with joy when it was over. I was so afraid that Lewis' gorgeous books, which mean so much more than they announced to on the surface, would be diminished by trying to make them into pic, just they are enhanced. I want to go back and read them all again! And I can't expect for the adjacent film!
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I'chiliad A Christian, and I Nevertheless Didn't Like Information technology
So disappointing! I read this volume every bit a kid and I cherished every give-and-take of it. Simply the movie misses totally the magic that C.S. Lewis had in mind. There are a couple of prissy touches at the beginning -- the eye opening shots of German language bombers approaching the city, and the photo of the male parent that Edmund tries to preserve. And a swell vocal from the menstruum, "Oh! Johnny" only every bit the magic is starting upwards.
Simply the motion-picture show makers just have no stomach for a existent story arc for Edmund. They miss the central theme of sin and redemption. How can you lot have him saved if he can't exist nighttime and nasty at the beginning? I tin can't believe how wimpy the pic is, nearly white washing Edmund, like he is in the wrong place at the incorrect fourth dimension, it's not his mistake, and so forth. The Turkish Delight scene falls flat -- no sense of temptation, addiction, compulsion, but Edmund sort of flirting with a nice looking lady and walking off on his own power. And then many silly and pointless touches, like the dwarf jumping him with a knife, like a teen age delinquent in a James Dean movie! Now I want to say there are some nice performances -- Georgie Hensley is PERFECT equally Lucy -- her reactions are e'er breath taking and magical. I wish I could meet the movie she was "reacting" to -- yous take to hand it to her for her innocence and freshness. And she and James McAvoy have totally natural chemical science -- the but matter the movie got right. And the immature girl who plays Susan is perfectly cast, and going to exist a real beauty in a couple of years. Information technology's a shame the script makes her expect similar more of a whiner than Edmund! Whose brilliant thought was that? But all of that pales into insignificance compared to the bad battle scenes. My gosh, I have never seen a battle scene I didn't like -- till today. I tin can't believe how Tiresome this boxing is. No sense of plans, or backbone, or fifty-fifty coherent objectives. Animals we don't know running around in circles, fighting generic looking creepy crawlies, while the White Witch pouts and poses like a high fashion model! (You know information technology'due south bad when she's hotter than the battle raging all around her.) I idea Tilda Swinton made a lovely White Witch -- but she's desperately lit in a lot of fundamental scenes and seems pointlessly light-headed at times. ("Do y'all know what -- he betrayed you! For sweeties!") All in all, this moving picture merely wanders effectually, as if agape to come down to brass tacks on who these children really are, and what they really endure and what they learn.
If there was a Christian calendar, information technology was bungled so desperately that no 1 should be offended. And possibly that was just the point!
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Should have done Magicians Nephew kickoff
Warning: Spoilers
This review courtesy of someone who grew up in a house called 'Narnia' (replete with lamp-post in garden)- and as an adult who now owns a boat called 'Dawn Treader'. I guess I'm a bit of a Narnia nut in the same way that King Kong is a bit of a monkey. I read the Chronicles many many times equally a kid and I've recently had the pleasure of reading them all over again - to my ain children.
All of which means (a) I'1000 not very objective about the film - and (b) I had some major 'views' nigh how things ought to be washed prior to the screening.
For those out there with similar Narnia heritage I recollect you will be pleasantly surprised. I personally enjoyed the effort a lot - and on only a very few occasions did I sniff disapprovingly into my popcorn. The kids (9 & vii respectively and with a mere single reading under the belts!) loved every infinitesimal of it.
The expert things. Lucy ( in looks a sort of mini Ann Widdecombe for all y'all UK politicos out there) was very proficient. Think the director must take a lot of credit for her functioning. If Lucy had been bad, then this venture would accept failed. Thankfully she shines. The others children I idea were a picayune ho-hum with Peter being the weakest.
Tumnus was excellent - although our more cynical time applies some rather uncomfortable sinister overtones to the scenes with Lucy.
Yes the Beavers were fun - equally was the play a joke on. Could have washed with more explanation nigh the whole 'animals' talking thing though. It'due south remarked on rather likewise briefly I idea. (One of many issues with doing this book first instead of The Magicians Nephew - which explains the genesis of Narnia, how the animals start speaking and where the white witch comes from etc.) The White witch? - pretty adept I idea, although perhaps a little one dimensional. Nevertheless I didn't like her 'dwelling' which I felt as others have noted derivative and out of place in look and architecture to the residual of Narnia.
Aslan - bang on. There is nothing CGI cant do now. (My brother and nephew wanted Aslan to exist larger relative to other animals. My recollection of the book suggested he inverse size to fit the occasion - and so I had no issues myself) The stone table scene. Excellent and very truthful to the book.
Now for those elements that were for me less good.
The forest. Peradventure I have the drawings from the books too much in listen - but for me the forest should have been darker, more canopied and claustrophobic. More similar being in a wardrobe in fact. And I never felt a sense of size about the woods, or indeed the rest of Narnia. I felt the camera stayed too shut the action - and nosotros needed some longer shots. Especially felt in the first meeting with Tumnus - which in other regards was very virtually magical.
The battle at the end. Okay so the accuse of the Riders of Rohan is maybe the most impressive motion-picture show paradigm of our generation - but it's not really what Narnia is about. I craved for something a niggling smaller in calibration - a picayune more personal and intimate.
The waterfall/ ice flow scene. Utter nonsense and superfluous to a story that inappreciably lacks for dramatic drive. Why he didn't but follow the story as written Ill never understand. The wolves weren't sinister enough in looks either - although I accept to admit the 'Jaws' moment with Edmund was suitably scary.
The game of cricket and broken window episode. Over again - the story as written with the escape from the visitors party and Mrs McCready was subtler and more than interesting.
Okay - enough gripes. Mostly I did savor the film and I expect forward to the next. I have concerns that as a book Prince Caspian (which I always felt was the weakest) may non support a very interesting moving-picture show. I hope that there is commitment to do all of the rest - or at to the lowest degree every bit far as Dawn Treader - which I retrieve volition brand a fantastic vehicle for a film....
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a rewarding journey
I thoroughly enjoyed this thought-provoking & well-made movie. It successfully beckoned this developed viewer on a journey into the imagination & a world of fantasy. It has a great amount of relevance to the modern problems of child & adult alike. Information technology was dramatic & absorbing in its unfolding story. Thereby appealing to young viewers, but as well, held more complex messages for older viewers of any age. It works well on multiple levels, appealing to different kinds of viewers & their personal lives & concerns.
It was also so true to life with the youngest of the children being the one whose concerns were initially overridden & derided. But too, it was this girl who actually was most open to the whole risk that was about to engulf all their lives. How true of the nature of so many family & school situations, where such young minds are not appreciated or taken seriously or unjustly crushed, in our logical simply deceptive earth of experts, all bringing their common weight of superiority to dismiss any culling thought, especially in a younger child.
Nevertheless this innocent daughter is the ane who finds this world & its curiousities joys & terrors more than chop-chop & fully, while the older children are even so struggling to look beyond their sense of self-importance. Isn't this so true of human nature in general? Peculiarly in the mod adult world where any minority conventionalities is mostly harshly scrutinised & criticised & dismissed. This moving picture offers a gentle message that the imagination & individual creative thought tin can be encouraged in us all. Equally surely every bit each of these children is duly given special gifts & talents that may help their individual personalities, & each other, even their broader community.
The character of the God-like hero of a lion, covering for his kingdom & its constituents, is most thoughtful & impressive. A wise leader who literally serves his kingdom, as the all-time of leaders practice! Likewise impressive were the use of special effects & magnificent scenery, with intriguing creatures & beautiful colourful costumes.
All in all, those who take this journey to Narnia with an open mind & heart, will be rewarded for whatever gifts & sense of wonder that they bring to this very enjoyable & effective picture show.
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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Four children, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are evacuated from London during World War Ⅱ. Then, they take to live in an old country business firm in countryside. One rainy twenty-four hours, Lucy constitute the big wardrobe in this house. Lucy steal in wardrobe, then surprisingly snow covered forest stretched abroad endlessly earlier her eyes. The snowy land is called Narnia and this land under a rule of white witch's law. Therefore Christmas never come. Iv children decide to relieve the Narnia with lion, the true ruler of Narnia.
It's based on novel written by C.Due south Lewis. I watched movie, then I read the book. This movie reproduced novel in detail, but little be unlike. Because information technology non perfect, you may be discouraged. If y'all love Lewis'due south novel, you have own image of Narnia... Nonetheless, story and cinematography are wonderful!! It's not only time travel story and sci-fi. If we picket this moving-picture show, we can mature to another level. This is very popular with children. But it isn't childish picture show. This movie exist loved non just child but developed.
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