Opening Day: 29 May 2008

Synopsis:

The characters of C.S. Lewis’s timeless fantasy come to life once again in this newest installment of the “Chronicles of Narnia” series, in which the Pevensie siblings are magically transported back from England to the world of Narnia, where a thrilling, perilous new adventure and an even greater test of their faith and courage awaits them.

One year after the incredible events of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” the Kings and Queens of Narnia find themselves back in that faraway wondrous realm, only to discover that more than 1300 years have passed in Narnian time. During their absence, the Golden Age of Narnia has become extinct, Narnia has been conquered by the Telmarines and is now under the control of the evil King Miraz, who rules the land without mercy.

The four children will soon meet an intriguing new character: Narnia’s rightful heir to the throne, the young Prince Caspian, who has been forced into hiding as his uncle Miraz plots to kill him in order to place his own newborn son on the throne. With the help of the kindly dwarf, a courageous talking mouse named Reepicheep, a badger named Trufflehunter and a Black Dwarf, Nikabrik, the Narnians, led by the mighty knights Peter and Caspian, embark on a remarkable journey to find Aslan, rescue Narnia from Miraz’s tyrannical hold, and restore magic and glory to the land.


Movie Review:

This reviewer isn’t that big a fan of New Zealand director Andrew Adamson’s (Shrek, Shrek 2) 2005 box office hit The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He thought the 143 minute adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s beloved novel was a drab affair, with battle sequences looking like a poor cousin of those from The Lord of the Rings series, and creatures which pale in comparison when placed side by side with the mythical creatures from the Harry Potter series. So when the sequel comes along to secure its place in this year’s summer blockbuster season, this reviewer is more than skeptical that it will appeal to him in any way.

But surprise, surprise – he found himself enjoying this sequel more than he thought he would.

A year after their first adventure (three years in our world), the four Pevensie siblings are magically summoned and pulled back to the land of Narnia, where 1300 years have passed. The true heir of the throne, Prince Caspian is on the run from his evil uncle General Miraz of the Telmarines, who has taken charge of the whole situation. His wife has just given birth to a son and the unscrupulous man will stop at nothing to rule the land. With the help of the remaining inhabitants of Narnia, the children must help the exiled heir regain his place and restore the grandeur and beauty that was Narnia.

Based on the second book published in the series of seven, this installment of the children fantasy is a visual effects extravaganza. Compared to its predecessor, the improvements in this movie are evidently vast. Look out for the sequence where the Narnians raid General Miraz’s castle. The intense scene is a fine execution where you may find yourself at the edge of your seats seeing how a sudden retreat sees the heroic Narnians caught by a falling gate and eventually brutally slaughtered by the villains. Also, the finale battle sequence between the Narnians and Telmarines is an eye opener. Watch out for the flying boulders, the collapsing underground tunnels, the soaring gryphons and other wonderfully computer generated effects.

Like James McAvoy’s adorable Mr. Tumnus in the first movie, viewers will find themselves adoring Trufflehunter the badger Reepicheep the mouse voiced by the animated Ken Scott (Charlie Wilson’s War) and Eddie Izzard (Across the Universe) respectively. While Peter Dinklage (Underdog) and Warwick Davis’s (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) dwarf characters may not be the most delectable characters, fans will welcome Liam Neeson’s aptly booming voice of Aslan the lion and Tilda Swinton’s brief but impact appearance as the White Witch’s ghost.

Our Pevensie siblings Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell have grown up nicely too, giving engaging performances that aren’t as forgettable as the last movie. Ben Barnes’ Prince Caspian is the series’ new character, and will be around to stay for a while. He may not be the best actor you’ve seen on screen, but his charisma makes his a perfect poster boy. Look out - there’s a new kid on the block.

When the 144 minute movie is given the Disney treatment and ends on a sugar coated note, you realize how the themes of courage and chivalry have been successfully portrayed in this enjoyable summer blockbuster. You’ll be eagerly looking forward to the next journey back to the mythical land in 2010’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

Movie Rating:

(A swashbuckling adventure that is worthy of being an enjoyable summer blockbuster)

Review by John Li