C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia is the third major fantasy series to be turned into a movie since the millennium. Trying to imitate the success of adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, Disney pumped $150 million into the production of this first movie in the series. While not quite achieving the grandiosity of Peter Jackson’s Rings or the wonder of the Harry Potter movies, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is lighter, funnier, and simpler than either of the other series.
Lewis wrote The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as a standalone novel. It wasn’t until after it’s publication that he decided to write anything else. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe turned out to be the second book (of seven) in the history of Narnia. While debate rages among fans of the novel about the order the books should be read (chronologically or by publication date), Disney opted for the money, producing the most well-known and popular of the series first, with an option to later make the rest of the books.
The decision ended up well for Disney and for us. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, directed by Andrew Adamson, is accessible to those who haven’t read the books, yet stays close to the story in Lewis’s book, pleasing long-time fans.
The movie opens with the Battle of Britain in full-force, contrasting the book, which makes WWII the backdrop, never actually seen, for a much more complex tale. In the movie, however, the writers eschew much of the secondary plots and intricacies to focus on a clear battle between good and evil.
The Pevensie children (Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy) are sent to a country estate for their safety during the prolonged air raids. At the mansion, Lucy (Georgie Henley) stumbles upon an old wardrobe during a game of hide-and-seek. She climbs in, and finds that the back of the wardrobe connects to a snowy forest, part of the land of Narnia. There, she meets Mr. Tumnus (a charming James McAvoy), a faun (half-goat half-man). He takes her to his cave under auspices of tea and a snack. While there, he lulls her to sleep playing the flute. When she wakes up, he is crying, and tells her that he was going to kidnap her on the orders of the White Witch (Tilda Swinton). However, she charmed him, and (even though he will be punished severely) helps her find her way back to the wardrobe.
Late that night, she enters the wardrobe again, and is followed by Edmund (Skandar Keynes). She visits Mr. Tumnus, but he, without a guide, stumbles onto a sleigh path, where he encounters the White Witch. She warms him, and tells him to bring his siblings to her, because she has no children and wants heirs to her throne. He exits the wardrobe with Lucy, but tells Peter and Susan that he “was just playing along.â€
The next day, while fleeing after breaking a window in the Professor’s house, all four children hide in the wardrobe. They find Narnia, and Mr. Tumnus’s cave in shambles, with a note from the secret police warning others who betray the Queen. There, the children meet a beaver (voiced by Ray Winstone), who takes them to his house. They journey on from there, becoming wrapped up in a full-out war in Narnia. There Peter (William Moseley) allies with Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson), the legendary lion leader of Narnia.
The book largely incorporated Christian allusions and ideals. The movie, while not quite so blatant, is full of Christian overtones. Aslan is a clear Jesus figure, and themes of redemption and good versus evil take center stage. However, the Christianity is not overwhelming. The movie’s writers acknowledge the book’s Christian elements, but they are so interweaved with the story and universal that non-Christians can see the movie without being offended.
Moseley doesn’t quite have the charisma to play the main character. Despite his central role, he fades in the presence of Henley, whose sweet smile and innocence shine brightly on screen. Swinton, as the wholly evil White Witch, performs well early in the movie, when she convinces Edmund to help her. However, once she shows her true designs, she lacks the power and wickedness to command the attention her role deserves. Liam Neeson performs the voice of Aslan perfectly; he’s stoic, even, and powerful. Winstone and Dawn French as Mrs. Beaver are excellent in their comic relief roles. But it’s McAvoy’s Mr. Tumnus that truly steals the show. He’s magnetic, winning the audience’s hearts with his clever portrayal of the ill-fated faun.
There’s a reason that this series was never previously made into a movie. From the magic of the White Witch to the talking beasts and fantastical creatures of Narnia (fauns, centaurs, and satyrs, to name a few), only recent special effects technology has enabled the film to be made to full effect.
And what an effect it is. The snow-covered scenery is magnificent. The beasts are flawless, and the talking animals seem natural. The seamless transition from reality to fantasy is truly magic. The look on Lucy’s face as she first enters Narnia through the wardrobe is a testament to the job done by the special-effects artists. The climactic battle, while not quite as grand as those in the two final Rings movies, captures the epic scale of what is taking place. From fiery phoenixes to raging minotaurs, the magical beasts come alive throughout the film, fully transporting viewers to the mystical land.
The score, written by Stephen Barton and Toby Chu, doesn’t quite have the grand sound it should. Once again, the Lord of the Rings’s Howard Shore did a better job. There is no magic in the music, nothing that draws the audience in. It’s a minor flaw, however, in an otherwise magnificent film.
The movie is rated PG, though barely. There’s quite a bit of violence and death, though much of it is from far away or off-screen. Young children may be frightened by some of the beasts and may not be able to comprehend some of the complexities of the story.
Were C.S. Lewis still alive, he’d be happy to see this film. The themes and tone of his book are well represented, but the movie is straightforward enough to appeal to newcomers to the series. Though the story is a great tale of good versus evil, of accepting responsibility, and of redemption, it is, at its heart, only fantasy. Adamson’s take on the book is enchanting, magic, and an all-around good time.
"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" opens December 9, 2005 and is rated PG. Children & Family, Drama, Fantasy. Directed by Andrew Adamson. Written by C.S. Lewis (source material); Ann Peacock, Andrew Adamson, Christopher Markus, Stephen McF. Starring James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell.
