by Eiredreamer

Take a journey back to childhood, where animals talked and the monster under the bed posed a very real threat. Rediscover the magical place in every young child’s heart that gives us all immeasurable power—at least in our dreams. I am sure many of you are familiar with the C.S. Lewis series of stories, The Chronicles of Narnia. Perhaps you have even seen older incarnations of the first captivating story, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, either in animation or as a BBC-Television miniseries. Nothing will prepare you for this retelling of the classic tale.

First let me just say that the four children chosen for the lead roles are nothing short of perfect. From the eldest (William Moseley as Peter) as the displaced caregiver, trying so hard to be the parent he still longs for, to the youngest (little Georgie Henley as Lucy) who is a charming blend of mischief, wide-eyed wonder, and friendly, disarming innocence, each of the four completely embodies what their character is going through at the time.

The special effects, while impressive, were obviously mid-budget at some points. In the scenes with extensive movement (i.e. riding on the back of Aslan, in the train, on a horse, etc.) it was a clear line between filming and blue-screen. There were some moments when a creature’s anthropomorphic characteristics look seamless (the switch between live timber-wolves and CGI faces, for example), and others where the transformation is not quite as impressive (the horn of the unicorn becomes undoubtedly glued when the horse runs and the mane stays in place).

The music flows easily from one turn to the next, guiding the film as a good score should. The gentle mix of fanciful melodies and haunting accompaniment helps draw the viewer into the magical world of Narnia. Each piece is distinctive and unique, while still following the theme of beauty and imagination.

The film does not contain any blood, even while including a sacrifice and a battle. This makes the film appropriate for younger viewers, so long as they understand that the characters can be scary. The wolves chasing the children can be a little unnerving, and Tilda Swinton as the White Witch is downright terrifying. If you have youngsters, it might not be a bad idea to go see it first yourself, and choose whether or not your child has reached a maturity level to prevent nightmares of dead lions, talking wolves, and scary ladies that turn people into stone.

All in all, the film is wonderful for families, but it is most definitely geared toward the younger audiences. So long as you remember that the movie is based on a children’s book, and take it at face value, I am confident you will find it to be as enchanting as I did.