C.S. Lewis, author of 'The Chronicles of Narnia' series, once wrote, 'A young man who wishes to remain a sound Atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. God is, if I may say it, very unscrupulous.' This quote is quite ironic, as many have characterized 'Narnia' as a Christian parable, with the lion Aslan as the Christ figure.
However, those who walk into 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' with an open mind, or with fond memories of reading the classic books without the subtext, will no doubt be satisfied with what is on-screen: a very faithful and enjoyable experience for old fans of the book and newcomers alike.
The film centers around four siblings who move into the British countryside to escape German air raids during World War II. In their new home, they discover a magical wardrobe that is a portal to the land of Narnia, which is inhabited by a mixture of mythical creatures and talking animals.
Narnia is currently under control of the evil White Witch, played by Tilda Swinton, who has plunged the land into a winter that has lasted 100 years. The four children's arrival coincides with a prophecy predicting the return of the true ruler of Narnia, Aslan the Lion, voiced by Liam Neeson. A war between the sides of good and evil is inevitable, and the four children are said to be the difference between victory and defeat for good. The four journey across Narnia to see Aslan and provide whatever assistance they can to the king.
The film itself does a fine job of recapturing a lot of the magic of Lewis' books. The performances of the children, especially the youngest, Lucy, played by newcomer Georgie Henley, are very endearing and earnest. The scene where Lucy first enters Narnia during a game of hide-and-seek and meets Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy) is simple but especially charming.
It is impossible not to like the children or to identify with at least one. Swinton plays the witch with an icy malevolence that is at once restrained and intense. If she is meant to be the satanic opposite to Aslan's Christ, she does it very well.
The visuals in the film are stunning. Director Adam Adamson, who helmed both of the 'Shrek' films, artfully shifts the colors of Narnia from bleaker grays and blues to a richer pallet as the winter thaws. The animals look spectacular, and are as realistic-looking as anything else on the screen. The world itself is not as fantastic looking as those in movies like the 'Harry Potter' and 'Lord of the Rings' series, but it wasn't imagined or designed to be. In a way, the land of Narnia is a more plausible and realistic-looking place than the others.
Admittedly, the film is slightly long and, to an older audience, seems a little bit silly at times. But it is also that attention to detail and faithfulness to its source material that makes the film enjoyable for all ages. In truth, the film would not have benefited from a 'finessing' of the story or by changing it to suit a more mature audience. The movie is based on a children's book, and anyone who is looking for something other than a fantasy has found him or herself in the wrong theater.
'The Chronicles of Narnia' is a good movie that knows what it is supposed to do and executes it very well. It may never find its way into the upper-echelon of adaptations with 'Harry Potter' and 'LOTR,' but its adherence to its source and marvelous vision of the story are certainly more than enough to keep the diehard fans satisfied while appealing to those who are just discovering these books.
If this is the first of many voyages that we are about to take into Narnia, it will be hard to wait for a second.
