I went into this one thinking that it looked too clean, that Liam Neeson’s voice coming out of Aslan was going to be as distracting as Sean Connery coming out of Draco, that Andrew Adamson was the completely wrong director, that James McAvoy as Mr. Tumnus was tragic miscasting with a design that was incredibly uninspired and that I would walk out of the film thinking that this was going to be the first nail in the coffin of fantasy, that LORD OF THE RINGS and the HARRY POTTER movies had brought back to life.
I was way wrong.
THE CHRONICLE OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE is a magical film that will take you away, if you allow it. It isn’t perfect though.
It cries desperately to be somewhere around 3 hours and 20 minutes, but is an hour shy of that, and I know your bladder lets out a sigh of relief, but that hour that’s missing is the difference between this and the LORD OF THE RINGS. It’s the time given to deepening the supporting characters that often times in epic stories like these are asked to make the greatest sacrifices without the miracle of resurrection. As a result, some of Aslan’s disciples/lieutenants are found to be paper thin. Which is a shame, because characters like that fox and the beaver and Tumnus and Aslan and the kids and that wolf and the white witch are all wonderful… at least for me.
My nephew and girlfriend have been dying to see this for the last several weeks. Extended friends of mine were dying to see this. And I was going into as, well… at least I can get this out of the way before BNAT.
This is one that I just didn’t think could live up to my modest expectations for it. You see, I didn’t go into this film wanting it to be the next LORD OF THE RINGS, it could never be that, because frankly THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA was never as good a story (for me) as LORD OF THE RINGS. As a kid, I read HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS first. Then my parents bought me the Narnia novels and upon reading them, they just didn’t grip me the way Tolkien did. As a film – it always felt in my head more like an animated film. Talking Beavers, Horses, Unicorns… The books are a gateway introduction to the mythological cornucopia of strange beasts and common ones – and they all talk, they are all characters. There was a part of me that just thought of it as silly.
Watching the film… Well, when Lucy Pevensie smiles as she steps out into the snowy world of Narnia and found that Lamp Post and found Mr Tumnus, I found myself turning into a kid. Little Georgie Henley was my gateway character. I saw the splendor and magic she saw. I could imagine going off with Mr Tumnus for Tea and biscuits. And once in Tumnus’ wonderful home, and as he brought out his lute – and those stunningly beautiful flames danced and galloped and came to life in a dreamy real way… I was being sucked in.
I bought Peter instantly, if you watch closely as he’s boarding the train – you can see him looking at the soldiers wishing he was one of them, at least that’s what I perceived. Forcing himself to be the dutiful son, the one put in charge during these dark days of war. Personally I liked him. He’s nowhere near as charming as Lucy, but then Peter was never supposed to be.
Edmond is exactly the character that he was supposed to be. He’s the younger brother, the one not quite as big as Peter, the one that is never quite as good as Peter, the one who just can’t ever seem to do anything right. He longs to be acknowledged, to be counted. Ultimately he’s not a bad kid, he just has a slight case of the me’s. And every time he betrays someone, he either – honestly doesn’t believe it’ll put them in danger, or he is trying to keep someone from immediate harm. His scene where he commits the 4 siblings to the battle that lay ahead was classic. I love the look on his face when he says he’s seen what the White Witch does.
The oddest part is, somehow the most charming character is that damn BEAVER. Now, the best talking beaver in screen history is in CHATTERBOX, but this talking beaver is for the whole family. And this one can handle being bit and gnawed on with a sense of humor. Talking Beaver in armor with a bow & arrow is really something. I thought the cigarette trick or the ping pong balls was something. But in all seriousness – the animators of the Beavers really put a lot of warmth and character into the critter. His response to Lucy’s, “but Beavers build dams,” is one of my favorite reactions by a character this year. Great gag.
My next fave character was the lead wolf, the voice and the character animation again was magical for me. Sure, I know it’s CG – but given the lack of talking wolves in the world – I believe it’s a tad better than the Big Bad Wolf from Disney’s earlier days… actually, that wolf kicked unholy ass, this isn’t better than that, merely more convincing… and wonderfully despicable.
Gotta wrap this up – it’s time for BNAT – and I’ve been trying to get this written in-between the bag-day / pre-party / last minute organizational work. Sigh. Ultimately this weekend – if you want to see a truly great film that will make you think about our situation in the world today – see SYRIANA, but if you want to have a really fun light-hearted adventure fantasy – NARNIA all the way -- and if you’re in Austin and want an extra special experience – this is the scene at the Alamo Drafthouse South right now… that’s how you enter the theater… old school light pole and all! How cool is that????
