The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe – a review worthy of the movie.
In my never ending quest to review all the things, I wrote a review of Narnia back on December 10, 2005, 8 years ago.
Here is that review for you, with some new commentary in (italics).
Well comparing this movie to it’s early 1990’s BBC counterpart is like comparing a pile of shit to a Rolex, in almost every single way. (Now that’s how you start a review for a kids movie)
In the BBC version the girl who portrayed ‘Lucy’ was repulsively annoying, had a very interesting way of talking, and scary “ohmygodisitgoingoteattheotherchildren?” look, whereas in this new movie she is adorable and cute as a button. She reminds me of a dark haired Shirley Temple. I think whoever the casting director of this film was did an excellent job all around. (Seriously, I’m sure Sophie Wilcox is a wonderful person, but her character Lucy in the original BBC movie was the most hated part of that movie)
All of the voice actors for the Beavers, the fox, the wolves and such where excellent, and the kids they got to play the two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve (though technically they would also be two sons of Eve and two daughters of Adam) played their parts excellently and exactly how I would expect them to be.
The voice of Aslan was perfect, Liam Neesan had the same ambiance that the guy had in the BBC version yet none of the boring “I’m falling sleep here would you just say your line” that was in the BBC outing. The only things I found to be at odds with this movie was the odd pedophilic tension between Lucy and Mr. Tumnus (who would have thought Mr. Tumnus would go on to be Professor X?) and it got a little kiddie in parts, which is understandable since it is a kids film.
I do have to say the battle scenes where amazing. Oh and the decision to cast Tilda Swinton, who played Gabriel in Constantine, as the White Witch was the greatest casting choice since Mickey Rorke as Marv in Sin City. (she was also amazing as the Ancient One in Doctor Strange)
Some might think it’s a little on the cheeseball side, but deep down I have a soft sport for cheesy movies such as this.
Probably won’t see it again though.
And I was mostly right. I never did really see it again. I mean, it’s been on the TV and I’ve sen parts of it, but I never really sat and watched it more than maybe two times? I don’t know, but I still like it I just have no interest in watching it again. They made squeals, I don’t think I ever saw them.