The Chronicles of Narnia (series)
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH & THE
WARDROBEÂ (PG)
D: Andrew Adamson
Disney/Walden Media (Mark Johnson & Philip
Steuer)
USA 🇺🇸 2005
143 mins
Fantasy/Adventure
W: Andrew Adamson, Ann Peacock, Christopher Markus
& Stephen McFeely [based on the novel by C. S. Lewis]
DP:Â Donald McAlpine
Ed: Sim Evans-Jones
Mus: Harry Gregson-Williams
PD: Roger Ford
Cos:Â Isis Mussenden
William Moseley (Peter Pevensie), Anna Popplewell
(Susan Pevensie), Georgie Henley (Lucy Pevensie), Skandar Keynes (Edmund Pevensie), Tilda Swinton (The White Witch), Liam Neeson (voice of Aslan), James McAvoy (Mr. Tumnas), Ray Winston
(voice of Mr. Beaver), Dawn French (voice of Mrs. Beaver)
C.S. Lewis' timeless novel gets the Disney treatment,
and it shows.Â
Set during the Second World War, four siblings (two
boys, two girls) are evacuated from London following the Blitz and given refuge in a country mansion where they discover a portal to a magical kingdom in an old wardrobe.
Greeted as the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve by
the talking forest creatures, they are sent on a quest to find a wise lion who needs their help to defeat an evil witch who has made Narnia perpetual winter.
As far as the production values and special effects,
this movie is quite a visual treat, but at 143 minutes, it's a build up to a battle which becomes rather anti-climactic. Â The religious allegories from Lewis' original prose has been
toned down, but certain elements are still a little obvious. Overall, it's the work of the Disney cash-machine rather than a great adaptation. A much better job was done for British TV in
the late 1980's.
6/10
