Movie Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Rated by 5 members
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that the film has some sad, scary, and
violent scenes for a PG film. The movie begins with a bombing
during the Blitz in London. The children are separated from
their mother, which could upset some younger audience members.
There are other sad scenes where animals die -- including
principle characters. A friendly fox is chased and caught by a
pack of wolves, who also chase the children. A witch yells at a
young boy, chains him in prison, and stabs him. She also abuses
her servant, stabs her enemies with a sword that turns them to
stone, martyrs the lion, and leads troops into battle. The
children learn to fight, then engage in hand-to-hand combat and
sword fighting; one sister shoots an enemy with an arrow. There
is a pitched battle with deaths and grave injuries. While not
overt, the movie includes Christian imagery (a martyred,
Christlike lion, a rebirth from magic water) and allegorical
storylines.
Families can talk about the bonds among the four siblings, as
they comfort and provoke one another while away from their
mother and fearful about the war. How is Narnia a fantasy born
of this combination of supporting one another and concern about
their future? How do the animals and creatures in Narnia
represent different aspects of the children's daily lives --
their courage, fear, and desires? Families might also discuss
the Christian iconography in the film.
Based on C.S. Lewis' beloved novel, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE begins when the Pevensie children -- Peter (William Moseley), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Susan (Anna Popplewell), and Lucy (Georgie Henley) -- are sent away from the dangers of World War II to live in the country with Professor Kirke (Jim Broadbent). While playing hide and seek, they discover the magical wardrobe that serves a portal to Narnia, a kingdom under the power of the evil White Witch (Tilda Swinton). Here they also discover their own strengths, as they learn of a prophecy declaring their participation crucial to saving Narnia. When 6-year-old Lucy first meets the faun Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy), her siblings won't believe her. But soon all four children have tumbled through the portal into Narnia and find they must rescue Edmond who has been enticed (and kidnapped) by the Witch. While the Witch holds Narnia under a wintry sway, she dreads the return of Aslan the lion (voiced by Liam Neeson), the character C.S. Lewis endows with savior-like properties. The Pevensies come to realize it's their destiny to save the kingdom. At first, they resist the dangerous mission, but Narnia friends teach them specific tasks they'll use in battle. By now, Peter, Susan, and Lucy are looking for Aslan, in hopes that he will help them save Edmond, currently in chains at the Witch's feet, even as she and her wolves are hunting the children. The Witch's power depends on her capacity to instill fear in her subjects, while Aslan inspires hope, the faith that conditions might change, that the sun might warm the earth.
