Movie Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe
Rated by 3 members
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this film features little, if
anything, to worry about. The battle scenes and the White Witch
might scare younger viewers. And some parents might also find
the religious overtones of the film objectionable.
Families can talk about how this film compares to the
book.
Is it a faithful adaptation? Is this better or worse than other
movies you've seen adapted from books? What would you have
included or left out if you were making the movie? What are
some of the challenges of adapting a book for cinema? Families
could also compare this adaptation to the new version of the
film.
Originally aired as a made-for-TV movie, this BBC adaptation of C.S. Lewis's popular story is a classic, quasi-religious story of good versus evil, four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy wander into the magical world of Narnia through the back of an old wardrobe. Because of the evil White Witch's reign, Narnia has been kept in a state of perpetual winter, and its inhabitants are in a constant state of fear. Help comes in the form of Aslan, the good lion king. The children must fulfill their destiny by battling the White Witch, taking their places on the four thrones, and turning Narnia back into the paradise it once was.
This BBC adaptation of Lewis’s story has stood the test of time. It’s an enduring and engaging story with a moral. Despite some truly appalling special effects that might look a cheap by today's standards, the movie still brings to life the magical world of Narnia and the classic battle of good versus evil. The film is likely to appeal to a wide range of ages, but at nearly three hours long, parents might need to break the movie down into smaller chunks for younger viewers.
The Chronicles of Narnia is highly recommended for family viewing. Families who enjoy this version of the story will want to check out the big-budget version of the story, released in December 2005.
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