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Rating:  - Here's a good movie you can watch with your whole family.
THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE is probably the only film I have ever looked forward to seeing which opened exactly the way I had envisioned. It's the story of four siblings from London who are sent (along with thousands of other English children) to live in the country, away from the Blitzkrieg bombing of Hitler's Third Reich. The movie, therefore, opens not like a LORD OF THE RINGS fantasy film but more along the lines of BATTLE OF BRITAIN. The children were all perfectly cast, especially Edmund and Lucy. Aslan is just as grand and glorious as I ever imagined him to be in the books.
While staying in an enormous country house belonging to an old, mysterious professor, the youngest child discovers another world via a wardrobe where all four children are caught up in a mystical war, where they are believed by the good guys to be long-prophecied kings and queens who will reign and restore freedom and order. It is also a land where a noble Lion named Aslan lives. Aslan is often alluded to as the Christ-figure in the seven Narnia books.
Overall, this movie is pure enchantment just like the books, and since it is a Disney film, just like the old-school Disney films (e.g. the ones that were made under Walt Disney's personal supervision).
This film contains no profanity (and no blasphemy), no sexual immorality, and not even any gratuitous violence. It's just great entertainment with creative storytelling and quality production as its foundation. If you're a C.S. Lewis fan or you're just looking for some exciting and wholesome family entertainment that adults and children can enjoy together then you can trust THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE.
Rating:  - Weak-Yet-Overblown Treatment of a Classic Tale
I wanted very much to like this film, but it was indeed one of the few I have ever "walked-out on" in an actual theater. I knew after 40 minutes that it was lame, and that the story was not being well-served by this particular production-team and its adaptation. There was no sense of wonder or palpable enchantment, despite the lavish sets and other cinematic bells & whistles. The "telling" of this tale seemed stilted and rote on-screen, as if crafted entirely by mechanism, rather than any winsome adherence to (or attempt to capture) the spirit of C.S. Lewis' allegorical classic. The characters (particularly the Pevensie children) seemed all stock and stone, save for the youngest, who was quite sparkling...though hardly able to carry a film of this magnitude on her dimples and adorable picket-fence grins.
To be fair, the film is more convincing the second time around, on a smaller screen at home. This widescreen DVD Edition reminds us that this installment of the series may have been much more well-conceived as a TV-miniseries. One's home-entertainment center seems able to do better justice to the paint-by-numbers "small-mindedness" of this version than the local cinema-screen. The extras are typical, and nothing to get overly excited about. The film is a relatively unimaginative rendition of the original story, poorly paced, competently shot, and decently acted. Tilda Swinton breathes the only hint of transcendent possibility into the movie. Her portrayal of Jadis, the White Witch, was truly compelling and free of the overwrought scenery-chewing that a lesser actress might've brought to the character. She's excellent. Alas, Swinton's essentially "supporting" role cannot carry a film of this scope, either. Kids, young adults, and fans of the Lewis Narnia tales should have this in their collection, to be certain. It's on a par with most of the Harry Potter adaptations (which are largely mediocre-to-pleasantly "watchable" for adults). For what it could have been, however--given the overall talent and big budget--this journey to Narnia is nevertheless a disappointment.
Rating:  - Narnia: Not My Cup of Tea
What can I say, I just don't care for this movie. I thought that it would be very entertaining and fun. But I was wrong. Sadly, this film falls short from the stories of its creator.
Narnia is not a film that I can watch oer and over again. I'm sorry but this film only gets * star from me.
Rating: - Great Extended Version - Discs 3 & 4 are welcome additions!
Owning the two-disc version of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe", I was curious to see what the four-disc extended version would add to my viewing experience. My family and I enjoyed watching the extended scenes (Disc 1), particularly the "Battle for Narnia". I was pleasantly surprised by both Disc 3 and Disc 4.
Disc 3 " C.S. Lewis - Dreamer of Narnia" is a movie that educates the viewer about the man behind the "Narnia" series. Lewis' story is told in a very creative way. It opens with footage of a real lion steadily moving through a wilderness allowing us to visualize what it must have been like before and as Aslan created Narnia. We meet various literary and religious scholars who comment on C.S. ("Jack") Lewis and themes found in his writings in a clear, respectful, and warm-hearted fashion. We hear from a former student, a taxi driver (who gives tours of significant places in C.S. Lewis' life and tells of Lewis' impact on his life), a close friend of his wife, and Douglas Gresham (C.S. Lewis's stepson and a producer of the current theatrical movies) who shares quite personal insights about "Jack" and his mother. Interspersed throughout are voiceovers of "Jack" reading his letters aloud, giving this movie a solid narrative. Also included are brief scenes of children as they describe what Narnia means to them (in single sentences) and read excerpts from the books. I truly enjoyed this movie and found it quite educational. Parental discretion is advised since footage of WWI (actual footage is not gory but includes frank descriptions of war), suicide, death from cancer, and alcoholism are topics that are mentioned.
Disc 4 - "Visualizing The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe: The Complete Production Experience" is fascinating to watch as it shows the movie (theatrical version) with inserts of various members of the production team telling (and often showing) how they approached a particular element of the scene. The producers, director, costume designer, director of photography, set designer, special effects designers & directors, cast (live and voice actors), make-up & prosthetics designer, composer, and editor are all well-represented. Disc 4 will probably be of particular interest to anyone who loves this film and has an interest in filmmaking.
Rating: - No place like Narnia
Great story of a far away place in another dimension with time warp factor.Great scenery and great acting. Fell in love with Lucy Pevensie. A most see for everyone af all ages. Can't wait to see Prince Caspian, 1300 years later.
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