I enjoyed the first film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It struck the right chord and was a solid adaptation of a classic. This outing never finds its footing and quickly becomes little more than a dull, juvenile version of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.

Having been away for a very long time, the Pevensie kids are drawn back into the world of Narnia where they find the land held under the thumb of the evil Miraz the Usurper, King of Narnia (Sergio Castellitto). The kids join forces with the rightful heir to the throne Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) to overthrow the cruel false king. This summary points to why the story fumbles, the kids aren't the focus, the true and false kings are. This makes the Pevensie siblings tourists in their own story. They casually questioning if Aslan will come back to save the day and prepare for war with Miraz. This could have worked if he roles of Caspian and Miraz had been fuller. The two, as presented, are two-dimensional creatures there to recite lines and distribute plot points. Caspian in particular was wanting. Actor Ben Barnes delivers his lines with what can best described as an off putting impersonation of Antonio Banderas' accent while looking blankly at the walls. Caspian should be a striking figure, a natural leader, in this production he just looks like a young actor who isn't up to the job. I'm sure Barnes is a talented actor, he simply doesn't have the presence to pull of the role. This leaves a huge hole in the production that is never addressed. This vacuum in this key role turns to be fatal. By the time the final act concludes with the obligatory deus ex machina arrival of our missing savior, the film has lost its center and the victory rings hollow.

Will children enjoy the film? Probably, although there are many scenes of violence which may disturb the younger set. Again, it is fair to cite this as being a kiddie version of Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. If you think that speaks to your kids, this may be worth checking out. If you're looking to this film to continue to bold lead of the first movie, you may be left disappointed or, like many critics, pretending the film is better than it is.

Then again, it could just be me. My long suffering wife enjoyed the film and I have a thing against talking badgers.



Related Reviews:
Adaptations
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Beowulf (2007)


Other Critic’s Reviews:
Hollywood Jesus
Catholic Media Review

Labels: adaptation, film, movie review, Narnia