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Thursday, 01 June 2006 00:00 |
Credits:
Director: Andrew Adamson
Screenwriters: Ann Pea*****, Andrew Adamson, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Based on the book by: C.S. Lewis
Producers: Mark Johnson, Philip Steuer
Executive produces: Andrew Adamson, Perry Moore
Cast:
Lucy: Georgie Henley
Edmund: Skandar Keynes
Peter: William Moseley
Susan: Anna Popplewell
White Witch: Tilda Swinton
Mr. Tumnus: James McAvoy
Professor Kirke: Jim Broadbent
Ginarrbrik: Kiran Shah
Voice of Aslan: Liam Neeson
"The Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter" film series have shown there is a huge hunger for movie franchises based on fantasy literature. Disney and Walden Media's reported $150 million gamble on this 55-year-old book, the first in a series of seven that explore the alternate universe of Narnia, certainly has the potential to become a megahit. Hard to say what the impact will be of Disney's acknowledged campaign to get out churchgoers for "Narnia," which is clearly an allegory of the Christ story, but it can't hurt. Certainly children will be enthralled by the journey through Narnia and this thrill should extend to adults, too.
Writers Ann Pea*****, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely along with Adamson mostly adhere to Lewis' story line while adding a few rousing action sequences: There's an escape from evil wolves through a tunnel, a chase across a frozen lake and a wild ice-flow trip down rapids. For the climactic battle, the filmmakers throw in creatures and animals unmentioned or scarcely mentioned in the book: from centaurs and satyrs of Greek mythology to bears, hypos, tigers, ogres, giants and dwarfs.
It all begins with a wardrobe.
In besieged World War II England, the four Pevensie siblings -- Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell) and the younger children, Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy (Georgie Henley) -- are evacuated from London to a large country manor of an old professor (Jim Broadbent). Then a game of hide-and-seek uncovers an enchanted wardrobe.
To their amazement, they discover that if they step to the back of this large piece of furniture passed hanging fur coats, they stumble into the parallel universe of Narnia, a land of talking animals and fantastic creatures. It is also covered in snow. For Narnia has fallen under the curse of the White Witch (Tilda Swinton), which has forced inhabitants to suffer through 100 years of winter -- but with no Christmas.
The appearance of the Pevensie children changes all this. Foes of the White Witch spring into action as these "children of Adam and Eve" might fulfill an old prophesy. Rumor has it that Aslan, the long-absent lion king (and the story's Christ figure), is on the move, ready to reclaim his realm.
The betrayal of the siblings by brother Edmund is actually presaged better in the movie than the book. The screenwriter clearly establish a conflict between the younger and older brother before they enter Narnia and Edmund's (more felt than actual) ostracism from the family rankles the youngster.
Indeed the writers have nicely fleshed out all four children. Peter is a born leader but uncertain how to grasp leadership. Lucy, the innocent who discovers Narnia, is ever curious and determined. Susan's warm maternal instincts are clearly pronounced here. And Edmund's "treachery" stems more from hurt feelings than the mere taste of the White Witch's Turkish Delight.
Among the adult actors, Swinton stands out. She is no fairy-tale witch, but rather a fierce, modern villainess with pools of liquid evil for eyes and powerful, wiry arms that slash and thrust her many weapons. Another highlight is James McAvoy's warmth and humor in the key role of the conflicted faun, Mr. Tumnus.
The CG characters are terrific. Aslan is the Real McCoy as a lion from the individual strands of hair in his mane to those sad-angry eyes. Liam Neeson is too familiar a voice to come from this creature but Neeson does give Aslan gravitas. Ray Winstone and Dawn French turn Mr. and Mrs. Beaver into winsome, chattery creatures.
Much of the production takes place on New Zealand soundstages, but outdoor action is shot all over the globe in Poland, the Czech Republic, England and New Zealand. This all comes together into a believable Narnia as Donald M. McAlpine's crisp cinematography jives well with special effects pulled off by three companies -- Rhythm & Hues, Sony Pictures Imageworks and ILM. Harry Gregson-Williams supplies the lush and lyrical score
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