Chronicles of Narnia

Before I say anything about "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" let it be known that I have not read the books. Do not ask me to compare for I will be at a loss. However, let me say, too, that after the movie I am interested in giving them a try. "Narnia" is fantastic!

The Pevensie children are growing up in WWII London. In an attempt to keep them from harm as bombs fall around the city, families send their kids off to homes in the countryside to stay with people willing to take them in. Mrs. Pevensie decides that this is best for her four children while their father is off fighting the war. None of the children want to leave, and their angst only builds as they are sent to stay with a reclusive professor and his strict housekeeper. Peter (William Moseley), the oldest son, would prefer to be off fighting in the war alongside his father but instead is put in charge of the others. Edmund (Skandar Keynes), the youngest son, resents this as he never seems able to be as great as his older brother. Lucy (Georgie Henley), the youngest of the four, seems to be the only one unaffected by the war, and tells her older sister Susan (Anna Popplewell) that Susan was more fun when she had an imagination.

Once the setup is established, the action quickly picks up as Lucy is the first to discover Narnia, a magical land where winter has been a constant for over 100 years. Lucy found Narnia in an ancient wardrobe during a game of hide and seek. After having tea with Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy), a faun who quickly befriends her, Lucy heads back to the professor's mansion via the wardrobe. Her attempts to convince her siblings that she had been to Narnia fail, as do their efforts to go through the wardrobe. After Lucy makes another visit to Narnia, with Edmund following behind, the others eventually find their way to this land of wonder. They also quickly learn that Narnia is not a safe place for four humans.

With the help of two beavers, the children become aware of an ancient prophecy that tells of Narnia being freed from the reign of the evil White Witch (an impressive Tilda Swinton), who brought winter seemingly forever upon the land, by two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve. The White Witch is well versed on this story as well, and quickly works to capture and kill the children to insure that she remains in power. Unwittingly, Edmund quickly becomes a pawn for the Witch when she promises him greater power than Peter. This is exactly what he has been longing for. The others realize that they need to rescue Edmund to then take on the White Witch in battle. It is also explained in the prophecy that before the four humans become the leaders of Narnia, there must be a battle with Peter in the lead alongside the great savior Aslan, a giant lion with the wisdom of the ages.

I realize that was a very long description, but it would be difficult to explain "Chronicles" any other way. All in all, the movie is beautiful to look at, the emotional and physical toll experienced by each character is well played, especially by Keynes, and the action is intense. In fact, there is a specific scene that could be very frightening to younger children with a dramatic, and vicious, event that scared even me. On the downside, with all the magical effects going on around them, the children seem fairly unaffected. They almost play it off as if talking animals and fairy tale creatures are naturally occurring events.

In the end, it is no "Lord of the Rings", but I was more impressed than I had expected to be. More importantly, the audience applauded wholeheartedly. "The Chronicles of Narnia" is an impressive movie that is for more than just kids. I give it an A.

"The Chronicles of Narnia" is rated PG with a running time of 140 minutes.