Wonderland

Review by Vives Anunciacion
Inquirer Libre

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
Directed by Andrew Adamson
Written by Ann Peacock, Andrew Adamson
Based on the book by C.S. Lewis
Starring Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell
GP/ 140 mintes
Walt Disney Pictures/ Walden Media


Lion kings and closets and queens rule in this magical children’s tale about an enchanted kingdom hidden behind the doors of a wardrobe. C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe gets a triumphant big-screen adaptation from the magicians of Shrek and The Lord of the Rings.

For more than a hundred years, everything is frozen cold in the magical world of Narnia by the icy touch of the white witch, Jadis (Tilda Swinton), who declares herself the queen of Narnia. Always winter, never Christmas, as the inhabitants would say. The great lion Aslan, rightful ruler and creator of Narnia, gathers his army for the fight against white witch, but he needs four individuals to fulfill the prophesied task – two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve. The humans will help win the war against Jadis and restore peace and freedom in Narnia.

Enter four curious children – the Pevensies – Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy (Georgie Henley) and a mysterious wardrobe that leads into a wintry wonderland where animals talk and Father Christmas (Santa Claus) lives.

Edmund is entranced by the white witch by the magic of Turkish Delight and mistakes her veiled hospitality for friendship. When the siblings discover the white witch’s plans and decide to help Aslan and his army, Edmund instead goes to Jadis and betrays his siblings.

With the aid of Aslan’s soldiers, Edmund is rescued and brought to Aslan’s keep. But his treachery comes with a price: immediately after Edmund’s rescue, Jadis arrives at Aslan’s camp and demands Edmund’s life. It appears that an old magical law forfeits the life of a traitor to the white witch. As Peter prepares for the war against Jadis, Susan and Lucy are horrified to discover that Aslan has offered himself to be sacrificed in behalf of Edmund. But the sad fact is only brief. Spoiler warning: When the war is finally waged, Aslan rises from the dead in time to defeat the white witch.

The second book of The Chronicles of Narnia series, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is a tender tale of faith, forgiveness and magic set in epic proportions. Director Andrew Adamson (Shrek 2) and his New Zealand team faithfully adapt the classic children’s tale of faith and magic with spellbinding visuals and impressive effects.

But Adamson may be more adept with animation than with live actors, as practically all humanoid characters deliver frigid lines out of character. Only the immeasurable Tilda Swinton delivers spot-on chills as the icy white witch Jadis. The last time she surprised everyone with her character was when she played the Archangel Gabriel in Constantine.

The Christian undertones of Narnia are lightly handled (Aslan’s sacrifice and reincarnation for the “sins” of man, the female “logic” always in Susan always interrupting the male “reason” – Adam and Eve stuff; etc.), which is good for non-Christian viewers who don’t expect religious undertones in their shows. However, the themes are decidedly for young viewers and those expecting heavy action sequences may feel shortchanged.

The worst part of Narnia is the musical score – perfunctory, crass and forgettable – that it never seems to fit the frame or the moment. It feels out of place. Unless that was the intention, then it succeeds squarely.

Comparisons with Lord of the Rings are justified. Lewis and LOTR creator JRR Tolkien were best friends in Oxford University. It was Tolkien who convinced the atheist Lewis towards Christianity, hence Narnia and the Christ-like Aslan.

Narnia is the latest British series overrun by overhungry Hollywood (after four Harry Potters, three Lord of the Rings and twenty-odd James Bonds.) Fortunately this one is not a letdown. Narnia may not be as expansive or as colossal as Middle-earth, but it’s still one land full of many wonders.