The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)

DVD, Somerville, MA

July 08, 2007

*** / ****

Without a doubt, The Chronicles of Narnia is child’s play. The movie features kids in starring roles, baddies as foul looking ogres and witches, friends as talking animals, and magic water whose best use is turning snow into candy. Yet surprisingly, for all its kidtastic window dressing, Narnia is also violent, obviously (for adults) religiously symbolic, and plays its fantastic adventures like a book on screen rather than a full-bodied epic film. It is entertaining, for sure, but in watching Narnia I was reminded of my childhood love for certain cartoons disappearing when viewing them as an adult. It wasn’t quite that dramatic with this version of C.S. Lewis’ famous children’s tale, but for every three moments of charming wonder one bogie always seemed to follow.

The story of Narnia involves four British children sent to a mysterious castle to live safely away from Nazi invasion during World War II. Missing their mother and strapped for ways to get their minds off their new predicament, the children engage in a round of hide and go seek. Using a giant clothes chest as a hideout (I suppose known in Britain as a wardrobe), four-year-old Lucy (Georgie Henley) discovers her hiding place leads to a magical frozen world ruled by an evil witch (Tilda Swinton). After a short exploration and meeting with a pan-like creature named Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy), who gravely informs her that she is in danger, Lucy returns back through the wardrobe to her own world. After much convincing by Lucy, none of it very successful, all four children eventually find their way into the closet and on through to the enchanted world of Narnia.

Once inside the magical kingdom, the kids discover they are principal players in an escalating war and prophecy which regards them as rightful rulers of the land. In much the same way as The Lord of the Rings series, the children journey apart and together growing in much the same way as the inexperienced Hobbits eventually learning that within each person is a courage and bravery just waiting to come out and a destiny that is much more important than an individual existence.

As a parable for the greater good outweighing one’s own comfort and well being, Narnia is engaging and relevant. Even if it does use a bit of violence to get there it is comforting to watch fantasy that is morally positive rather than the hopelessly vacant dreck that makes up much of today's kiddie fare . And while the children in the movie are sometimes portrayed in uncharacteristically silly or naïve ways, the bevy of odd creatures that slowly and then all at once appear add to the ambiance and theme of good and evil in obvious yet enchanting ways. These good citizens of Narnia, which consist of various centaurs, dwarves, rhinos, horses, cheetahs, and others, who are all capable of speech and intellect, are rich and detailed beings and full-fledged embodiments of truth and justice serving as perfect models for the children’s increasing awareness of purpose and sacrifice.

Their opposite, the evil White Witch who calls herself Queen, is a perfectly nasty lady on par with the headless Queen in Return to Oz and just as frightening. The witch’s henchmen, a pack of bloodthirsty wolves, are likewise menacingly evil and will definitely frighten the very young as they turn them off from ever acting in naughty fashion.

Where the movie slips, however, is in the overtly sinister and redeeming religious themes. It’s one thing to be moralistic in the telling of a tale, another to be blatantly metaphorical and downright sloppy in the comparisons. By the time a character willingly sacrifices himself on a stone altar to save another and repent for his sins you’ll be none too surprised how the whole thing turns out and possibly rolling your eyes at some of the silliness.

In all, Narnia lies somewhere between The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter as children’s fantasy worth checking out. There are better films in the genre, better special effects, and more engaging stories out there, but no doubt Narnia has its charms and fills a unique void as a children’s story with a positive message.