The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Fantasy films have really come of age in recent years. What I recall as being a bit of a niche genre has made a lot of headway into the mainstream. The result has been larger budgets from studios who are really willing to get behind these types of films. In the end, nerds and geeks like me finally get to see some of our favorite stories brought to life in ways we never would have dreamed of five years ago. Such was the case with Disney’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe.
The element with which I found myself most impressed was the incredible level of detail and nuance that was put into the CG throughout the film. The four-legged cast members never really seemed out of place, nor unnatural; aside from the fact that they all speak, of course. Instead, they all come off as very believable characters. I also have to say that you’ll be hard-pressed to find more convincing looking centaurs in any other film.
The children are portrayed rather well also, particularly the younger siblings. I was particularly impressed by the portrayal of Edmond, simply for the fact that the actor (forgive me, but I’m too lazy to look up his name) did so well that I honestly hated his character for a majority of the movie; which is exactly the reaction we are supposed to have. And I assure you, it wasn’t that kind of dislike that comes from knowing that I wasn’t meant to like the character, but rather a genuine disgust for Edmond’s selfish cowardice. It also made Edmond’s redemption through Aslan’s sacrifice all the more meaningful.
But truly, if there was one character I loathed most, it was rightfully the White Witch. Tilda Swinton is well suited for the role for several reason. First off, she just has the cold-hearted, blue-blooded look of a patrician. That coupled with my predisposed distaste for her and these very qualities set her up beautifully as the White Witch. I can think of few films in which I felt so sincere a hatred for the antagonist. For that, I have to commend Ms. Swinton.While the movie starts out slowly in its expositional element, it quickly gathers momentum and plunges you right into the world of Narnia. From there it progresses at a good clip, driving to a wonderfully realized final battle of epic proportions. It never really dawdles, nor does it get lost in attempts to fully explain its religious undertones. Instead, it paints a very detailed portrait of sacrifice, nobility of character, and the power of a child’s imagination.
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