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Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe, The - 1/12/2005 10:16:40 AM

Empire Admin

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Post #: 1

RE: Magical - 1/1/2006 5:06:10 AM

Indio

Posts: 7131
Joined: 3/10/2005
From: London

I went to see it and wasn't expecting much, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I haven't read the books in ohh, 20 years or so, so can't speak for the accuracy of the plot and script, but I REALLY enjoyed it. I'd give it 4 out of 5.

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- 1/1/2006 2:33:59 PM

06danielparker

Posts: 1
Joined: 1/1/2006

Should stop being compared to the Lord of the Rings. It was just as good as The Fellowship and better than the last two LOTR films.

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Post #: 3

RE: - 1/1/2006 3:23:28 PM

Taizy

Posts: 210
Joined: 1/1/2006

This was my New Years Eve treat and what I really loved was that even before the film began the magic of the story was evident in the audience- our tiny Screen 4 at Bromley had old couples, teenagers, familys, a few twenty somethings etc and it really brought home to me how well loved this story is...
I'd seen the previews and thought Tilda Swinton was excellent casting as the White Witch is meant to be seductive and welcoming at first as her embodiment of evil also represents the temptation to give into it. I'd re-watched the BBC version last year when I was a student and the White Witch in that is far too obvious whereas Swinton's seemed liked one that could ensnare as well as terrify. I also thought Edmund was fantastic and LOVED the beavers!
I thought there was perhaps not enough made of Aslans relationship with the children as when Lucy and Susan cried over his body I didn't believe they'd had that deep a bond and the batle was spectacular but anti-climactic... on the whole though I flipping loved it. Has anyone read my favourite 'The Magicians Nephew' the first book? Thats all about creation but has magical rings that take you from one world to another...wonder if they'll give it a go!

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Post #: 4

It starts off better than it ends - 2/1/2006 9:30:44 PM

Eastern Cowboy

Posts: 47
Joined: 11/10/2005

C.S. Lewis' Narnia is one of the best selling books of all time, and with the 90ties TV-movies we were offered nothing but a pretty low budget, some really bad acting and all over sad adaptation. In 2005 director Andrew Adamson releases his adaptation on The Lion, the Witcha and the Wardrobe, the most familiar of the Narnia adventures. Though, there's a very mixed up movie we get here, were sadly enough the bad things are much more important than the few things that actually work.

So, why not start off with the good bits; and let it be said early, the first half works pretty well. As the movie opens with a close shot of German pilots bombing England we're soon drawn into these four kids, who travel of to a big mansion where they are to live with a mysterious professor that is "not to be disturbed." Soon, the youngest of them, Lucy, discovers a new world simply by walking into a wardrobe, the world of Narnia! All of this, though it's all pretty hasty, it's got a touch to it and there by it's far more entertaining. The music is pretty good and so with the CGI-effects, the main character Aslan being a big animated lion looks very well. The action scenes isn't that bad, and there is the funny beaver-couple, some fine wolves and pretty interesting and well made Christ / Aslan references. With all this in place you could think that Narnia offered what it had promised, well no.

The sad parts are; poor acting, a hastly editor-side and dialog suffering hugely (again) with hast and booring conversations - and Adamson even makes the Narnia world almost dull and uninteresting! These are four parts of the story that's main and very relevant, and with these failing utterly Narnia doesn't succeed. Though the dynamic universe could have offered so much more, we're instead given some lame children that simply irritated more than charms, and with this I really didn't get involved emotionally or dramatically. The Chronicles of Narnia mostly dissapointed me, and were too childish instead of being smart and interesting.The White Witch is neither creepy or cold, she's simply a bad actress that's overblown in costumes and a "wannabe" Santa Clause-sleigh, though in white design. And speaking of Santa Clause, for those who didn't know he shows up with gifts for the kids, pretty much very uneccesary putting such an idiotic scene into it. Liam Neeson makes the voiceover for Aslan himself, making him in low register and respectful, and with him walsing around you should think off some chilling moments to come but no; Adamson makes us wait, well let's say 90% of the movie before something really happens. Dissapointing that's what I've got to say.

< Message edited by Eastern Cowboy -- 2/1/2006 9:36:09 PM >

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Post #: 5

Hmm - 3/1/2006 4:07:25 PM

Bosskatte

Posts: 1040
Joined: 3/1/2006

Having never read the Narnia books, I was looking forward to an impressive fantasy adventure with plenty to catch the eye. Having been put off by a few iffy word of mouth reviews, I again saw the trailor at Kong and thought "Still looks cool". Alas, myself and chums left the theatre thoroughly underwhelmed. Yes, some of the effects were good, Aslan as a prime example, but so much was left unexplored in scenes, e.g., the kids confronted with the Wolf Police, then suddenly up a tree. Surely this would have made for an exciting set piece, as was the case with chases containing the same protagonists.
Also, what have directors got against using good young actors? I don't believe that these can be the best of anyone but Kwik-Save's crop, so why not spend a bit more time trying to unearth some decent talent.
It wasn't all bad, Swinton providing a tour de force in nastiness, with a bit of cool thrown in on her battle chariot, but it certainly didn't leave me gasping for more

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Post #: 6

RE: Hmm - 6/1/2006 12:05:23 AM

Paul2j

Posts: 107
Joined: 30/9/2005

Child actors can be utter crap, but these weren't too bad, though Edmund wasn't exactly great. I'd forgotten many parts of the story, but it was very enjoyable to see bits that I did recall from years ago. It's still a really good story, and a good film. The casting of Tilda Swinton as the White Witch is perfect.

I'll call it a 7 out of 10, well worth checking out, especially as there's a distinct lack of decent films (well, films I want to see anyway) out now and in the next couple of weeks.

< Message edited by Paul2j -- 6/1/2006 12:08:10 AM >

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Post #: 7

Too starkly allegorical - 10/1/2006 12:47:39 AM

ianrickard

Posts: 2
Joined: 10/1/2006

The cinematic equivalent of slapped in the face with a bible. Ouch!

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Post #: 8

A Decent Adaptation - 10/1/2006 2:56:29 PM

sull26

Posts: 30
Joined: 10/10/2005

Putting the child actors of that other children centred film at the moment, Harry Potter, to shame, the children of Narnia (particularly Georgie Henley) immediately accomplish the high standards expected of this much awaited movie. Finely supported by the spot-on tones of Dawn French, Ray Winstone and Liam Neeson; alongside the supportive cast of Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy and Jim Broadbent, the cast in general cannot really be faulted. The winter setting, the fight on the ice river and the final battle all seem to be explored to their fullest - However, throughout all this there seems to be something amiss! That, in general, it is not as completely magical as was expected. Good, family entertainment, but on reflection it could have been something much more!

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Post #: 9

- 13/1/2006 4:28:11 PM

hannahq

Posts: 2
Joined: 3/10/2005

I think this is a good adaptation of the book, it looks pretty good & the look of the film chimes pretty well with the way I had imagined narnia as a child. However, while I found it interesting to watch as a childhood fan of the books, I wouldn't recommend it to adults who hadn't read the books, in contrast to say the pixar films or LOTR.

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Post #: 10

should have been better - 21/1/2006 1:47:22 PM

surfy

Posts: 14
Joined: 21/1/2006

This was worth a watch but thats all it was worth. I had read the book ,, seen the rather average adaptation on t.v and was hoping this would be much much better. Unfortunately it looks like they spent the entire budget on the last battle scene and filmed the rest in a painted studio, not to mention the acting! Big let down for me but you might think otherwise.

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Post #: 11

thrill-less - 2/2/2006 4:14:59 PM

meh...

Posts: 383
Joined: 30/9/2005

This film left me really cold. Apart from the guy that played Peter ("The Magnificent!" *cringe*), i thought that the kids did a pretty good job. But that's probably the only compliment i can give the film (oh and Swinton was brilliant!). How can you experience Narnia's wonder, when everything is so damn artificial!! I swear i could even see the wooden panelling of the stage in the backgrounds of some scenes. There was no urgency and no suspense, the soundtrack was generic and the battle had no impact (they all looked bored). Even though some attack the film for it's overly christian themes, the fact that the film turned out to be a disappointing, turgid bore was it's greatest offence.

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Post #: 12

Not what I expected???? - 6/2/2006 7:57:43 PM

tomhemingwaycom

Posts: 43
Joined: 6/2/2006

I went to see Narnia after seeing the trailer and reading the reveiws. Everything was given 4 stars. I'm going to split the film into good bits and bad bits. The first 15 mins are very interesting showing the lives of the pevensie children. From then on it does not have a magical moment until Lucy steps into the wadrobe. From then the film has scenes in that wasn't really relavent to the film in any way at all. That was until the battle scene at the end. If you go to see the film with your family, be warned, they might just fall asleep on you.

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Post #: 13

RE: Not what I expected???? - 7/2/2006 4:24:49 PM

Groovy Mule

Posts: 1089
Joined: 26/11/2005

Thoroughly enjoyable film which took me back to my childhood. The story zips along quite well and despite what others have said, I thought the child actors a good job. What I found refreshing was children playing children rather than shrunken adults. I was also impressed with the nuanced performance of Tilda Swinton.

That said the film has its flaws - some of the effects, particularly the blue screen is poor. Other effects are pretty good, suggesting that maybe the effects team ran out of time. While I think it was a good idea to put this in the hands of an animation director, but I can't help but think that it would have been better dealt with by a director from Pixar with their experience in more photo-real animation than the director of Shrek (Andrew Stanton perhaps).

The story is a touch thin and allegory is not all that subtle but this is more a fault of the source material magnified on screen. Overall, I was fully entertained throughout (and so were all the people I watched it with except one who had recently re-read the books and felt it was better in her imagination) and for a film of this sort that is my main criteria. I also found this film much more emotionally involving than Lord of the Rings.

On balance, fine holiday fun which should appeal to the kid in you.
7/10

(Although I am slightly concerned that Mr Tumnus should be on some kind of child protection register.)

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Post #: 14

The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe - 20/2/2006 7:25:25 PM

Andyhutch

Posts: 15
Joined: 19/11/2005

Classic story is finally updated for a modern audience, to great effect.
Great entertainment for all ages.

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Post #: 15

- 23/2/2006 8:01:16 PM

luvinfilms

Posts: 161
Joined: 1/10/2005

good

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Post #: 16

Narnia - 18/3/2006 9:47:00 PM

premierbaron

Posts: 114
Joined: 11/2/2006
From: Boston

No Lord of the rings but still a great movie. Although Narnia seemed like the places of childrens dreams when at the same time an evil witch was terrorising Narnia.

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Post #: 17

enjoyable - 3/4/2006 1:19:06 AM

doncobaino

Posts: 14
Joined: 29/3/2006
From: Newtownabbey

of course it's not middle-earth but as fantasy films go it is enjoyable journey, if you were watching this film as a wide-eyed child this film would certainly become one of those films that you will cherish even when your thirty- although watching it as an adult and a Lord of the Rings fan yes it can be described as magical but just no-where near as enthralling as that first viewing of fellowship

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Post #: 18

3 stars - 3/4/2006 3:32:42 PM

BlueDragon21120

Posts: 203
Joined: 11/11/2005

This is like LOTR for kids, thats the most dumbed down verdict of all time but it's true. Still enjoyable thou enough for boys and girls as well as some reasonably fancy camera work for older member sof the family and people who read the book as a child.

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Post #: 19

Could have been alot better - 7/4/2006 4:29:55 PM

MCorcoran

Posts: 3
Joined: 17/2/2006

I recently saw Narnia and i enjoyed it, but i wouldn't be in a hurry to see it again. I thought the final third was very good when Aslan came into it and the build up to the impressive battle. But up unitl then it was very average. The witch wasn't bad or menacing enough to be a really good screen villain, and aside from the battle and aslan the effects were very poor for such a big film. I thought the kids were good enough, Peter was definitely the weakest link. Overall it was a fair adaption of the book, but with a bit more imagination and risk it could have been a great film.

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Post #: 20

Narnia Is CooL MAn - 9/4/2006 12:56:09 PM

Seth

Posts: 15
Joined: 1/1/2006

Narnia is kl and very amazing and stuff on the second disc is also kl

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Post #: 21

Narnia - 10/4/2006 9:03:26 AM

Da Big Cheese

Posts: 1081
Joined: 7/10/2005
From: The Batcave

This is a kids film in the same veign as the Harry Potters; an adaptation of a popular kids book with very swish special effects that's actually quite good. I've never read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and so I can't sit here and make pedantic comparasons, neverless I enjoyed this film.

I also felt that this film, to some extent, managed to achieve what other films have done in the past; it hasn't dumbed down for the sake of the kids. The massive battle at the end is pretty grand, with mythological creatures gracing the screen in their complete CGI glory for a good 15 minutes, at least. Also worth a mention is

SPOILER -

Aslan's sacrifice at the hands of the white witch, which had a very Lion King esque feel to it. In the same way as Potter has done before, this film deals with these kinds of things in a good way, not throwing it over the kids heads, and not talking down to them. I can imagine some stuck up parents with their 6 year olds in the cinema, shocked at how unsuitable it is for children. It isn't, and that's a real achievement, a movie that is totally suitable, and yet finds a way to tell the parts of the story that may have been, in the wrong hands.

I was pleased to hear the voice of the awesome Liam Neeson (the guy from Batman Begins!!!!!) I didn't even notice that Ray Winstone and Dawn French lent their voices also, as the Beavers (best characters in the film. Them and the wolves).
This film, however, is not without fault. Dispite what Empire have claimed in their review, I can't get over the performances of 3 of the 4 children. They were dreadful, with the exception of Lucy. It may have been the script, or the book's responsibility, but the other girl (I can't even remember her name) had nothing of any use to do, her character was drab and boring and every line she had she delivered badly. Peter was corny, so corny it was unbelievable. For me, their constant badness throughout really inhibited my enjoyment of the film.

All in al

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Post #: 22

Tilda and the kids make this film great - 11/4/2006 5:41:17 PM

Martel

Posts: 25
Joined: 11/4/2006

This is a fantastic film for all age groups with the gorgeous Tilda Swinton as the perfect White Witch, managing to be both regal, villianous and well fit into the bargain. I shudder to think what the irritating, un-sexy Nicole Kidman would have done to the role if the rumours of her attachment to the project had been proved true. The child actors are bloody marvellous especially Georgie Henley who plays Lucy. The film is let down however by a lack of gore in the combat scenes, a rather weak score, little in the sense of the 'epic' and some dodgy CGI in parts. I hope that Mr Adamson will rectify these problems for Prince Caspian as the Chronicles of Narnia are to good a set of literature to be immortalised in a set of average films.

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Post #: 23

RE: Tilda and the kids make this film great - 11/4/2006 10:18:45 PM

maffew

Posts: 2806
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: chester

pfft..i dont like it when films are exactly what i expected...and this was exactly what i expected...it added practically nothing to what i'd seen before..uninspired visual effects and plummy 'drama student' acting....needless to say, i didnt like it much.

oh, and Mr Tumness! should've been Mark Heap from Spaced, if you ask me...

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Post #: 24

RE: Tilda and the kids make this film great - 12/4/2006 10:00:21 AM

PedroSanchez

Posts: 2556
Joined: 30/11/2005

I was pleasantly suprised by this film. It actually exceeded my expectations, but seeing as though my expectations where pretty low then i'm not sure thats a good thing!

It is aimed more at kid's but its enjoyable.

Pro's:
Aslan was great, as was Tilda Swinton.
The many creature's in the film are pretty cool.
The final battle is good (but not great)
That cute lil girl who plays Lucy.

Con's:
Peter is a twat.
Susan and Ed are kinda annoying too.
Some dodgy CGI and greenscreen work.
Feel's too slow occasionally.

All in all, i'd say Empire was right in giving this three stars.

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Post #: 25

RE: Tilda and the kids make this film great - 12/4/2006 10:26:12 AM

Jessica_ca_ca_ca

Posts: 30072
Joined: 4/1/2006

quote:

ORIGINAL: PedroSanchez

I was pleasantly suprised by this film. It actually exceeded my expectations, but seeing as though my expectations where pretty low then i'm not sure thats a good thing!
It is aimed more at kid's but its enjoyable.

Pro's:
Aslan was great, as was Tilda Swinton.
The many creature's in the film are pretty cool.
The final battle is good (but not great)
That cute lil girl who plays Lucy.

Con's:
Peter is a twat.
Susan and Ed are kinda annoying too.
Some dodgy CGI and greenscreen work.
Feel's too slow occasionally.

All in all, i'd say Empire was right in giving this three stars.

I agree with ALL of that, down to the one cute kid and the other annoying ones!

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Post #: 26

RE: Tilda and the kids make this film great - 12/4/2006 10:31:45 AM

JIm R

Posts: 9185
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Surrey

Watched it with my girlfriend last night on DVD having missed it at the cinema and loved it, having been a big fan of the book as a child have to say was looking forward to it.

Solid performances on the whole, the actress playing Lucy was execptional.

Kept on the whole, true to the story, anything missing was secondary narrative material and making little difference to the storyline.

Big thumbs up and looking forward to the next one.

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Post #: 27

RE: Tilda and the kids make this film great - 12/4/2006 10:41:54 AM

doctorolorinbats1975

Posts: 6787
Joined: 30/10/2005
From: Harrow

I saw it again recently and again I heavily enjoyed it.

Now I agree there are some akward geographical aspects in the film, but if anything Empire's review somewhat sounded like a 4 star review: if it's a more dynamic adventure than the Potters, than thank goodness for that.

I do disagree with some of you on the child performances. Georgie Hensley is wonderful indeed but I felt Skander Keynes did very well at being a twat before redeeming himself. William Moseley was decent enough to play a boy who was maturing. The weak link is Anna Poppenwell but then she isn't given much to do. They all engaged well enough to make us care.

Indeed, Aslan was brilliantly done: a truly photo real lion who engages enough warmth that we mourn for him when he is killed by the White Witch. I adored Tilda Swinton as WW: she never went OTT yet always vibrated a cold steeliness in her blood. No wonder dear McAvoy was so scared, and of course he is quite sympathetic as Tumnus.

There is a real romantic feel to the air in this film, and the special effects are very good, although the odd daylight wolf clearly slipped through the net, creating a world of fantasy that is very warm and friendly. The final battle is stunningly done due to the variety on show.

If anything, the pace is a bit brisk following the lovely unveiling of Narnia when all the Pensieves step in, but that's why I look forward to an EE. This is a warm and uplifting family film and does justice to the simple poetry of Lewis, and don't worry if you find it too simplistic: Tolkien said the same thing. Doubtless, I'm very looking forward to Prince Caspian and future Narnia films.

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Post #: 28

RE: Tilda and the kids make this film great - 12/4/2006 3:42:33 PM

Jessica_ca_ca_ca

Posts: 30072
Joined: 4/1/2006

Don't forget to mention the annoying children though!

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Post #: 29

narnia - 13/4/2006 1:38:13 PM

frankenstien

Posts: 36
Joined: 28/3/2006
From: Manchester

narnia, narnia, narnia. why? i mean the cast was pretty solid liam neeson was great, tilda swinton alright and ray winstone and dawn french annoying. the kids were horendous i mean a thought the acting was bad off the kids in the potter films but compared to these they look great. i mean why cast possibly the snobbiesst kids in the world to play ordinary people's kids , because they just dont convince. overall ithought tis was alet down and apart from the battle at the end complete shit.

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Post #: 30