DVD Review: The Chronicles of Narnia. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (based on the book by C.S. Lewis)

I am writing this review over the Easter weekend. It wasn’t really planned this way, but this particular story The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, from the Chronicles of Narnia is considered to contain a number of analogies to Christian beliefs. If you are not a christian or not religous then there is nothing in the film, or indeed the story, which tries to push any religous beliefs, but it is possible to see a religous connection. The story was not written to be a religous story, but C.S. Lewis found himself including religous concepts in his stories when wriiting the stories, influenced by his own beliefs.

I was already familiar with the story The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, as a story I first heard during my childhood. I believe the first time I heard it, it was told as a story during school. I was therefore looking forward to seeing another production of the film. I went to see this both in the cinema and enjoyed it so much that I ordered the DVD during the week it was released.

The story starts with the Pevensie children: Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy, who are evacuated from London to a house in the country during the Blitz of the second world war. In the house they discover a wardrobe that acts as a gateway to another land, Narnia.

The time spent in Narnia turn into a great adventure with the native animals and fantasy creatures, and even a brush with St. Nicholas. The story includes some good special effects (computer generated) which work seamlessly. The children are well cast and there is some good comedy especially from the Beavers (voices: Rupert Everett and Dawn French).

The film does contain some battle scenes involving fantasy creatures. I suspect that, had the battle featured humans, the DVD may have ended up with a 12 certificate rather than PG. Very young children may find some of it a little disturbing at the time, although as it comes complete with happy ending it is suitable for most ages.

The film exceeded my expectations. It created the suspense and the CGI was very well done. The nearest equivelant film would be The Lord of the Rings, it is hard to try and draw comparisons. The story was aimed at a younger audience and isn’t as strong as The Lord of the Rings. Despite this the film was extremely good and well worth watching.

I have now started reading the books. I’ve got the set and I’m part way through the first book (in chronological order) The Magician’s Nephew.

The picture of the lamppost is a photograph of the Chronicles of Nania staircase at Hamley’s, London. Well worth a visit if you are in London, England.