Review: The Chronicles of Narnia
Prince Caspian, Tilda Swinton, Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes
The Story
It's been one year since the Pevensie children came stumbling out of a wardrobe, heads spinning with memories of a talking Lion, an evil Witch and a land of magic and wonder. Since we last met them they've moved back to blitz-era London and are feeling a tad nonplussed with having to lead ordinary lives again. Time for another trip to Narnia then! Quicker than you can say "gee, I really miss Aslan" they're all whisked back to the world they once ruled only to find things have changed in their absence. It seems a full century has passed and an evil race has enslaved the land, forcing the Narnians into hiding. Before they know it, the kids are caught up in another high-stakes adventure full of swashbuckling chaos, cruel villains, bizarre monsters and some new friends, including the heroic title character and the scene-stealing Reepicheep. The end result is a highly enjoyable children's movie but not a faultless one. However, it is only the second in the series and is still a noticeable improvement on its predecessor.
The Movie
Perhaps the most refreshing thing about this movie is that the villains are not a horde of ugly fantasy stereotypes but flesh and blood humans with all their political scheming and manipulation. No surprises then that in the build up to its release, director Andrew Adamson was promising a nastier, darker film than its predecessor. In some respects he has delivered; the battle scene at the half way point ends in a genuinely disturbing way and Tilda Swinton's cameo is scarier than all her scenes from the first film put together. However dark it gets though this is still fantasy for children. The battles lack the harsh bludgeoning of Helm's Deep and there is nothing that even comes close to Frodo and Sam's harrowing journey through Mordor.
As for the kids....well, they've improved. Kinda. Skander Keynes is the strongest of the four this time around, his Edmund no longer the stuck up little bully but a confident, go-to-guy. Tellingly though, he also gets the fewest lines. Georgie Henley's eyes still sparkle mischievously, but William Moseley and Anna Popplewell act more like recently-graduated drama students than professional actors.
Then there's newcomer Barnes. After his minor role in Stardust, he takes to the part well and wears Caspian like a glove but the part is underdeveloped. His clashes with Peter are distinctly lacking in tension and their rivalry for leadership barely grabs the attention. Great leaders? They're more like schoolboys throwing crumpled up pieces of paper at each other during lunchtime detention. It's hardly surprising though given the surroundings they're in, the lush landscape populated with myriad beasts and animals is far more interesting.
The Conclusion
One big hearty pat on the back to the special effects crew and a gentle punch in the arm for the script writers and acting coaches. The kids try their hardest but they've overshadowed by the Centaurs, Dwarves, Harpies, Minotaurs and the frankly brilliant Reepicheep who walks off with the entire movie despite his limited screen time. It may be more of a visual-feast than a vision of classic storytelling, but this is a massive step in the right direction for the franchise. In case you've not read the books however the answer is no, they still don't explain what that lamp post was doing there.
