On DVD: 'Narnia' again outshines 'Kong,' 'Potter'
The two-disc set is easily the finest DVD released this year, topping other special-effects extravaganzas.
Randy Salas, Star Tribune
Star tribune
"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" was touted as one of the three big-event films of the 2005-06 holiday season, along with Peter Jackson's "King Kong" and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." Still, it proved surprising when the epic fantasy, from a director making his first live-action film, outsold the other more-established movies at the box office to become the No. 2 film of 2006 (behind the latest "Star Wars" movie).
The trend continues, as Tuesday's two-disc set of "Narnia" (Buena Vista, $35) outdoes the recent releases for "Kong" and "Goblet of Fire." It's easily the finest DVD released so far this year and one that will be brought up again in best-of-year lists.
The movie has a lot going for it: the source material of C.S. Lewis' timeless children's fantasy book, the rapturous guidance of "Shrek" director Andrew Adamson and breathtaking cinematography and visual effects.
But its greatest asset is the young actors who play the children who find a doorway to another land in a wardrobe in a forgotten room of a dusty mansion. Their maturity and enthusiasm in the film carries over to the supplements on the DVD.
Under the gentle moderation of Adamson, the kids -- William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley -- provide feature-length commentary that feels like a family reunion around a warm fire. Henley, who plays Lucy, the youngest, pipes up with the same kind of impulsive interjections that make her such a charmer in the story.
In "The Children's Magical Journey," a nearly half-hour documentary on Disc 2 that follows the young actors through filming, the kids come across as being part of a storybook come to life.
Adamson, selected by producers because he was such a huge fan of Lewis' "Narnia" books, also is a force. Besides recording a second, more-technical commentary track for the 135-minute film, he explains his approach to directing in a 38-minute documentary.
One of his goals, he says, was to make a film that represented his memories of the books and not necessarily their often-spare descriptions. For example, one Lewis line about British kids' being sent to the countryside during World War II becomes a minutes-long prologue about the Nazi air blitz of London and a handy set-up of the four young siblings' relationships.
Other highlights include short looks at how each of the film's main characters were brought to life, historical notes by Lewis' stepson, co-producer Douglas Gresham; an interactive map and timeline, and character art and background.
As if it needs mentioning, the widescreen image looks gorgeous and the surround sound is robust.
"Narnia" is magical, wonderful and epic, just like its DVD.
The two-disc set is easily the finest DVD released this year, topping other special-effects extravaganzas.
Randy Salas, Star Tribune
Star tribune
"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" was touted as one of the three big-event films of the 2005-06 holiday season, along with Peter Jackson's "King Kong" and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." Still, it proved surprising when the epic fantasy, from a director making his first live-action film, outsold the other more-established movies at the box office to become the No. 2 film of 2006 (behind the latest "Star Wars" movie).
The trend continues, as Tuesday's two-disc set of "Narnia" (Buena Vista, $35) outdoes the recent releases for "Kong" and "Goblet of Fire." It's easily the finest DVD released so far this year and one that will be brought up again in best-of-year lists.
The movie has a lot going for it: the source material of C.S. Lewis' timeless children's fantasy book, the rapturous guidance of "Shrek" director Andrew Adamson and breathtaking cinematography and visual effects.
But its greatest asset is the young actors who play the children who find a doorway to another land in a wardrobe in a forgotten room of a dusty mansion. Their maturity and enthusiasm in the film carries over to the supplements on the DVD.
Under the gentle moderation of Adamson, the kids -- William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley -- provide feature-length commentary that feels like a family reunion around a warm fire. Henley, who plays Lucy, the youngest, pipes up with the same kind of impulsive interjections that make her such a charmer in the story.
In "The Children's Magical Journey," a nearly half-hour documentary on Disc 2 that follows the young actors through filming, the kids come across as being part of a storybook come to life.
Adamson, selected by producers because he was such a huge fan of Lewis' "Narnia" books, also is a force. Besides recording a second, more-technical commentary track for the 135-minute film, he explains his approach to directing in a 38-minute documentary.
One of his goals, he says, was to make a film that represented his memories of the books and not necessarily their often-spare descriptions. For example, one Lewis line about British kids' being sent to the countryside during World War II becomes a minutes-long prologue about the Nazi air blitz of London and a handy set-up of the four young siblings' relationships.
Other highlights include short looks at how each of the film's main characters were brought to life, historical notes by Lewis' stepson, co-producer Douglas Gresham; an interactive map and timeline, and character art and background.
As if it needs mentioning, the widescreen image looks gorgeous and the surround sound is robust.
"Narnia" is magical, wonderful and epic, just like its DVD.
