I first read the Chronicles of Narnia when I was about seven years old and have re-read them almost every year since. (I'm twenty-two now; you do the math.) Basically, I memorized them. So I approached this movie with fear and trembling. Would this group ruin one of my favorite childhood memories or make the books come to life in a whole new way?

I have to say, I was steeling myself for something awful. After all, I grew up on the cartoon version with its rather sub-par animation (watch the scene where Mrs. Beaver wakes up the girls when Edmund comes back; Susan's pillow disappears!) and the BBC version in which Aslan looks like he's about to keel over.

There were certain things I was looking for in this movie. First of all, how would they portray Aslan and the White Witch? (In the cartoon version, for example, the White Witch's lines SEEM TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN IN CAPS LOCK.) The new version has done an outstanding job at these characters. Aslan is strong, loving, and good, but "he's not a tame lion." The White Witch's first appearance isn't what I expected, but it's very authentic to what I think C.S. Lewis would have written it had he expanded that scene.

Second, how well would they get the details of the books? Those of us who have read the Chronicles multiple times will be glad to know that these people did their homework. Tumnus' books have the proper titles, the Narnian army is just what it should be, and so on.

The only gripes I have are very minor - the river water was too obviously dyed blue, some accents were out of place, and the modern music in the 1940's scenes didn't quite fit.

My favorite scene (aside from the scenes with Aslan) is the meeting of Tumnus and Lucy. Tumnus is perfectly cast, and his ears are just too adorable for words! The conversation when they meet is so much fun. ( "You shake it." "Why?")

In conclusion, the acting is great and the special effects are terrific, but the best part of all is that the story remains true to the books.