I have been a Narnia fan every since I read "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" in college for my children's literature course in 1975. Now, as an elementary special education teacher, I was very excited to introduce the book to my students to prepare for the movie. Instead of counting down to Christmas, my students were counting down to the release of Narnia! When I saw it on opening day, I was very excited. Unfortunately, it was only showing in a not-so-great little theatre with lighting and sound problems. Still, I was on the edge of my seat when Lucy magically entered Narnia through the wardrobe for the first time; when the children and beavers tried frantically to get away from the pursuit of the White Witch's wolves and when Aslan came back to life. I cried when Aslan died and I was riveted with delight and anticipation as Aslan tried desperately to get to the battle scene in time to rescue his weary warriors. I was especially impressed, and so were my students, with how the audience was emotionally drawn into the movie by being inside the German airplane during the air raids on London and we felt the children's panic as they were trying to hide from the bombs! In fact, throughout the movie, I was not treated as a bystander but as someone who was really in England and Narnia! The musical score divinely matched the actions and emotions of the characters throughout the film. Even now, when I play the soundtrack, I can tell which scene I'm in when I listen to the different scores and instruments playing. My only regret was missing a few scenes that I had hoped to see such as when the White Witch turned the forest creatures into stone and I wanted more of Aslan's magnificent presence. Aslan was definitely a real lion and very majestic but I wish I had felt warmth from him as if he would die to save me, too! The first time I saw the icy waterfall scene, I was upset because it confused me and I didn't expect it. When I saw the movie the second time, I liked it better. I realize that time does not allow a director to follow the book exactly, so I know that Andrew Adamson couldn't include everything. What Andrew did include was essential to the telling of the story in a way that would have made C.S. Lewis proud. Finally, the anticipation of seeing this movie stirred my reading disabled students to want finish reading the book in time to see the film! They are now totally immersed in Narnia and begging to go back! I told them they would have to read another book to get there. So, as a result, several students requested the 7-book set for Christmas and are entering Narnia on their own having "fallen in love" with a piece of literature for the first time ever! Thanks to this movie, I was able to spark a love of reading in my students!