I must confess, I haven't read the book before the movie has been released. Maybe because here in Hungary C.S. Lewis' heritage is too underground. Maybe because if it's a wide, colorful fantasy world, it must be Lord of the Rings for the people here. Until now. As the movie gained popularity, a lot of people got to know this wonderful world that Lewis has created. This world has lived up and, let's declare - or confess – got extended in it's brand new, re sculpted, shining motion picture version. The problem with my movie-experience here is only that I didn't see this in a movie theatre, just only when the DVD arrived at the shops' shelves. It was a well spent money on this 2-disc set.
Basically, I am a fan of fantasy worlds. When I started watching LWW (it was late in the night) I got frustrated. Uh-oh, wrong disc maybe? There are bombing planes, not big griffins. And THEN I realized it's not a mistake. I absolutely agreed about the plot. It's a very good idea showing that this is a real situation in the second World War, and not just an imagined fantasy time line. Maybe the funniest thing about watching this was that in the first half hour of the movie was for me putting together the title and the happenings. First we can set an eye on the beautiful wardrobe in a dusty room (Lucy's slow motion was even wonderful as she pulled the cloth down from it) and then I said, o.k., that's one, we've got the wardrobe. Later we have been introduced to Jadis, the White Witch (my favorite character in the movie), but we didn't know yet that she is the witch, only when Lucy was talking about her to Edmund (of course there were marks in Edmund's and Jadis' dialogue that leads to this). Then I've said, that's two, only one role is missing: the Lion. Well, Aslan's introduction waited for itself for more half an hour, but the wait worth it! After everyone's talking about Aslan's return, everyone waits something big, something wonderful, and this is a huge task for an animator and a 3D artist to do. Aslan's first shot is a cooperation of beautiful cinematography, 3D animation and great voice over (Liam Neeson). There's not only Aslan as a totally CG character who has his own characteristics. Every animated animal is unique, therefore we are always realize ourselves trying to not forget that these are all computer generated. And what is even the best animated CG character without a well-fitting voice over?
Comparing Narnia to the Lord of the Rings is almost senseless. The only common in these two is that they are all played in a fantasy world – oh and the fact, that C.S. Lewis and Tolkien were friends -, but nothing more. LWW's target is a different age and level, and it has even completely different flora and fauna – not to say anything about the story. It's creatures are mostly from the ancient Greek myths, like minotaurs, satyrs, centaurs… And there are a ton more.
Okay, let's arrive to the most emotional and spectacular part of the movie: the final battle scene. This is where everything comes together, every character with stunning music with deep bass – that gives us a powerful war-like atmosphere – and huge armies to enumerate. This is the part that I can never have enough of. Here we get even more Narnian creatures. Here we see the impressive ice bears who drag the White Witch's battle cart, the griffins and even a phoenix to give the battle a new dimension. This is the part where all the most important characters, the four children are in their glory and we see them feel home in Narnia.
Am I the only one who was having a flashback at Star Wars: A New Hope when watching the coronation scene? Not a big deal, but Andrew could have done that in some different way, however in spite that, I felt that this scene is almost a perfect ending. The emphasis is on almost. Then I thought erm… what's up with their "normal" life in the second World War? For answering my question, the movie drop us – and the children - back to the grey real life after the colorful Narnian adventure. That made me sad and I suddenly realized myself watching the end credits.
I like – well I'd write a more positive modality, but let's stay at like – this movie because it consists of several different parts, it's like a roller coaster. Plus, it has the best atmosphere I have experienced in a motion picture. Sometimes the mood is on very high, then it falls down to a level in a positive way, and there's always something new happening in the story as the children's characters are forming and shaping over the time. It really has a beginning and an end where we arrive, what a lot of movies lack of. Next time I won't miss Prince Caspian watching on it's premiere. Andrew Adams and his magnificent crew made a new Narnia Fan!