The land of Narnia is back, and it's better than ever… or at least the last installment .It is no secret that the last film did not please many fans. However much like the book, it fulfilled it's main narrative purposes. It introduced Caspian and Reepicheep, established the Lost Lords thread, and explained how and why Susan and Peter cannot return to Narnia.

With that out of the way it is time for a high sees adventure! Everyone loves a good high seas adventure, and this is probably the finest since Jason and the Argonauts, and dare I say it, better then the Pirates of the Caribbean films.

Are their changes from the book? Yes. But lets look at it this way: The Two Towers and Return of the King would have been boring films had the first hour and 40 minutes dealt just with Gandalf, Legolas, Aragorn, Merry and Pippin, and only then in the last hour dealt with Frodo and Sam.

The original novel was very episodic with lots of starts and stops that, and unless it's a film by Stanley Kubrick ( 2001: A Space Odyssey) or Christopher Nolan ( Inception and the new Batman films), it'll just fall flat. So a much more linear thread was needed and it helps make the movie flow for kids. In the end, all the important parts of the book are in it… just jumbled around.

Georgie Henley has grown tremendously as Lucy. It's hard to believe that five years ago she won our hearts with her childlike enthusiasm and joy as she discovered Narnia. Admittedly one problem I had with Prince Caspian was that there was too little of her and Edmund .Thankfully that is not the case. She is front and center and shows this time her struggles with something everyone can related too.

Just as she has grown, so too as her celluloid brother of Edmund, played by Skander Keyens. His struggles feel more real and legitimate then his brothers in the prior film. While Peter wanted to fight to prove himself, Edmund wants to fight for the love of his country. Then there's his temptation. When tempted with power and wealth he has a look so similar to Frodo and Isildur in Lord of the Rings when they are snared by the Ring in LOTR.

Both did a great job and they will be missed in Silver Chair. Which means, much like the books, they had to pass the baton and they have found a worthy successor. Joining them is Will Poulter as their bratty cousin Eustace. Thankfully one of the best lines concerning him, "that he deserved such a name," made it in the film, and does he ever. He is bratty, useless, but still funny. He also does a good job showing Eustace's transformation as a character gradually through out the film and not making it sudden and forced. Also, his journal narrations made the film! Georgie and Skadner will be missed in the next adventure, no doubt, but Will is a fine replacement for them. Now, should the Silver Chair happen, they just need to find the right girl to cast as Jill to play off him.

But how do the three fare together? Pitch perfect. One thing that can be said for the four who have played the Pevensies is that they seem like siblings, as such Will as Eustace feels like he is their bratty cousin.

Ben Barnes does a much better job as Caspian, especially since he dropped the accent. No longer does he sound like the son of Inigo Montoya but sounds like his own person. He is much more confident and noble.
No long does he seem like an impetuous prince, but like a real and true King of Narnia who deserves the throne.

Fans were upset at first to hear Eddie Izard would not be reprising Reepicheep. Much like Maggie Gyllenhall replacing Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes in the new Batman series, or Don Cheadle replacing Terrance Howard as Col. Jim Rhodey/War Machine in Ironman it was met with controversy. After all changing an actor or actress in a role midway through a series can have disastrous results if done wrong.

Thankfully, that is not the case. The change between Eddie Izzard and Simon Pegg as Reepicheep isn't as noticeable as I feared. Not once did I expect Reep to break out in, "I like this ship.. It's exciting,"from the new Star Trek film. In many ways as good as Izard was, Pegg was almost better. He seemed funnier and more noble and wiser. He truly owned the roll. Not only that he has a very fine singing voice as demonstrated when he sings the prophesy from the dryad concerning the Utter East. I hope it makes the soundtrack!

Once again, Mr. Liam Neeson proves he was the right man for the job of voicing Aslan. The only problem, as usual, is we get so little of Aslan's physical presence and we have such a great actor voicing him. However Aslan is invoked far more this time around that even if you don't see him you know he is there, guiding the journey.

The supporting cast does a good job as well filling the rolls of Drinian, Rhince, The Lost Lords, Coriakin, the Dufflepods, Gumpus, Pug ( who I admit I pictured looking more like a pug dog for some reason) and Lilliandil daughter of Ramandu. Yes, there was a new character of Gael whow asn't in the novel, but she really didn't add or detract anything aside from providing an audience surrogate for the kids watching the film.

The theme of temptation was handled very well, and it is hard to make something so mental and spiritual come to life. As Jadis tells Edmund ( played once again by Tilda Switon) I'm always here, in your mind." so to our evil and temptation, and we get that sense in this film.

There are a few corker moments. For example, the arrival of the Sea Serpent and the causes that bring it about do seem a bit like Ghostbusters, ( so much that friend of mine and I said, "Cross the streams!") But they do not detract from the film. Are there a few missing characters? Yes, sadly one character does get to join Tom Bombadil from LOTR, and Bachus from Prince Caspian in the Land of The Aptly Named Sir Not Appearing In This Film. Are they missed? Perhaps just by book fans.

Special effects are awesome, ranging from the DeMille -esque parting of the waves, to a creepy green mist that stands head and shoulder with the spirits in the Ark in Raiders of the Lost Ark. to a Sea Serpent that would please Ray Harryhausen. As for locations and sets, The Utter East and Aslan's kingdom look like they were realized by Claude Monet, and Coriakin's island is almost reminiscent of a Jim Henson production. Does it look like the Narnia we know and love. No. And it shouldn't. The story isn't set in Narnia but in the islands East of the Lone Islands. It should feel weird, strange, and different.

The only downside is Dragon Island and Gold Water Island. Parts of it look like the crater of Mt. St. Helens and not the lush land described in the book, and Goldwater ( which is set in a cave) looks like a set. But So too do the Batcave in Batman movies. It is hard to make a cave "real" and give actors directors and camera crew room to work.

David Arnold's score was good, not as magical as Harry Gregson-Williams but, much like the film it doesn't need to be. It felt nautical and adventurous and it did the job. Though I will say his leitmotif that is heard when Edmund, Lucy and Eustace first arrive in Narnia and encounter the ship sounded reminiscent of Jerry Goldsmith's "Klingon Battle Theme" from Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Overall, any personal complaints aside, it is a very good movie and the holiday movie of the year. It is also worth it to go see it again ( if you have the money of course). If anything you may catch some things you missed. On my second viewing I was able to read the inscriptions above the murals in Caspain's cabin and the etchings on the swords.

What do It's a Wonderful Life, Field of Dreams, Brian's Song, ET, Rudy, Return of the King, Toy Story 3, Forrest Gump, and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader all have in common? They all made me cry. However I know from the books that this isn't the end… Yet. Walden