The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Full Screen Edition)
starring: Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Skandar Keynes, Anna Popplewell
directed by: Andrew Adamson
directed by: Andrew Adamson
Product Description:
Four young siblings discover a magical wardrobe and are transported to narnia an enchanted world ruled by the glacial powers of an evil white witch. With courage and heart-felt desire to save narnia the children must band together to fight the witch in a spectacular climatic battle.Studio: Buena Vista Home VideoRelease Date: 03/28/2008Starring: Tilda Swinton Jim BroadbentRun time: 134 minutesRating: Pg
Amazon.com:
C.S. Lewis's classic novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe makes an ambitious and long-awaited leap to the screen in this modern adaptation. It's a CGI-created world laden with all the special effects and visual wizardry modern filmmaking technology can conjure, which is fine so long as the film stays true to the story that Lewis wrote. And while this film is not a literal translation--it really wants to be so much more than just a kids' movie--for the most part it is faithful enough to the story, and whatever faults it has are happily faults of overreaching, and not of holding back. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe tells the story of the four Pevensie children, Lucy, Peter, Edmund, and Susan, and their adventures in the mystical world of Narnia. Sent to the British countryside for their own safety during the blitz of World War II, they discover an entryway into a mystical world through an old wardrobe. Narnia is inhabited by mythical, anthropomorphic creatures suffering under the hundred-year rule of the cruel White Witch (Tilda Swinton, in a standout role). The arrival of the children gives the creatures of Narnia hope for liberation, and all are dragged into the inevitable conflict between evil (the Witch) and good (Aslan the Lion, the Messiah figure, regally voiced by Liam Neeson).
Director (and co-screenwriter) Andrew Adamson, a veteran of the Shrek franchise, knows his way around a fantasy-based adventure story, and he wisely keeps the story moving when it could easily become bogged down and tiresome. Narnia is, of course, a Christian allegory and the symbology is definitely there (as it should be, otherwise it wouldn't be the story Lewis wrote), but audiences aren’t knocked over the head with it, and in the hands of another director it could easily have become pedantic. The focus is squarely on the children and their adventures. The four young actors are respectable in their roles, especially considering the size of the project put on their shoulders, but it's the young Georgie Henley as the curious Lucy who stands out. This isn't a film that wildly succeeds, and in the long run it won't have the same impact as the Harry Potter franchise, but it is well done, and kids will get swept up in the adventure. Note: Narnia does contain battle scenes that some parents may consider too violent for younger children. --Dan Vancini
Stills from The Chronicles of Narnia:The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Click for larger image)
Four young siblings discover a magical wardrobe and are transported to narnia an enchanted world ruled by the glacial powers of an evil white witch. With courage and heart-felt desire to save narnia the children must band together to fight the witch in a spectacular climatic battle.Studio: Buena Vista Home VideoRelease Date: 03/28/2008Starring: Tilda Swinton Jim BroadbentRun time: 134 minutesRating: Pg
Amazon.com:
C.S. Lewis's classic novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe makes an ambitious and long-awaited leap to the screen in this modern adaptation. It's a CGI-created world laden with all the special effects and visual wizardry modern filmmaking technology can conjure, which is fine so long as the film stays true to the story that Lewis wrote. And while this film is not a literal translation--it really wants to be so much more than just a kids' movie--for the most part it is faithful enough to the story, and whatever faults it has are happily faults of overreaching, and not of holding back. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe tells the story of the four Pevensie children, Lucy, Peter, Edmund, and Susan, and their adventures in the mystical world of Narnia. Sent to the British countryside for their own safety during the blitz of World War II, they discover an entryway into a mystical world through an old wardrobe. Narnia is inhabited by mythical, anthropomorphic creatures suffering under the hundred-year rule of the cruel White Witch (Tilda Swinton, in a standout role). The arrival of the children gives the creatures of Narnia hope for liberation, and all are dragged into the inevitable conflict between evil (the Witch) and good (Aslan the Lion, the Messiah figure, regally voiced by Liam Neeson).
Director (and co-screenwriter) Andrew Adamson, a veteran of the Shrek franchise, knows his way around a fantasy-based adventure story, and he wisely keeps the story moving when it could easily become bogged down and tiresome. Narnia is, of course, a Christian allegory and the symbology is definitely there (as it should be, otherwise it wouldn't be the story Lewis wrote), but audiences aren’t knocked over the head with it, and in the hands of another director it could easily have become pedantic. The focus is squarely on the children and their adventures. The four young actors are respectable in their roles, especially considering the size of the project put on their shoulders, but it's the young Georgie Henley as the curious Lucy who stands out. This isn't a film that wildly succeeds, and in the long run it won't have the same impact as the Harry Potter franchise, but it is well done, and kids will get swept up in the adventure. Note: Narnia does contain battle scenes that some parents may consider too violent for younger children. --Dan Vancini
Stills from The Chronicles of Narnia:The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Click for larger image)
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Masterpiece ahead of his time, Lewis
So happy to order this ahead of time before it came out in the stores.Everyone came over to watch, what a great time!
Rating: - Like it!!
I loved the Chronicles of Narnia and look forward to every upcoming chapter in this series.This was wonderful because it allowed you to see the goings on behind the scenes, etc that makes this movie such a delight!!!
Rating: - Blu-ray Narnia
The blu-ray Narnia is the best in dvds. It's good entertainment for the whole family.
Rating: 
- Nicely Done
I am just now getting around to seeing this because I wanted to watch the Prince Caspian movie and felt like wouldn't be right to watch them out of order.I loved it.Having read the books earlier in life, I felt like they did this classic justice.I was pleased to see less violence than many other fantasy movies of today.And they seemed to have picked fairly normal looking kids to portray the characters, that was nice too.I enjoyed this and am looking forward to the second in the series. ... Read More
Rating: - Powerful and Very Well Done
This movie version of the great novel is very well done.
The C.S. Lewis books have long been favorites of mine.They use the vehicle of fantasy to portray a spiritual message.The film is very true to the story of the book.
It is set during WWII and features four English children who enter a wardrobe and discover a magical world.They are introduced to Aslan the lion, the White Witch, and many other interesting characters.The story is full of Christian symbolism. ... Read More
- Masterpiece ahead of his time, LewisSo happy to order this ahead of time before it came out in the stores.Everyone came over to watch, what a great time!
- Like it!!I loved the Chronicles of Narnia and look forward to every upcoming chapter in this series.This was wonderful because it allowed you to see the goings on behind the scenes, etc that makes this movie such a delight!!!
- Blu-ray NarniaThe blu-ray Narnia is the best in dvds. It's good entertainment for the whole family.
- Nicely DoneI am just now getting around to seeing this because I wanted to watch the Prince Caspian movie and felt like wouldn't be right to watch them out of order.I loved it.Having read the books earlier in life, I felt like they did this classic justice.I was pleased to see less violence than many other fantasy movies of today.And they seemed to have picked fairly normal looking kids to portray the characters, that was nice too.I enjoyed this and am looking forward to the second in the series. ... Read More
- Powerful and Very Well DoneThis movie version of the great novel is very well done.
The C.S. Lewis books have long been favorites of mine.They use the vehicle of fantasy to portray a spiritual message.The film is very true to the story of the book.
It is set during WWII and features four English children who enter a wardrobe and discover a magical world.They are introduced to Aslan the lion, the White Witch, and many other interesting characters.The story is full of Christian symbolism. ... Read More
