The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Walt Disney Pictures)
The Second Is No Better Than the First
In 2005 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was released and made a big splash at the box office. Many found it to be a perfect adaptation of C S Lewis popular series of books. A young cast headed by William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley led the audience on a visit to a magical world. There they found adventure awaiting them.
Now three years later the Disney Studio takes us back to the land of Narnia in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. The four Pevensie children are once again our guides. Peter (Moseley), Susan (Popplewell), Edmund (Keynes) and Lucy (Henley) are magically transported back to Narnia when Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) sounds a magic horn.
Caspian is the heir to the throne of the Telmarines but his evil uncle, King Mira (Sergio Castellitto) wants him dead. Caspian escapes into the woods but the kings troops are in fast pursuit. Fearing for his life he sounds the magic trumpet. This causes the Pevensie children to be transported to the magical land of Narnia. They find that although only a year has transpired in their world since they left Narnia, it is now 1300 years later in that land.
Narnia is no longer a happy place and Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson), the lion who delivered Narnia to safety from the White Witch (Tilda Swinton), has not been seen in years. The Telmarines plan to take over Narnia and enslave the people there. It is up to the Pevensie children and Prince Caspian to band together and rally the troops.
All of this is told in stunning dramatic effect and the battle sequences are quite spectacular. And there are plenty of battle sequences. It seems they make up over two thirds of the movie. So if you like the action of the first movie you will enjoy this one too.
But if you thought the first film didnt give you enough in the way of exciting characters, well this one doesnt either. The Pevensie children are a dull lot and the actors who play them are not very energetic either. Luckily Peter Dinklage is on hand in the role of Trumpkin, one of the more heroic persons in Narnia. He adds humor and heart to the story.
Also outstanding is the voice of Eddie Izzard which helps bring the mouse Reepicheep alive. This mouse looks and acts like the first cousin to Puss N Boots of Shrek fame. Reepicheep and Trumpkin almost save the movie, but the keyword there is almost.
The White Witch is seen for a few moments and then fades away; Aslan is not the key ingredient of this film that he was in the first; and the four child actors just cant hold up the film even with the help of the handsome but dull Barnes/Caspian.
The movie is rated PG for scenes of violence, some that may be too intense for smaller children.
The first installment was only a so-so entertaining movie to me and this one is more of the same. People who saw the first film and those who have read the books will probably glean more pleasure from the film than those who havent. And those searching for religious symbolism will find what they are looking for.
Prince Caspian has beautiful scenery and soaring music. Aside from that the movie is pretty much a minor league version of Lord of the Rings.
I scored The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian an embattled 4 out of 10.
