1, 2, 3?

The first Chronicle of Narnia

So rather than waiting until the end of the review to tell you whether or not it is good, I will say it now, It is FREAKIN' AWESOME. Granted that this is only after seeing it once so it might be a bit tainted but, meh. So what did I like about this movie, besides everything? Well one thing, the characters were amazing. In the first five to ten minutes I really didn't get a good look at the kids (they were always running or in a crowd or something) and I didn’t think they were right at all. Then I got to see the kids and they were amazingly cast. The white witch (She's a witch, burn her), evil and regal, yet still controlled. Not a cackling old woman or a shrieking crazy thing. There are so many other characters and they were all awesome.
So what else other than characters, one of my most important things, not following this ruined Catch Me if You Can for me (but I let Timeline off because it was understandable), and that thing is . . . (pause for dramatic purposes) . . . trueness to the book (as well as I remember). Granted I havn't read the book for a long time and there may have been a little bit of stuff in the first little bit of the movie that wasn't exactly the same as the book, but there was no part where I was, "That is so wrong, it happened like this. . ." My theory, If you are making a movie based on a book, make it the same, especially if that is what you are advertising (you better be listening Da Vinci Code).
Those two aside what else did this movie have? Well it had the battle scenes for the guys, but also the touching scenes (and characters) for the ladies (It also had no commercials at the beginning, that was awesome). It is also mostly appropriate for children, there is only about 1 or 2 scenes that were a little bit scary and the story is also child friendly. I am by no means saying this is a movie to take the kids too and the adults will not enjoy. I think it is a movie for the generations.

***SPOILERS IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH***

Sure I loved the movie, but some things about it still bother me, mostly it is the timing of the chase scenes but if you think about it, movies are always like that. When Edmund heads off for the castle, he seems to get there quickly even though it is off in the distance. Also after he gets there, the beavers and kids have enough time to get back to the lodge before the wolves on a dead run do (the beavers and kids had a head start but I don't think enough). Then when the wolves do come up on the lodge, rather than jumping through the window, they dig through the wall, you would think they are smarter than that. Then the whole time the wolves never seem to catch up, and are easily put off the trail by a simple trick. Then on the waterfall, Peter stabs his sword in the ice and everyone has enough time to grab on and watch the water come, yet the wolf chooses not to attack. (note: also in the book I don't think the chase was this close.) But as much as I am bashing it, these small annoyances do not at all take away from the movie's greatness.

***END OF SPOILERS***

Ok so from what I have said you are probably thinking, "Ian, that sounds like a good movie, but what makes it so great?" And I will tell you, now. What makes this movie so great is not actually the movie. Not the movie? Then what? It is the same thing that makes Star Wars so awesome, the idea. I remember when I was young(er) myself and my siblings and friends would play Chronicles of Narnia. We had swords and armour and shields and everything (I'm pretty sure we made a Dawn Treader at one point as well). Watching this movie is like seeing a new version (with the same storyline) of the movie/books that provided hours and hours of fun as a kid. I have seen the old movies and read all the books and watching this movie was not only entertaining, but also brought back all these memories of fun times as a kid, that is what made this movie great.

Ian