| Nominated for three Academy Awards, The | | | | intends to murder the children upon their arrival. |
| Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The | | | | But when Lucy relays the facts of the adventure |
| Wardrobe follows on the heels of recent | | | | to her family, they don?t believe her. |
| successful big screen adaptations of other | | | | Despite their initial reservations, her older siblings ? |
| childrens? fantasy novels such as The Lord of the | | | | Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Susan (Anna |
| Rings books and the Harry Potter series. But while | | | | Popplewell), and Peter (William Moseley) ? all find |
| each of these series feature underlying tones of | | | | their way into the magical land of Narnia. With |
| Christian symbolism, The Chronicles of Narnia is | | | | talking trees, a forest filled with danger, and an |
| overtly intended as a Christian allegory. Written by | | | | evil witch in hot pursuit, the Pevensie kids must |
| the brilliant 20th Century Oxford and Cambridge | | | | navigate their way through the treacherous land in |
| literature professor C.S. Lewis, the Narnia stories | | | | order to find Aslan (Liam Neeson), the Messianic |
| were a tribute to his deep Christian faith. And this | | | | lion king who can help them to fulfill their rightful |
| big screen transition is something of which he can | | | | destiny as heirs to the thrones of Narnia? |
| be proud. Directed by Andrew Adamson, veteran | | | | Aided by an outstanding soundtrack which |
| director of the Shrek franchise, The Lion, The | | | | perfectly compliments each sequence of events, |
| Witch, and The Wardrobe is a master blend of | | | | The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is an |
| traditional human acting and computer generated | | | | inspiring film of epic proportions. For Christians, it |
| imagery. | | | | will have significant meaning far in excess of a |
| The film follows the exploits of the four Pevensie | | | | traditional film. For instance, the climatic scene of |
| children, two brothers and two sisters. Set during | | | | the film in which Aslan provides the ultimate |
| the early years of World War II, their mother | | | | sacrifice will evoke images of Roman soldiers |
| sends them away to the countryside in order to | | | | beating and mocking Jesus in the hours leading up |
| escape the relentless Nazi bombing raids on | | | | to his crucifixion. It?s undeniably the most |
| London. Left to their own devices in the | | | | powerful scene of the film. Meanwhile, Georgie |
| cavernous mansion of Professor Kirke (Jim | | | | Henley turns in an unforgettable performance as |
| Broadbent), they engage in a traditional game of | | | | the innocent and playful Lucy. Her charisma |
| hide-and-seek, whereupon the youngest of | | | | exudes from the screen in a manner rarely |
| children, Lucy (Georgie Henley) crawls into a lone | | | | common to child actors. This performance is |
| wardrobe stationed in an otherwise empty room. | | | | complimented by Tilda Swinton who is |
| Backing her way through the garments, she | | | | magnificently cast in the role of the White Witch. |
| stumbles into a wintry wonderland where she | | | | She simultaneously displays the satanic traits of |
| encounters a faun named Mr. Tumnus (James | | | | seductive beauty and ruthless cunning with |
| McAvoy). | | | | heavenly perfection. Add a final battle sequence |
| Initially, Mr. Tumnus tries to kidnap the young girl, | | | | reminiscent of Braveheart, and you?ve got a |
| but he experiences a change of heart due to the | | | | blockbuster movie the whole family can enjoy. |
| kindness of her spirit. As a result, he reveals to | | | | Although parents of small children who scare |
| her the truth about the land into which she | | | | easily should take note that some of the scenes |
| stumbled. Narnia is dominated by the evil White | | | | can be frightening, but probably no more |
| Witch who claims to be ruler of the forest, but | | | | frightening than Darth Vader and the aliens from |
| the true ruler is a lion named Aslan who | | | | Star Wars. Nevertheless, parents should preview |
| prophesied long ago that two ?sons of Adam? | | | | the film before introducing it to young children. |
| and ?daughters of Eve? would usher in the end of | | | | Overall, this first film in The Chronicles of Narnia |
| the one hundred year darkness administered by | | | | series is well worth any movie-goer?s attention? |
| the White Witch. Knowing the prophecy, the witch | | | | |