| Nominated for three Academy Awards, The | | | | one hundred year darkness administered by the |
| Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The | | | | White Witch. Knowing the prophecy, the witch |
| Wardrobe follows on the heels of recent | | | | intends to murder the children upon their arrival. |
| successful big screen adaptations of other | | | | But when Lucy relays the facts of the adventure |
| childrens' fantasy novels such as The Lord of the | | | | to her family, they don't believe her. |
| Rings books and the Harry Potter series. But while | | | | Despite their initial reservations, her older siblings - |
| each of these series feature underlying tones of | | | | Edmund (Skandar Keynes), Susan (Anna |
| Christian symbolism, The Chronicles of Narnia is | | | | Popplewell), and Peter (William Moseley) - all find |
| overtly intended as a Christian allegory. Written by | | | | their way into the magical land of Narnia. With |
| the brilliant 20th Century Oxford and Cambridge | | | | talking trees, a forest filled with danger, and an |
| literature professor C.S. Lewis, the Narnia stories | | | | evil witch in hot pursuit, the Pevensie kids must |
| were a tribute to his deep Christian faith. And this | | | | navigate their way through the treacherous land in |
| big screen transition is something of which he can | | | | order to find Aslan (Liam Neeson), the Messianic |
| be proud. Directed by Andrew Adamson, veteran | | | | lion king who can help them to fulfill their rightful |
| director of the Shrek franchise, The Lion, The | | | | destiny as heirs to the thrones of Narnia... |
| Witch, and The Wardrobe is a master blend of | | | | Aided by an outstanding soundtrack which |
| traditional human acting and computer generated | | | | perfectly compliments each sequence of events, |
| imagery. | | | | The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is an |
| The film follows the exploits of the four Pevensie | | | | inspiring film of epic proportions. For Christians, it |
| children, two brothers and two sisters. Set during | | | | will have significant meaning far in excess of a |
| the early years of World War II, their mother | | | | traditional film. For instance, the climatic scene of |
| sends them away to the countryside in order to | | | | the film in which Aslan provides the ultimate |
| escape the relentless Nazi bombing raids on | | | | sacrifice will evoke images of Roman soldiers |
| London. Left to their own devices in the | | | | beating and mocking Jesus in the hours leading up |
| cavernous mansion of Professor Kirke (Jim | | | | to his crucifixion. It's undeniably the most powerful |
| Broadbent), they engage in a traditional game of | | | | scene of the film. Meanwhile, Georgie Henley turns |
| hide-and-seek, whereupon the youngest of | | | | in an unforgettable performance as the innocent |
| children, Lucy (Georgie Henley) crawls into a lone | | | | and playful Lucy. Her charisma exudes from the |
| wardrobe stationed in an otherwise empty room. | | | | screen in a manner rarely common to child actors. |
| Backing her way through the garments, she | | | | This performance is complimented by Tilda |
| stumbles into a wintry wonderland where she | | | | Swinton who is magnificently cast in the role of |
| encounters a faun named Mr. Tumnus (James | | | | the White Witch. She simultaneously displays the |
| McAvoy). | | | | satanic traits of seductive beauty and ruthless |
| Initially, Mr. Tumnus tries to kidnap the young girl, | | | | cunning with heavenly perfection. Add a final battle |
| but he experiences a change of heart due to the | | | | sequence reminiscent of Braveheart, and you've |
| kindness of her spirit. As a result, he reveals to | | | | got a blockbuster movie the whole family can |
| her the truth about the land into which she | | | | enjoy. Although parents of small children who |
| stumbled. Narnia is dominated by the evil White | | | | scare easily should take note that some of the |
| Witch who claims to be ruler of the forest, but | | | | scenes can be frightening, but probably no more |
| the true ruler is a lion named Aslan who | | | | frightening than Darth Vader and the aliens from |
| prophesied long ago that two "sons of Adam" and | | | | Star Wars. Nevertheless, parents should preview |
| "daughters of Eve" would usher in the end of the | | | | the film before introducing it to young children. |