A Foolish Review of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

How can I praise this film? Let me count the ways!

What words best describe this faithful interpretation of C.S. Lewis' classic?

One word will do: Majestic!

From opening to credits, this movie captures you immediately, and it refuses to let you go!

If you've read The Chronicles of Narnia, then take a moment and reflect on the stories. Recall your impressions of C.S. Lewis' wonderland. Imagine the snow-capped mountains, the frost-covered trees and the veritable wasteland of ice that surrounds the White Witches' home. Picture the verdant fields, flowing rivers and blossoming flowers of the countryside in which Aslan walks.

Do you see it? Good!

Now prepare to be blown away!

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe recreates the wonders of Narnia far beyond your wildest expectation. I found every corner of Narnia that I had imagined when I first read the stories brought to life! I'm not alone, either. As Barbara Nicolosi of Church of the Masses says:

The movie is lovely. The print we saw had some special effects still in stages, but it didn't detract from the stunning vision the movie radiates off the screen. England is musty and dreary. Narnia is a wonderland. Tke kids are going to love it. They are going to want to walk through that wardrobe with Lucy time after time.

As for the story, well, the film has set a new standard in "faithfulness to the original text." This doesn't mean that every line or every plot event from the book makes its way into the movie. That doesn't happen, nor should it. What does take place, however, is a faithful interpretation of the book's conflicts, characterizations and themes. Yes, the Christian allegory is there, too! Again, Barbara Nicolosi says it best:

But best of all, contrary to Peter Jackson's agenda-aversion manhandling of Tolkien's classic, here, the tone of LW&W is as close to the book as probably could have been achieved. All the lines the Christians are worrying about are in there. All the scenes you want to see are here and lovingly rendered. So everybody can relax and get ready to enjoy, and we can all take the Wonderful World of Disney back into our hearts -- and save the studio for 2005! Truly, our forgiveness is completely saving...

The film also brings C.S. Lewis' memorable characters to life! William Mosely's Peter undergoes the transformation from the overwhelmed oldest brother to a confident and courageous leader. And Skandar Keynes Edmund's conversion from a surley, selfish and spoiled brat to a repentent and emboldened defender of strangers will impress you! Anna Popplewell's Susan and Georgie Henley's Lucy, too, become so much more than they are at the beginning of the film. James McAvoy's Mr. Tumnus will make you laugh and cry in equal measures. Tilda Swinton's White Witch nearly steals the show. She emanates the suitable menace of Narnia's embodiment of evil without melodramatic overkill. Finally, Liam Neeson's Aslan inspires the awe and reverence we all felt when we read the book the first time. I marvelled at the animation work that made Aslan truly a presence in the film! Mr. Neeson's brilliant oration made Aslan's role as a Christ figure complete.

I can't reccommend this film highly enough! Don't look here for spoilers, or clues or little winks and nods! Go see the movie. Trust me: You will NOT be disappointed! Let me end with Ms. Nicolosi's reccommendation:

Bring your kids to see The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe! Bring them again! On opening weekend! This movie is deep magic.