Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #361 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-11-17
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 144 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
More exciting than The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian continues the movie franchise based on C.S. Lewis' classic fantasy books. The movie picks up where the first left off... sort of. It's been a year since the Pevensie children--Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy (Georgie Henley)--returned to England from Narnia, and they've just about resigned themselves to living their ordinary lives. But just like that, they're once again transported to a fantastical land, but one with a long-abandoned castle. It turns out that they are in Narnia again--and they themselves lived in that castle, but hundreds of years ago in Narnia time. They've been summoned back to help Prince Caspian (Stardust's Ben Barnes, resembling a young, cultured Keanu Reeves), the rightful heir to the throne who's become the target of his power-hungry uncle, King Miraz (Sergio Castellitto). And he's not the only one threatened: Miraz's people, the Telmarines, have pushed all the Narnians--the talking animals, the centaurs and other beasts, the walking trees--to the brink of extinction. Despite some alpha-male bickering, Peter and Caspian agree to fight Miraz alongside the remaining Narnians, including the dwarf Trumpkin (Peter Dinklage) and the swashbuckling mouse Reepicheep (voiced by Eddie Izzard). (Also appearing is Warwick Davis, who was in Willow and the 1989 BBC version of Prince Caspian.) But of course they most of all miss the noble lion, Aslan, who would have never let this happen to Narnia if he hadn't disappeared.

Prince Caspian is epic, evoking memories of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films. (Some of the battle elements may seem too familiar, but they were in Lewis's book.) And it's appropriate for kids (Reepicheep could have come out of a Shrek movie), though the tone is dark and there is a lot of death, albeit bloodless. After two successful films, Disney and Walden Media's franchise has proved successful enough that many of the characters are scheduled to return in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. --David Horiuchi, Amazon.com

Synopsis
The characters of C.S. Lewis's timeless fantasy come to life once again in this newest installment of the Chronicles of Narnia series, in which the Pevensie siblings are magically transported back from England to the world of Narnia, where a thrilling, perilous new adventure and an even greater test of their faith and courage awaits them.

It’s one year since the childrens’ adventures in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, but when the Kings and Queens of Narnia journey back to the magical realm (via a London Underground station this time, rather than a wardrobe) 1300 years have passed, the Golden Age of Narnia is over and the kingdom lies in ruins. Narnia has been conquered by the Telmarines and is now under the control of the evil King Miraz, who rules the land without mercy.

The four children meet an intriguing new character: Narnia's rightful heir to the throne, the young Prince Caspian, who has been forced into hiding as Miraz, his uncle, plots to kill him and place his own newborn son on the throne. With the help of a kindly dwarf, a courageous talking mouse named Reepicheep (voiced by Eddie Izzard), a badger named Trufflehunter and a Black Dwarf called Nikabrik, the Narnians, led by the mighty knights Peter and Caspian, embark on a remarkable journey to find Aslan, rescue Narnia from Miraz's tyrannical hold, and restore magic and glory to the land.

Directed once again by veteran director Andrew Adamson, the film reunites the original cast and creative team behind the blockbuster first film in the series.

DVD Special Features

Disc 1
Audio Commentary: View the film with commentary by director Andrew Adamson and actors Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell.

Disc 2 (Bonus Disc)
Behind The Magic
Inside Narnia: The Adventure Returns
Sets Of Narnia: A Classic Comes To Life
Big Movie Comes To A Small Town
Previsualizing Narnia
Talking Animals And Walking Trees: The Magical World Of Narnia
Deleted Scenes
Play All with audio introductions by director Andrew Adamson
The Bloopers Of Narnia
Secrets Of The Duel
Becoming Trumpkin
Warwick Davis: The Man Behind Nikabrik
Easter Egg: Monster Cam
Easter Egg: KC Hodenfield - 1st Asst. Dir.
Easter Egg: Blonde Cam
Easter Egg: Toastie
Easter Egg: Sibling Rivalry
Easter Egg: Shane Rangi

Synopsis
Based on the second novel in C.S. Lewis's beloved CHRONICLES OF NARNIA series, PRINCE CASPIAN finds the four Pevensie children--Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy (Georgie Henley)--once again whisked away from WWII-era England into the realm of Narnia, where the siblings once ruled as royalty. However, the Pevensies soon discover that 1,300 years have passed since they left, and the world is now controlled by the Telmarines, humans who long ago banished the magical creatures of Narnia to the wilderness. When the heir to the Telmarine throne, Caspian (Ben Barnes), survives an assassination attempt plotted by his scheming uncle, Miraz (Sergio Castellitto), the noble youth stumbles across Narnia's exiled enchanted population, and decides to lead them in an uprising, aided by Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy.

Considerably darker and more action-packed than THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, this 2008 sequel, once again directed by Andrew Adamson, is driven by the struggle between the Telmarines and the banished Narnians, resulting in many fierce battle sequences. While the newcomer Barnes and the established quartet of Moseley, Popplewell, Keynes, and Henley are all in fine form, CASPIAN is largely enhanced by its supporting cast, which includes indie mainstay Peter Dinklage as the dour dwarf Trumpkin and revered comedian Eddie Izzard as the voice of the swashbuckling mouse Reepicheep. Also briefly reprising their roles from the previous film are Liam Neeson, as the voice of Aslan, and Tilda Swinton, as the White Witch, actors who bring their familiar personas to this engaging and entertaining second chapter in the NARNIA saga.

Customer Reviews

You may find Narnia a more savage place than you remember
Imagine finding a magical kingdom in another world... only to return over a thousand years later, and find it in ruins.

That's the whole idea of "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," a superb sequel to "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe." While it has a climax that goes on WAY too long, this movie shows us the darker side of C.S. Lewis' fantastical world -- with a heavy dose of Shakespearean villains, political intrigue, and some spectacularly epic battles.

It's been 1,300 years in Narnia, and the human Telmarines have invaded and driven the native Narnians underground. Aslan hasn't been seen in centuries.

As young Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) flees from his treacherous uncle Miraz (Sergio Castellitto), he's discovered by a band of Narnians, and accidentally ends up summoning the ancient Kings and Queens of Narnia -- also known as the Pevensie children. Though initially delighted to have returned to Narnia, the Pevensies are horrified when they find that their once-idyllic land has been nearly destroyed.

Caspian has been organizing a ramshackle army of native Narnians, but Peter (William Moseley) finds that fighting an organized, armed force is very different from battling the White Witch. And after a disastrous attack, the Narnians are facing almost certain destruction -- but Lucy (Georgie Henley) is convinced that Aslan can somehow save them, and restore the kingdom to Prince Caspian....

"Prince Caspian" is definitely a darker story than its predecessor -- good guys die, coups fail, the castles are grimy, some of the good guys turn bad, and a bleak, hopeless feeling suffuses much of the movie's second half. Even our heroes have to deal with their doubts and anger, especially since Aslan is conspicuously absent for 95% of the entire film.

And if the first film was a colorful fantasy adventure, then this one is a military story -- spectacular aerial drops, castle-wide massacres, and a spectacular finale involving a massive pit, tree roots, a river, and catapults. But Adamson also packs in as much violence as a PG-rated movie can contain -- while there's only a few drops of actual gore, there's plenty of beheadings, shootings and stabbings.

But Narnia itself has lost none of its charm, and Adamson lingers lovingly on the sunlit forests and quiet rivers for as long as he can. And though the story is grim, he sprinkles it with plenty of humor (the bound-and-gagged cat) and fairly snappy dialogue. One of the most spectacular scenes involves a very familiar character speaking from inside a sheet of shimmering ice, as Caspian is dragged into a necromancer's ritual. Creepy.

Problems with the movie? Well, the climactic battle drags on for a LONG time, and every time you think it'll end, it revs back up. And those masked soldiers are a wee bit too reminiscent of "300's" Persians.

The four Pevensie actors all do solid jobs, although William Moseley is the standout -- Peter is struggling with doubt and a bit of alpha rivalry. Barnes starts off a little stiffly -- come on, where's the fear? -- but soon grows into the difficult role of a Hamlet-like prince who is struggling to become both a Narnian friend and a Telmarine king.

But there's a pretty brilliant supporting cast as well: Castellitto is simply outstanding as the ruthless, icy-cold Miraz, as are Damián Alcázar and Pierfrancesco Favino as his scheming advisors. Warwick Davis does a low-key, malevolent turn as Nikabrik, while Peter Dinklage is the likably brusque, cynical Trumpkin. And Eddie Izzard is top-notch as the mousy swashbuckler Reepicheep -- this could have a silly, comic-relief character, but he does end up being both adorable and formidable.

"Prince Caspian" drops the children's fantasy feeling, in favor of a darker, more militaristic story. But despite its darker overtones, it never forgets the light side.

Welcome return to Narnian wonderland. Great family film
Prince Caspian was mainly panned by profession reviewers, which just goes to show you shouldn't pay too much attention to them! The film provides a couple of hours of escapist fantasy, with a strong moral message, likeable characters, an interesting plot and a host of enchanting Narnians. And there's that great big lion, too; easily the star of the movie.
Unlike most sequels, Prince Caspian has a storyline in its own right and doesn't simply re-tread the plot of the first film. Narnia is in peril again and this time it is humans who are doing the damage. Much of ancient Narnia has been destroyed; the trees no longer dance, Aslan is a mere myth, and the few fabulous creatures who remain are in hiding.
The four children are summoned back (after struggling to fit back in to normal life in wartime England) to help Prince Caspian regain his throne and at the same time save the last of the Narnians from extinction.

There are a range of new bad guys (mostly humans), and new good guys (you'll love the mouse who gets all the good dialogue), and a scary-scary moment where our heroes nearly release a far worse enemy at their most desperate hour. It's always easier to turn to the dark side...!

Prince Capsian has its flaws; it's a little long, and the Prince himself is not an entirely engaging character. The makers also shied away from hammering home the film's central message (about losing/finding one's faith, and about fighting for the right thing), although it is there as a very significant under-current. It also suffers from comparison to other fantasy sagas -- although this doesn't seem fair, considering they all draw upon the same mythic legends to create worlds filled with marvellous creatures.
The Narnia films (and books) were intended for children, and should be viewed as such. Having said that -- I'm 40 and thoroughly enjoyed Prince Caspian. I'm sentimental enough to believe that it is right to fight for the oppressed under-dog, and mushy enough to go misty when the golden lion radiates his love and reassurance. (Aslan easily wins my award for 'best CGI lion' !).
If you're watching this at home and can opt for a hi-def version then I'd recommend you do so, and enjoy the effects at top quality. In any case, this is a film which your kids can watch over and over, so it's probably well worth buying if you've children aged 12 or under. My guess is that teenagers and 20-somethings might sneer... while us older ones wistfully recall the days when we could believe in fantastical centaurs and talking badgers. Delightful escapsim.
7/10

Brilliant adaptation of the book
This review was originally based on having been to see the film in the cinema with my family. We subsequently watched it again on DVD and I have updated the review to reflect this.

Andrew Adamson and the team who produced "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" surpassed themselves this time. All four of the actors who played the Pevensie children are brilliant and the film introduces Ben Barnes who is spellbinding as Caspian.

If you enjoyed either the original book or the first film you will almost certainly love this adaptation.

Apart from the five leads, other excellent performances come from Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan and Eddie Izzard as Reepicheep, the leader of the talking mice - an incredibly difficult role to bring off because he has to be funny in places but also genuinely heroic. (If you've not read the book, imagine a version of Antonio Banderas's character from Shrek II except that where the swordfighting "Puss in Boots" is 80% comic and 20% hero, Reepicheep the swordfighting mouse is 80% hero and 20% comic.) Warwick Davis - who played Reepicheep in the BBC version 20 years ago - is superb this time as the black dwarf Nikabrak and Peter Dinklage is even better as the cynical but golden hearted dwarf Trumpkin.

Previous reviewers have posted some excellent descriptions of the film from the viewpoint of a newcomer to Narnia, so I will add a few comments aimed at those who are familiar with the books but have not yet seen the film.

Surprisingly, the film managed both to be reasonably true to the spirit of the book and also keep me in suspense, because the way the story was presented kept me thinking the film must be about to diverge from Lewis's plot, though it ususlly didn't. In fact almost all the major events of the book eventually happened in the film in more or less the same way, along with most of my favourite details of the book, although the order of events is not quite the same.

What's missing: Bacchus and his wild girls have been censored, and any schoolteachers cursed with naughty children may be disappointed to learn that the scene where a class of horrid little boys get turned into pigs has been taken out. The Bulgy Bear does get to be one of the Marshals for the duel between Peter and Miraz: the delightful little exchange when he reminds Peter that he has the right to that position "I'm a bear, I am!") didn't make it into the final cut, but on the second disc of the DVD release it is one of the "deleted scenes". When Aslan summons the River God, the latter manifests as a man in the shape of a column of water rather than weeds and doesn't need any further permission ("Hail, Lord! Loose my chains") to deal with the Bridge of Beruna.

What's been added: this story gives far more details of the battles than the original book, and also to the political manouvering amongst the Telmarines. In the original the initial battle between the forces of Caspian and the Narnians, and those of the Telmarines loyal to Miraz, is passed over in a few lines written in the past tense. In the film a completely different battle which has, however, an equivalent place in the story is shown in gripping detail. The desperate battle which follows the duel is also depicted in much greater detail than in the book.

The beginning of the film spends slightly longer in wartime England before the Pevensie children are called back to Narnia than in the book, and confronts some of the problems that they, particularly Peter, would have faced on their return to our world at the end of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." If you can imagine spending a decade or two in another word in which you were the High King, during which you had grown to manhood, fought and won wars, and then suddenly having to go back to being an ordinary teenager - it would be pretty difficult, wouldn't it?

Anna Popplewell's character Susan Pevensie also gets a significantly meatier role than in the book: Queen Susan is not just a formidable archer herself but plays a heroic role commanding the Narnian archers at the Battle of Beruna and she also has what gets very close to a romance with Caspian. (One of the deleted scenes on disc II was cut partly because the producers did not want to overdo the romantic tension between Susan and Caspian, but what they left in still had plenty of it.)

Having built up Susan's character as much as they have in this film, the producers may have created even more trouble than they would probably already have had if they follow the original detail and allow her to drift away from Narnia as recorded in the book "The Last Battle." This treatment of Susan is probably the most controversial aspect of the seven books although it is not true, as frequently alleged (especially by people who want to denigrate C.S. Lewis) that Susan is excluded from heaven. The reason Susan doesn't meet the other characters in Heaven at the end of the series is that she isn't dead yet. (When Lewis was subsequently asked about this his reply, published posthumously in the book "Letters to Children," was that Susan may eventually get to heaven.) Speaking as an arch-purist where being true to Lewis's original vision is concerned, a more positive role for Susan at the end of the series is one of the few modifications which would not annoy me.

Although Peter and Susan are told at the end of "Prince Caspian" that they are not coming back to Narnia, William Mosely as High King Peter may get a cameo role at the end of the world (Narnia, not Earth) in "The Last Battle" and Anna Popplewell will presumably be offered a chance to play Queen Susan again in "The Horse and his Boy" which is set during the Golden Age towards the end of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" e.g. the period while the Pevensies are Kings and Queens in Narnia, before they return to Earth at the end of the book.

Conclusion: broadly true to the book, gripping and exciting, well worth going to see. I can't wait to see Ben Barnes, Skandar Keyes, and Georgie Henshaw return in "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" which at the time of updating this review (August 09) has just started filming and is due to hit cinemas in 2010.