Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-04-03
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Danish, English, Hindi, Norwegian
• Dubbed in: Danish, Hindi, Norwegian
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 137 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
C.S. Lewis's classic novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe makes an ambitious and long-awaited leap to the screen in this modern adaptation. It's a CGI-created world laden with all the special effects and visual wizardry modern filmmaking technology can conjure, which is fine so long as the film stays true to the story that Lewis wrote. And while this film is not a literal translation--it really wants to be so much more than just a kids' movie--for the most part it is faithful enough to the story, and whatever faults it has are happily faults of overreaching, and not of holding back. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe tells the story of the four Pevensie children, Lucy, Peter, Edmund, and Susan, and their adventures in the mystical world of Narnia. Sent to the British countryside for their own safety during the blitz of World War II, they discover an entryway into a mystical world through an old wardrobe. Narnia is inhabited by mythical, anthropomorphic creatures suffering under the hundred-year rule of the cruel White Witch (Tilda Swinton, in a standout role). The arrival of the children gives the creatures of Narnia hope for liberation, and all are dragged into the inevitable conflict between evil (the Witch) and good (Aslan the Lion, the Messiah figure, regally voiced by Liam Neeson).

Director (and co-screenwriter) Andrew Adamson, a veteran of the Shrek franchise, knows his way around a fantasy-based adventure story, and he wisely keeps the story moving when it could easily become bogged down and tiresome. Narnia is, of course, a Christian allegory and the symbology is definitely there (as it should be, otherwise it wouldn't be the story Lewis wrote), but audiences aren't knocked over the head with it, and in the hands of another director it could easily have become pedantic. The focus is squarely on the children and their adventures. The four young actors are respectable in their roles, especially considering the size of the project put on their shoulders, but it's the young Georgie Henley as the curious Lucy who stands out. This isn't a film that wildly succeeds, and in the long run it won't have the same impact as the Harry Potter franchise, but it is well done, and kids will get swept up in the adventure. Note: Narnia does contain battle scenes that some parents may consider too violent for younger children. --Dan Vancini

DVD Description
C.S. Lewis' timeless adventure The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe follows the exploits of the Pevensie siblings -- Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter -- in World War II England, as the four enter the world of Narnia through a magical wardrobe while playing a game of hide-and-seek in the rural country home of an elderly professor. Once there, the children discover a charming, peaceful land inhabited by talking beasts, dwarfs, fauns, centaurs and giants, but this world has become cursed to eternal winter by the evil White Witch, Jadis. Under the guidance of a noble and mystical ruler, the lion Aslan, the children fight to overcome the White Witch's powerful hold over Narnia in a spectacular, climactic battle that will free Narnia from Jadis' icy spell forever.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe marks the first live-action directorial effort from New Zealander Andrew Adamson (of the Oscar-winning Shrek and Shrek 2), and stars Tilda Swinton as the White Witch. The film also features the voices of Rupert Everett, Dawn French, Ray Winstone, and Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan.

Synopsis
Director Andrew Adamson gives a new dimension to C.S. Lewis's enchanting story with this long-awaited Disney adaptation. As the story begins, Mrs. Pevensie in order to keep her children safe during World War II sends Lucy (Georgie Henley), Edmond (Skandar Keynes), Susan (Anna Popplewell), and Peter (William Moseley) off to stay at a professor's country estate. Away from London and under the care of a strict housekeeper, they are instructed to stick to themselves and stay out of trouble. But when an innocent game of hide-and-seek leads young Lucy to a spare room containing a large wardrobe, she discovers something that will change their lives forever. Inside the wardrobe there is a world frosted with ice and filled with magical beings. Known as Narnia, the land is stuck in eternal winter at the hands of the cruel White Witch, played with great force by the pale, strong-featured Tilda Swinton. When she steps back into reality, Lucy struggles to convince her sceptical siblings of the things she's seen. After much disbelief, the others finally enter the world as well, learning that the creatures of Narnia have long been waiting for humans like themselves to appear and break the witch's spell. But in order to be of any help to the lovable talking beavers, fawns, foxes, and centaurs that they meet, the four will have to face betrayal by one of their own as Edmond cracks under the witch's tempting offer of unlimited Turkish Delights. Under the leadership of the great lion Aslan (voice of Liam Neeson), can Lucy, Edmond, Susan, and the oldest, Peter, prove themselves heroes in the ultimate battle of good vs. evil? High-budget special effects, impressive performances by the film's young newcomers, and beautiful set design move this film far beyond previous television adaptations.

Customer Reviews

A Poorly produced film with a cheap feel to it.
This modern attempt at adapting this classic book into film is not a good one. When compared to other classic book-to-film adaptations of classic fanatasy (ie. Lord of the Rings and Stardust) this falls well short of standard set by previous fantasy movies. In contrast, Narnia appears cheap with inferior acting, poor casting, bad direction, cheap looking sets and generally poorly produced.

Narnia is not a terrible movie and you'll find your children enjoying it ..... but unlike other fantasy films like stardust and LOTR ,this isnt really enjoyable for adults.

This film seems like a knee-jerk reaction to the success of 'the Lord of the Rings' trilogy, but sadly falls well short of the high standard set by Peter Jackson's adaptation of Tolkiens work. Thus this attempt at adapting CS Lewis classic tale feels like it has been rushed and made on the cheap. At best this an average film ... at the worst; its a big disapointment.

If anyone is in the mood for escapism fantasy ... i would not recommend this film at all.

Absolutely fantastic!
The credits are still rolling but I had to get this review in!

After watching the painful BBC version this is brilliant by comparison. Please don't buy the BBC one, get this instead. I can't fault it! It is just like the image of narnia in my head. Very believeable, great characters, great battle scenes. I cringed all the way through the BBC version but this was a delight to watch.

Can't wait for Prince Caspian now!

enjoyable family fantasy adventure
In their first major career roles, Georgie Henley (Lucy) Skandar Keynes (Edmund) William Moseley (Peter) and Anna Popplewell (Susan) star in this C.S Lewis adaptation about their characters finding a magical world in the back of a wardrobe.

Having never read the book but heard rave reviews, I was intrigued to see this film and wasn't to be disappointed.

In a magical fairytale for the whole family, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe has something for everybody, the mystical adventure for the younger generations, and a few good characters and experienced ideologies for adults.

A question mark hovers over the acting but with first performances it is understandable.

Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton) is excellent as the witch, her cold personality and the character epitomizes the true essence of evil, which is what the story follows.

Good vs evil is often very obvious, which is the case here with the golden spirit of Aslan and the cold white heart of the witch, giving the film good balance.

The writing and mystery behind Narnia is very good. The sheer imagination of a wardrobe containing a magical kingdom is a good enough reason to go and see the film and is well established by Andrew Adamson. Though not the best direction, it gets the required effect.

I'm not a huge lover of CGI being a person for realism in context and etc. There is no question that the work that has gone into creating all the creatures and scenery is outstanding. But I'm personally not a fan of it, but if you do like it, then this is CGI at its peak.

Apart from a few lapses in the story and pretty bad acting, it is an enjoyable fun film for the whole family.

7/10