Four siblings play a game of hide and seek and wind up entering a magical land. Once there, they discover a world inhabited by beasts, dwarfs, and giants and find themselves in a battle to defeat a witch.
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C.S. Lewis wrote this to explain the elements of good and evil, sacrifice and resurrection, and faith, which are the elements of the Christ story, to children. Be like the older brother who can make mistakes but is caring of his family and brave, and not like the younger sinful brother who was selfish and deceitful and betrayed his siblings in both innocuous and serious matters and for whom the "king" (lion) had to sacrifice himself. It even has females as the only witnesses to the risen king. The younger brother is redeemed and forgiven and changes and each of the siblings become kings and queens in the realm of Narnia. This is an excellent way to begin the teaching of values to children. Be good. Do good.
The movie is very uneven. The CGI is great for 2005 with the animals looking almost real. The practical effects are wonderful with the different fantasy creatures like the minotaurs and satyrs. The environments are very beautiful though when a green screen is used, it is sometimes visible. As I have not read the book, I do not know how that goes but the movie does a bad job at connecting the audience emotionally to the lead kids as their performance is pretty wooden. The big battle at the end also comes across as nothing unique and it is something you have seen before, though the visuals are one again great. The movie is carried by the big three I would say, Tilda Swinton, Liam Neeson, and James McAvoy who all do a great performance. The only emotions you will feel involve their characters and they sometime deliver some cheesy dialogue. Overall, I would say not too bad. There is a lot of good but also a lot of bad so it cancels itself out. I think this movie would work for kids that do not notice these things but for adults, I think you should still watch it but not expect anything too unique.
I cannot say enough how much this film means to me. It is excellent!! I am a massive Narnia fan and I have seen this movie over 200 times since it came out in 2005. I never get tired of it. The cast and crew under the direction of Andrew Adamson went above and beyond to make this beautiful film come to life. Every time I watch this movie I see something I never noticed before. Please watch this movie. You will not regret it.
Magical; I grew up reading the books and some of my earliest memories are the 1980s BBC adaptations that my parents would tape for me. This version is outstanding; the wonder and discovery of Narnia; the cold and calculating intimidating evil of the White Witch (Tilda Swinton could not be more perfect); the majesty, compassion, power and might of Aslan (who is rendered stunningly, even though the film is almost 10 years old now). Everything is perfect. Perhaps most telling of all, my guy loves this movie and requests to watch it fairly often. I don't think he saw it until he was over thirty years old and he never read the books and was not familiar with the story at all, but this film reaches out and wraps him in the magic of Narnia and awakens in him the imaginative young child that still sleeps within. My feelings of nostalgia with this story where a given but this movie has the power even to give adults new to the series the same sense of wistful longing and wonder that I treasure so dearly from this story. I've been wanting to find the right doorway my entire life (while my younger brother has eternally waited for his letter from Hogwarts) and I wouldn't even be surprised to find my guy tapping on the back of wardrobes because of the excellence of this film and its subject matter.
One of our favorite all time movies. Wonderful and exciting full of mystery and suspense! Tenderly written illustrating how a loving and noble King would give up his life for others. An epic battle between good and evil, betrayal and forgiveness.
This was classic Hollywood/Disney, and I do not mean this as a compliment! Instead of saying this is based on C.S. Lewis' work, it should state LOOSELY based on it. They diverted off the story line to add excitement in places where the story is exciting enough. As a stand alone movie, not based on any other work, it's filled with adventure, fantasy and fighting, and is quite entertaining. This is my biggest beef about books made into movies: They just can't seem to follow the story! For once I just wish when a filmmaker made a film from a book, especially such an excellent book, they would do their best to follow it! But all you have to do is look at other books made into movies to see that true adaptations are hard to find. The Little Princess (Shirley Temple) brought the father "back" to life (What?? He died! Deal with it! ) and Janette Oke's Love Comes Softly series only kept some of the names, but hardly any of the story line! If you aren't going to follow the book at all, why not make movies without using a book? Write your own story. But I guess whoever is responsible for the story line is not that imaginative. Or ambitious. Sad.
Movie was fun and exciting and something I can let my kids watch. there's still a lot more in the book that was left out, but who knows what the editors did to it.
Few criticisms Some spots (if you have not read the book) seem a little choppy and some of the characters in the book seem much bigger like the Witch and Aslan. Also the faun in the book seems to be a bit more sweet, etc... mostly small things like that.
Praises Overall, the production was well done, the acting great and the CG was done very well which made the talking animals and various creatures believable. So other than the typical missing book to movie details - it was entertaining, heart-warming and captivating.
If you love the books then I think you'll love this movie too.
A truly lovely story, somewhat sad, very well done. This movie has had a place in my heart for many years, as has the book. This is true to C.S. Lewis's story; the effects and actors are seamless and endearing. Great, well-told children's tales don't come along every day, and the truly great ones engage the adult viewer, too. Everything is here: action, adventure, love, loss, betrayal, evil, and goodness. Everything in the world is in this story, just as it should be. I'm glad to have a permanent copy of it at last.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2017
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After watching this recently with my two nephews I don't think this film has aged too badly at all. It's a really fun movie for most ages, but especially younger kids who into action and fantasy. There are only a couple of slow points in the film but it's all very nicely set, with lovely fantasy landscapes, great cinematography and special effects and sweeping camera shots in the bigger action sequences. All the young actors are very good, as is Tilda Swinton as the wonderfully evil queen with a temper. Both wanted to see the sequels so they obviously enjoyed it too.
5.0 out of 5 starsThe Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - Chronicles of Narnia DVD
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2016
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This is my favourite of the Narnia stories. It is a story about four "children of Adam" who go through the back of a wardrobe and come out in the land of Narnia - which is in Winter and ruled by a witch - until the children arrive and meet Aslan - the true ruler. Edmund - one of the children - betrays the others for Turkish delight and Aslan later surrenders his life to redeem him. After Aslan comes back to life, the witch and the children battle with their respective warriors against each other. There is a lot more to this story than I relate here + the outcome of the battle.
1.0 out of 5 starsWhen I reported this to Amazon they were brilliant and organized a refund
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 19, 2015
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I have waited for years to purchase this complete series with these particular actors and actresses. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the first story and therefore the scene setter for the entire series. I have just purchased them all on Blue-ray. Sadly this particular disc, purchased from Amazon as the Seller, was appalling quality - a problem I have never experienced from Amazon as provider before. The play kept stalling as though on a track change and the sound quality was spasmodic, with missing words.When I reported this to Amazon they were brilliant and organized a refund.
My problem is - I really want this film (on Blu-ray to match the set) but I am not sure how I can rely on getting a good copy free of soundtrack problems. Is it just the Blu-ray version that is inferior because the film was originally issued in standard film? Can you advise me Amazon- or anyone?
Regarding this film - it really is a fantastic adventure story of trials and courage in the old tradition of storytelling, and portrays the development of the characters with a keen understanding of how young people cope with the struggles of separation and find their true strengths. I can't recommend it highly enough.
I just hope that someone can help me get a decent copy...
Just upgraded to Blu-ray when I luckily spotted it was available. Lovely sharp picture. I own all three on Blu-ray (dawn treader in 3D)... let’s hope that they might eventually do the silver chair? Blu-ray Disc quality really upgrades the picture. Recommend.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2020
Verified Purchase
Got this for my dad for Christmas as he wanted to this to add to the other Chronicles Narina dvds Prince Caspian and Voyage of the Dawn Treader very pleased and great to watch with a great voice cast epically my dads favourite actor Liam Neeson as the mighty lion Aslan.