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| The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe [Blu-ray] | ![The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61pxWtyY3uL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Andrew Adamson
Actors: Jim Broadbent, Patrick Kake, Shane Rangi, Cassie Cook, Jaxin Hall
Studio: WALT DISNEY VIDEO
Category: DVD
List Price: $34.99
Buy New: $19.89
You Save: $15.10 (43%)
New (37) Used (16) Collectible (1) from $14.98
Avg. Customer Rating:  763 reviews
Sales Rank: 1238
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: Blu-ray
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 135
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 6.6 x 5.4 x 0.5
MPN: 05614900
UPC: 786936751963
EAN: 0786936751963
ASIN: B000YAFJXE
Theatrical Release Date: December 9, 2005
Release Date: May 13, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: New, factory sealed.
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| Customer Reviews:
 A Classic...with a clunky beginning!!! December 5, 2005
24 out of 39 found this review helpful
There is one scene in Andrew Adamson's new film THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, that for me walking into the theater that needed to be perfect. If not the whole movie and (the continued franchise of sequels) would fall flat on its face. If the film did not capture this scene I believe the heart and soul of C.S. Lewis and his magical world would have been completely destroyed.
But I digress!
Walking into Narnia is an interesting experience for me. In all honesty I find C.S. Lewis to be a great writer that I can hardly read. His books are hailed left and right and I just can't read them. It's not Lewis's fault. I realize it's my own media saturated thick head that blocks me up. So a few weeks ago after a screening of a 10 minute super trailer for NARNIA I decided to dust off my old copy of THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and decided to give it a chance. I read the first two books in about a week and I wondered to myself. What was my problem? What took me so long to become enchanted by this mystical world? I've come to realize I cannot appreciate the classics. I really think that's my loss and something I intend to work on in the new year.
So anyway, sitting down in the movie theater I psyched myself up I intended to be wowed. I wanted Narnia to come alive onscreen like it did in my mind and I think it fell a little short of my expectations but in the end made me smile.
NARNIA tells the story of four children. When the youngest named Lucy (Georgie Henley) finds a magic wardrobe that transports her into the magical land of Narnia. Narnia is a land of talking animals, magical fauns, and the evil White Witch (Tilda Swinton) whose enslaved the land causing it to be forever winter and never Christmas. Her sister Susan (Anna Popplewell), and brothers Peter (William Moseley), and Edmund (Skandar Keynes) don't believe her story. Until the day all the children enter the Land of Narnia. A land and get caught up in a war that may fulfill a prophecy that will bring peace to Narnia.
NARNIA is a fascinating example of a film that doesn't exactly add up but in the end is satisfying. The screenplay is riddled with the problems from the very beginning. It tries so hard to stick to the book that the early moments of the film feel flat. Even when the children get to Narnia you feel the same way. Narnia feels just like the British Country side the children have come from. Narnia should feel different and it doesn't. Why is their a light post growing in the middle of the forest? Why are the animals talking? Why is it always winter and yet never Christmas? These questions should inspire awe. NARNIA should glow and jump off the screen, but the first act is to busy getting from point a to point b than to allow us to immerse ourselves in the NARNIAN landscape. If your like me you'll find yourself thinking "why does this feel like a third rate LORD OF THE RINGS?"
I think what's missing is the thing that made the novel so enchanting. It's Lewis's self aware narration. Even when at the greatest peril it was Lewis's kind words and silly aside comments that lightened the situation. Admittedly that would be difficult in a film but It would have been nice if they'd tried. Instead they stuck humor in places that seemed out of place.
But fear not, all is not lost. Because if you can get through the first hour (which really isn't that bad). You'll come out on the other side and into a much better and powerful movie. Once Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson) the Mighty Lion comes on the screen you're in for the ride of your life.
I mentioned earlier there is one scene that needed to be perfect or the film would be destroyed. That scene involves Aslan and the stone table. They got it right, and oh boy was I impressed. If Aslan is not strong, if Aslan is not seen as a threat even as he is being tormented this scene falls apart. But Adamson and his team make Aslan a character to be reckoned with. If you don't gasp as Aslan climbs those stairs and the beasts and the White Witch part the way for him, if you don't feel the pain and anguish of Aslan's torment, and if your tear ducts don't well up when the scene is over, I would doubt your humanity ( just a little.)
After that the film only gets better, there is an awesome battle sequence, and even Narnia begins to take a life of its own. It gives each character their moment to shine and it wraps itself up neatly enough. After the film was over I can't wait for PRINCE CASPIAN (or THE HORSE AND HIS BOY) to hit the big screen.
I would also like to single out little Georgie Henley (watch out Dakota Fanning) the little girl who plays Lucy. She gives the early part of the film a lot more life and fills the screen like very few child actors can. This little girl (in her debut role) has an innocence and yet a maturity that belies her age. This little girl gives a performance that should really net her an Oscar nod. It probably won't but if I didn't bring it up who would?
While this film has a few rough spots and a first act that needed some work THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE is an enchanting journey that is worth the price of admission. Seek it out.
 An Excellent Movie at Every Level! December 21, 2005
23 out of 25 found this review helpful
Where shall I begin? Narnia blew me away, folks. This movie has it all; Excellent acting, story line, special effects, action and it is wholesome enough for little kids.
ACTING-I don't see this often in a movie, but every actor in this movie did a superb job. Best in show would have to be a tie between the little girl who played Lucy and the woman who played the witch. Every facial expression and every line spoken was perfect. When the white witch was trying to seem nice, you felt that she was sweet. When she wasn't seeming so nice, you felt the villany in her heart. Lucy portrayed both the innocence and the naivity of a small child.
STORY LINE-The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has long been considered a literary classic, loved the world over because it is a suberbly written story about a group of four children who partake in an amazing adventure in the magical world of Narnia. In this world, every animal speaks and magic is everywhere. The world is in the icy grip of an all-powerful evil witch, and it is up to the children to set things right. The use of children as the main characters instantly captivates the imagination of every child watching, as they imagine themselves taking part in the adventure.
SPECIAL EFFECTS-Due to fantastic advances in computer animation, the epic battles which take place in this movie are nothing short of amazing. Huge armies of monsters, including minotaurs, centaurs, satyrs, giants, gnomes, flying griffons and many types of animals clash in amazingly detailed environments. The sounds of battle fill the theatre, making the viewer feel as if they are right there.
ACTION-This is an action packed movie. Better skip the large drink on this one, as you will not want to miss a minute of it going to the restroom. There is never a dull moment in Narnia.
A good film February 18, 2006
23 out of 29 found this review helpful
Disney's adaptation of the C.S. Lewis classic does a comendable job bring the world of Narnia to life. The special effects laden world gets the flavor of the books just right and really made me feel transported to that magical world on the other side of the wardrobe.
While the film isn't a literal translation of the novel (I think it wouldn't have worked if it had been) it is more than that. I really feel this film is able to stand on it's own and is worth the price of the DVD.
The film tells the story of four children from London who are sent into the English countryside during the bombing of World War II (something which was quite common during the war was to send children into the countryside). It is at the house in which they are staying where they discover the magical wardrobe which transports them to the land of Narnia. In Narnia they become involved in the politics/war of the White Witch against Aslan.
While the story is certainly a Christian allegory, the director handles it in such a way at to not knock you over the head with it. He does a great job of not allowing the story to bog down (which can happen when adapting a novel to film). The acting is good as is the cinematography and special effects.
One thing I am tired of seeing/hearing is the comparision to the Harry Potter series. To do so does a diservice not only to the Naria film, but to C.S. Lewis, a devout Christian. I don't think you could say the same for the creator of Harry Potter, and comparing the two is truly like comparing apples to oranges.
This film, while not great on the same epic scale of the Lord of the Rings (a much more apt film to compare it to), it wasn't meant to be the epic which the LOTR was. This film is a good one and I highly recommend it.
 Not a good adaptation at all December 29, 2005
20 out of 44 found this review helpful
Narnia is an attempt to try to cash in on the success of the Lord of the Rings movies. If they really wanted to make a great adaptation, they should of spent more money on the CGI and makeup. You'll notice right from the start that the budget for the movie was very small in comparison to LotR. I tried to enjoy it, but it just plodded along to slowly and abruptly.
It's hard trying to describe just how badly they put this movie together. The first 30 minutes of the movie consists of the kids finding the wardrobe. By the time they are actually in Narnia, you won't care because everything happens too fast. At one point they are flowing on a river of ice, and within 20 minutes of that event they are warriors and kings.
That's another problem. The kids have the ability to kill minotaurs and witches without any practice. The prophecy says that 4 kids will save the land of Narnia. The way the director shoots the movie, it makes the minotaurs and centaurs look like idiots. The kids become warlords without any training, and the hardy trained soldiers can't compete with them. In LotR, the characters have trouble defeating the powers of evil. In Narnia, the kids have the ability to beat evil easily, and it ruins the movie as it just comes off as stupid and implausible in the end.
The worst part of the movie though lies in the weak performances of the characters. The kids do not show organic performances. I liked Peter at the beginning of the movie. One reviewer here mentioned how Peter constantly points his sword at everything. It's true. Every time there is danger, Peter gets out his sword and points it at the enemy. He looks like an idiot when he does this. Edmund comes off as annoying and selfish. Lucy is just too happy about everything, and she gets annoying by the end. Susan isn't even used, as she contributes nothing to the movie except one point near the end.
The books had a charm to them, yet the movie fails to capture any of that. I mentioned how the CGI and makeup department both did a bad job. It's easy to spot when an animal is done with CGI and when someone is dressed up to look like a centaur.
"Aslan is Jesus, like it or not: Lord of the Rings on a Two-thirds Scale" December 9, 2005
19 out of 23 found this review helpful
Having never read the books, and having spent my life studying theology, let me preface this review by saying I went into the theater not fully knowing what to anticipate. Having now seen the film, I can say without reservation--this film is unabashedly Christian to its very core, and Aslan is Jesus, like it or not.
I will not summarize the story. A summary can be found elsewhere. In addition, I will address only three aspects of the film: the performances, the special effects, and the theology. Again, more detailed reviews can be found elsewhere.
The children do an outstanding job as Edmund, Lucy, Peter and Susan. As has been suggested, their characters do loosely represent Judas, John the Apostle, Peter, and Paul. In these children, the personifications of betrayal, love, leadership, and logical reasoning are not represented accidentally.
Other than the White Witch (who is wonderfully bad), and the Faun, there are few other human characters of real importance. This is a movie that lives or dies by animation, story and special effects.
The special effects (as well as the scenery) are highly reminiscent of 'Lord of the Rings'. There are orc-like fiends, trollish enemies, and talking trees. There's even an iteration of the 'army of the dead' at the final battle. Especially effective are the centaurs, and other heavy emphasis on Greek mythology such as the Medusa's touch which turns creatures into stone.
Although the film is over two hours long it is slow to unfold. I found it only moderately interesting until the melting of winter--halfway through--which came none too soon for me. Once we meet Aslan, however, the movie becomes an adventure of an entirely different genre. He is majestic, benevolent, and just. He is "...good, but He is not tame."
The final battle is by far the best part of the film. One would swear Peter Jackson was in full charge. It is 'Lord of the Rings' on a two-thirds scale, and no less convincing. At times, I found myself surprised to find the children here as warriors. They seemed more and more out of place as the scale of the epic final battle grew increasingly grand. In the battle's final sequence, the children's story became an eternal epic of good against evil, and the kids--briefly--seemed a mere afterthought.
Though there is death in the film (the battle, Aslan, the witch, et al), we see no blood. No need to worry here. Nevertheless, the lion's death is as emotionally wrenching as it is theologically profound, so consider that when you take the kids.
Theologically, no Christian will be disappointed. Aslan is Jesus Christ. His willing sacrifice in place of the betrayer (Edmund) is unnerving and realistic. He is bound by the great law of sin and death at the Stone of Deep Magic, and majestically informs the White Witch: "I was there when it was written!". Aslan's death is painful to watch, and the White Witch's eulogy is the darkest part of the film: "You died for nothing. So much for love!" Nevertheless, through Aslan's sacrifice, the Stone is broken, and Edmund (later called 'the just') is redeemed.
The theme of resurrection is grand, if a bit off in its theology. Aslan implies that anyone could sacrifice a life for another, and reverse the curse of legalism and death. Theologically, of course, only Christ could accomplish this. Yet the shattering of the stone of law upon which Aslan is murdered is profound to all who understand the implications therein.
Other recognizable Christian motifs include the oil with which the girls seek to anoint Aslan, the removal of the curse from the world of Narnia at destruction of evil, and the transcending "It is finished!" as the army of the good "look to the skies!" for assistance at Aslan's victory over all evil. The final confrontation of all that is good with all that is bad is as poignant as it is brief--just as the Scripture describes it.
Not knowing the story, the one somewhat surprising inclusion was the Santa Claus figure. To me, this did little to add to the story, and seemed a bit strange. I know 'winter without Christmas' had to include the Santa figure, but to me it was a distraction to a profound narrative.
I give the film five stars only because I cannot give it four and one-half. I understand that it is faithful to the Lewis story, which is good. I really enjoyed this film, though it is a bit long-winded in getting to the good stuff. Not many films which include talking beavers, Turkish delight, and Santa Claus will bring one seeking deep theological truth to tears. This one will. Highly Recommended.
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