Viewed in
2010
Formats
Movie theater (digital)
Premise
Based on C.S. Lewis's book, Lucy, Edmund and their unwilling cousin return to Narnia on King Caspian's ship.
Liked
The attention to character.
Thoughts
Like the other two, it was good, but not great.
I liked it better than Prince Caspian because it had more character development. Edmund dealt with a familiar ghost, and newcomer Eustace transformed from annoying non-believer to unlikely hero. For me, Lucy's story most interesting and sympathetic, as she was tempted by her jealousy of her older, prettier, and more accomplished sister.
Speaking of, it was good to see William Moseley and curvaceous Anna Popplewell onscreen again, even if it was for a fleeting moment. In fact, their appearance as well as other specters of the previous movies added depth and nostalgia to the experience.
The ending was interesting and surprising at the same time. For one thing, the Christian allegory was laid on so thick that even an uneducated agnostic (yours truly) could easily understand. What I did not expect was bittersweet emotion as familiar faces from these movies bid farewell to each other and to the audience.
It did not really have any flaws, although Eustace was far too annoying. While the visual effects, quirky creatures, and fight scenes were fine, it still gave this forgettable aura of "Lord of the Rings Lite".
Based on what I saw, the dearth of shots ripe for 3D made me glad I did not go for the more expensive version. You won't miss much if you save money by going regular 2D.
While superior to the second movie in character, the lack of memorable action made it far from must-see. But it should suffice for special effects driven family entertainment this holiday season.
What I would change
No idea.
