MOVIE REVIEW: THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN

[MattBrady]

by Steve Fritz

WARNING: SOME SPOILERS WILL APPEAR LIKE MAGIC.

True confession time. I admit I never read the entire Narnia series. I did read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I also read The Last Battle. The books inbetween? I never got to them. Not that CS Lewis books don’t have merit. I’d recommend Cosmic Trilogy and Screwtape Letters anytime. Just call it a case of too many good books out there, too little time.

I also admit the following: I enjoyed Disney’s adaptation of Lion, Witch. It felt fresh, the acting was superlative and communicated the author’s iconoclastic interpretation of Christianity with flair and not the slightest bit of heavy handedness.

So why did I feel non-plussed after seeing the sequel, Prince Caspian? The reasons are several, and well worth discussing.

Before I dwell on what’s wrong, let me assure you there are some sequences of pure magic.

The opening sequence where the Pevensie siblings first enter Narnia is truly spellbinding. The same can be said for the White Witch’s way too short cameo appearance thanks to the incredible Tilda Swinton. The various battle sequences have some incredibly original moments.

Probably the key thing really is Lion, Witch was a true ensemble performance. I don’t mean just the four Pevensie children, but with everyone else around them. It didn’t matter if it was a short one by Father Christmas (James Cosmo) or critical characters such as Mr. Tumnus the Fawn (James MacAvoy). They all had weight. Each appearance meant something.

Quite frankly, Caspian is a star vehicle, and it’s custom built for Ben Barnes. While I truly enjoyed his work in Stardust, I think that was because his role as Young Dustin was short and to the point. It wasn’t long before he’s replaced by Nathaniel Parker.

With Caspian, he’s actually introduced to us before the Pevensies come back to Narnia. It also isn’t long before you realize something, his performance as Prince Caspian, the rightful heir to the Telmarine kingdom, is just to heavy for his slim shoulders. He isn’t the only one coming up short either.

Of the Pevensies, the only one who seems to be growing comfortably into his role is Skandar Keynes. His Edmund is remarkably mature and slyly complete. I especially love it when in one scene young Lucy (Georgie Henley) asks why Edmund is the only member of her kin who believes what she told him. Edmund responds that the last time he didn’t listen he wound up making quite the fool of himself. The way Keynes handles the line is so wonderfully ironic it brought a solid laugh from just about everyone in the audience. Another quick scene where he tries to explain his proper title—explaining that he’s just a King while Peter is a High King—is equally entertaining, as is his confrontation with the White Witch.

Also coming up particularly short is William Moseley (Peter Pevensie). In the same sequence with Swinton, Moseley and Barnes never truly make us feel their souls are threatened. When the two have their inevitable swordfight, they remain remarkably passive as they thrust their sabers at each other.

Still, probably the weakest performance of all is that of Sergio Castellitto. As King Miraz, the man who usurps Caspian’s throne, one should feel the man is a true threat. Quite frankly, his performance felt flat throughout the entire film. When he meets his end, I didn’t feel anything, triumphant or otherwise.

Yes, the VFX are incredible, but any cineaste will tell you if the acting isn’t of the same level, the film feels flat. Further, even though I never read Caspian, I could see the ending 30 minutes into the film, and not totally enjoying the ride. Consider, I did read Lion, Witch, and enjoyed every darn second of that film even though I knew the book inside and out.

As it stands, production on the third movie is apparently well on its way. If you didn’t know it, the character of Caspian does talk about a ship called The Dawn Treader. Hopefully, what I just saw was sophomore jinx and things are smooth sailing from this point on.

Related:

A Narnia Video Wrapup.

[DavetheAvata]

I must admit, Prince Caspian was my least favourite of the Narnia books (and I have read the entire series). I wasn't particularly excited about this film but I'm going to see it anyway. Maybe I'll give the book another chance first.

I liked The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe but something about the four children that bothered me, I just couldn't put my finger on what it was. They were fair enough actors there was just something missing, maybe it'll be different this time.

[Xysmurf]

I have to disagree with your view of the original..growing up that was the only book I read from the series, but I also watched the BBC live action adaptation of that as well. In my opinion, the movie didn't live up to the BBC version, and if that set the tone for the entire Narnia barrage we're going to get, I'm fine with not seeing any of the rest of the movies, although I know my partner will drag me to see Caspian.

[ultraaman]

Funny, all the reasons you liked LWW are the same reasons I hated it. I realize the makers had to broaden the character focus of the book in order to make the movie entertaining and mass appearling so I went with it but how they did it was dreadful. All those ancillary characters, who I disagree did NOT have quality screen time in my opinion, distracted from the main story. And every time Sally mugged for the camera - 8 times that I counted - I groaned.

Without having even seen Caspian I had the same worry about what they would do since the 2nd book focuses on the two younger siblings (the 3rd book even more so). They'd have no choice but to expand the mythos which I don't have high hopes for considering how much they botched it in the 1st movie. It seems they failed again based on your summary.

One good thing you mentioned is that it seems they didn't abandon Edmund who plays the largest role in the book. This movie will make money but I wonder if it will be as lucrative as they hoped.

[ssava]

Thanks for the review.
Wow...what a month this is. Iron Man, Speed Racer, Prince Caspian, and then next week Indy.

I've yet to see any of the films...but this is one I'm really looking forward too.
I hope the shortcomings don't hurt it. And I hope it does well enough to see the Voyage of the Dawntreader.

[Salieri]

Pah, the moron who plays Peter is a total hack...and, I say this having shared a drama group with him in Wycliffe Secondary school. He spends the entire movie holding up a sword, looking lost and gormless, or a tragic combination of both.

[sfritz]

Originally Posted by Salieri

Pah, the moron who plays Peter is a total hack...and, I say this having shared a drama group with him in Wycliffe Secondary school. He spends the entire movie holding up a sword, looking lost and gormless, or a tragic combination of both.

Well sir, you have experience with the man I never had. Don't think I want to, either. Then again, while I'm finding hard to disagree with you, I usually also remember that overall actors are just tools. The real problem is the directing. . -s

[JLAJRC]

I'm sure I'll see this eventually. But the trailer didn't really excite me like Lion did.

[KyleCowstar]

Prince Caspian is easily the worst Narnia book. Like by a lot. This movie actually seems better. However, the BEST Narnia book is Dawn Treader which hopefully gets made. Prince Caspain lacked magic in the text and in its storytelling. I just wish they could have skipped this one.

[NotAnIssue]

I think Steve Fritz should lose his movie reviewing privileges after his Speed Racer review/butt-kiss thing.

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=156315

[De Martini]

Originally Posted by KyleCowstar

Prince Caspian is easily the worst Narnia book. Like by a lot. This movie actually seems better. However, the BEST Narnia book is Dawn Treader which hopefully gets made. Prince Caspain lacked magic in the text and in its storytelling. I just wish they could have skipped this one.

Well let's put things in perspective.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is my least favorite HP book, but it's my favorite of the movies. Like Roger Ebert says, it's not WHAT its about, it's about HOW it presents WHAT its about.

And I liked Prince Caspian a lot, I'll read it dozens of times before I check out, say, The Silver Chair again. Although my favorite is still The Magician's Nephew. It's like, what if the Star Wars prequel trilogy was only one movie, but it was freakin' AWESOME? There you go.

[KyleCowstar]

Originally Posted by De Martini

Well let's put things in perspective.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is my least favorite HP book, but it's my favorite of the movies. Like Roger Ebert says, it's not WHAT its about, it's about HOW it presents WHAT its about.

And I liked Prince Caspian a lot, I'll read it dozens of times before I check out, say, The Silver Chair again. Although my favorite is still The Magician's Nephew. It's like, what if the Star Wars prequel trilogy was only one movie, but it was freakin' AWESOME? There you go.

We have different movie and book taste I think. The OotP movie was very bad. The book was great.

[KyleCowstar]

Originally Posted by De Martini

Well let's put things in perspective.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is my least favorite HP book, but it's my favorite of the movies. Like Roger Ebert says, it's not WHAT its about, it's about HOW it presents WHAT its about.

And I liked Prince Caspian a lot, I'll read it dozens of times before I check out, say, The Silver Chair again. Although my favorite is still The Magician's Nephew. It's like, what if the Star Wars prequel trilogy was only one movie, but it was freakin' AWESOME? There you go.

We have different movie and book taste I think. The OotP movie was very bad. The book was great.

[sfritz]

Originally Posted by NotAnIssue

I think Steve Fritz should lose his movie reviewing privileges after his Speed Racer review/butt-kiss thing.

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=156315

So let me get this straight...because I happened to like Speed Racer much better than you did, I'm the butt kisser?

Or should I have gone along with you and then been a liar?

Get a life...or better yet, if you see I wrote it, don't read it. It's obvious who's not the critical person here. -s

[purecorkboy]

Originally Posted by Xysmurf

I have to disagree with your view of the original..growing up that was the only book I read from the series, but I also watched the BBC live action adaptation of that as well. In my opinion, the movie didn't live up to the BBC version, and if that set the tone for the entire Narnia barrage we're going to get, I'm fine with not seeing any of the rest of the movies, although I know my partner will drag me to see Caspian.

Interesting that you should say that but how did their caspian in two half hour episodes cover a full book. It was ridiculously chopped to bits

[Jim]

I don't remember the White Witch being in the book...

That was what annoyed me about the first film, the expansion of some bits at the expense of some things from the original text. I fear that this one will suffer that even more.

[De Martini]

All I remember from the BBC Productions -- other than the laughably miniscule production values and hammy overacting -- is the hideous bucktoothed girl with no discernable acting talent whatsoever that they cast as Lucy.

I really think they should skip 'A Horse & His Boy' as well as 'The Silver Chair'. Do a prequel 'Magician's Nephew' (which would be insanely trippy and cool) and then wrap it up with 'The Last Battle' (the End-of-Days Church crowd will be eating that last one up like Rice Krispy treats.)

Then in 22 years do a new trilogy focusing on Susan.

[RickinToronto]

There is no science in adapting a book into a movie. You cannot do a direct adaptation of a book into film because more often than not, it fails to translate. Everyone is going to be upset that they neglected to focus on one part, and not on the other, or a focus is on one character, and not on the other blah blah blah with all permutations. This is reality.

There are literally hundreds of people involved in film-making: it's a total wonder if everyone is on board and have the same ideal of what they are creating. Same with theatre, opera, music, etc. I know, I do work in a creative field with literally hundreds of people and I am astounded by the fact we manage to work together on a common goal to create something new from scratch (on top of my day job).

I'm just glad this movie is made, as I am a fan of this series. Whatever it's short-comings, I need to vote with my dollar to keep seeing fantasy movies being made. Especially this series. If the box office dollars are not there, the studios will not make them. Sad but true. This is why I went to see Iron Man three times, and plan to see it again over this coming Canadian long weekend. Same with Prince Caspian.

[TheGrowth]

I thought the acting in the original was poor and it seems the same problem reoccurs with the sequel. Maybe they should just do the whole movie in CGI