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Disney's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is actually quite good. But is it the "epic masterpiece" being hailed by critics? Hardly.

Based on the classic children's books by C.S. Lewis, Narnia's target audience includes fans of the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter films, as well as Christians and children. It is because of the movie's emphasis to cater to the latter that it fails as an epic fantasy film. Director Andrew Adamson's version of the long-awaited adaptation of Lewis' books doesn't capitalize on the books' magical potency and therefore come across as a softball "also-ran" flick, more Neverending Story than Lord of the Rings.

And speaking of LOTR, Narnia at times baltantly rips off Peter Jackson's classic trilogy. The soundtrack is eerily similar, and in the scene where Jadis, the White Witch (played to perfection by Tilda Swinton) is preparing her henchmen for battle, she states, "We have work to do", an exact quote from Saruman in LOTR's the Two Towers. Jadis is one of the best characters in the film, but her provocative, sexually suggestive behavior towards Edmund during their inital encounter borders on pedophilia. As far as the four children, Edmund, Peter, Susan, and Lucy, are concerned, only Lucy comes across as adorable; the others are neither likeable nor interesting. When they are christened with their weapons of swords, a bow and arrow, and a dagger, one wonders what they did to deserve such noble accessories.

The movie's special effects are decent, especially Jadis' ice palace, but the talking beavers and wolves are too reminiscent of animated features. Aslan, the lion, voiced with majestic precision by Liam Neeson, is a worthy, noble beast that looks authentic and exemplifies all the humble yet powerful virtues of a prophet-saviour, but the movie takes its time in trotting him out, only to limit his screen time. The "Christian Crusade" of good over evil in the final battle was nothing compared to the battle I was waging with an overfull baldder. But it was filmed well, and depicted considerable, yet toned down violence.

The movie ends with a scene out of Star Wars, in which the four children are honoured for their courage in restoring peace to Narnia (balance to the force?), but one couldn't help wonder what the film might have been with another director, four different children and a more adult-oriented theme.

Now, about that bladder.

© 2005 Aaron Bayley