Robust and well-acted, 'Narnia' comes across as a sanguine, blustery adventure.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:202
Fresh:151
Rotten:51
Average Rating:6.9/10
Consensus: With first-rate special effects and compelling storytelling, this adaptation stays faithful to its source material and will please moviegoers of all ages.
Runtime: 2 hrs 30 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
US Box Office: $291,685,219
Synopsis: Director Andrew Adamson gives a new dimension to C.S. Lewis's enchanting story with this long-awaited Disney adaptation. As the story begins, Mrs. Pevensie--in order to keep her children safe... Director Andrew Adamson gives a new dimension to C.S. Lewis's enchanting story with this long-awaited Disney adaptation. As the story begins, Mrs. Pevensie--in order to keep her children safe during World War II--sends Lucy (Georgie Henley), Edmond (Skandar Keynes), Susan (Anna Popplewell), and Peter (William Moseley) off to stay at a professor's country estate. Away from London and under the care of a strict housekeeper, they are instructed to stick to themselves and stay out of trouble. But when an innocent game of hide-and-seek leads young Lucy to a spare room containing a large wardrobe, she discovers something that will change their lives forever. Inside the wardrobe there is a world frosted with ice and filled with magical beings. Known as Narnia, the land is stuck in eternal winter at the hands of the cruel White Witch, played with great force by the pale, strong-featured Tilda Swinton. When she steps back into reality, Lucy struggles to convince her skeptical siblings of the things she's seen. After much disbelief, the others finally enter the world as well, learning that the creatures of Narnia have long been waiting for humans like themselves to appear and break the witch's spell. But in order to be of any help to the lovable talking beavers, fawns, foxes, and centaurs that they meet, the four will have to face betrayal by one of their own as Edmond cracks under the witch's tempting offer of unlimited Turkish Delights. Under the leadership of the great lion Aslan (voice of Liam Neeson), can Lucy, Edmond, Susan, and the oldest, Peter, prove themselves heroes in the ultimate battle of good vs. evil? High-budget special effects, impressive performances by the film's young newcomers, and beautiful set design move this film far beyond previous television adaptations. [More]
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Jim Broadbent, James McAvoy, Anna Popplewell
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Jim Broadbent, James McAvoy, Anna Popplewell, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Skandar Keynes, James Cosmo, Ray Winstone, Dawn French, Rupert Everett, Kiran Shah
Director: Andrew Adamson
Director: Andrew Adamson
Screenwriter: Ann Peacock, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Producer: Mark Johnson
Composer: Harry Gregson-Williams
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Reviews for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch,...
A faithful and exultant rendering of the classic children's fable. Bring on Prince Caspian!
It is exciting, a bit scary, offers some touches of humor and brings home a positive message about family, trust and faith.
In some ways it is a very good picture, yet it also should have been better than it is...You can feel The Chronicles of Narnia trying too hard to be the Next Big Thing.
Narnia is a visually stunning, and very touching film for the family.
As a broadside across the bow of Lord Jackson and his rampaging WETAns, this is a puny shot. And I'm still hungry.
If The Lord of the Rings is a shot of whiskey, then The Chronicles of Narnia is a glass of milk.
A surprise. The movie is fantastic, with a depth of storytelling and character development that might just leave our Harry looking over his shoulder with a trace of concern.
A perfect melding of modern-day technology and old-fashioned storytelling.
The biggest disappointment is Liam Neeson's voicing of Aslan, which has all the warmth and command of a public information film.
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