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Movies / Upcoming / The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)

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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

[See More Credits]

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    The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Trailer
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    Behind The Magic of Narnia: The Story
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    Andrew Adamson Interview
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  • Tilda Swinton & Skandar Keynes Interview
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    James McAvoy & Georgie Henley Interview
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    Anna Popplewell & Willaim Mosley Interview
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Reviews for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch,...

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101 - 120 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 >> >|
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It's quite an array of fantastic visions that Adamson and the animators had to create, and the very scope and depth of their mission is impressive.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
12/09/05
Bob Strauss
Bob Strauss
Los Angeles Daily News

Adamson seems more comfortable with animated characters than real ones.

Full Review Source: Miami Herald | comment Comment
12/09/05
Connie Ogle
Connie Ogle
Miami Herald

The result is mostly engaging, but rarely soars or sings with imagination, poetry, whimsy or the sort of surprise that can take your breath away.

Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
12/09/05
Duane Dudek
Duane Dudek
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

It's a sturdy adaptation, and if The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe doesn't capture the magic of C.S. Lewis' books, it comes a fair sight close to catching it.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
12/09/05
Amy Biancolli
Amy Biancolli
Houston Chronicle

Is, and was probably specifically designed, to be Lord of the Rings-Lite

Full Review Source: Planet Sick-Boy | comment Comment
12/09/05
Jon Popick
Jon Popick
Planet Sick-Boy

The film seems more like a Saturday at the movies than a magical event, but that doesn't mean that it's not a well-rendered version of Lewis' endearingly slender novel.

Full Review Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News | comment Comment
12/09/05
Robert Denerstein
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News

To its credit and power, the film allows them a reach that exceeds any one religion's grasp.

Full Review Source: Denver Post | comment Comment
12/09/05
Lisa Kennedy
Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post

One only wishes the movie had been rendered more artfully. The dialogue is impossibly clunky, the characters are completely one-dimensional, and the magic is all too mechanized to allow anyone over the age of 8 or 9 to believe in Narnia.

Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | comment 2 Comments
12/09/05
Terry Lawson
Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press

It's more yawn-inspiring than awe-inspiring, especially for those who haven't read the book.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
12/09/05
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

It would be easy to brush off The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as Lord of the Rings-light. Very light. But the film really isn't even that good.

Full Review Source: Detroit News | comment 2 Comments
12/09/05
Tom Long
Tom Long
Detroit News

What constant magic it works.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
12/09/05
Rick Groen
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail

It's allegorical and imaginative, although literary subtlety is lost to the patently obvious.

Full Review Source: Modamag.com | comment Comment
12/09/05
Susan Granger
Susan Granger
Modamag.com

The obvious comparison is to 'Lord of the Rings' -- but when Peter Jackson creates the most awe-inspiring battle scene since Kurosawa, the bar is too high for Andrew Adamson.

Full Review Source: Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) | comment Comment
12/09/05
Jonathan R. Perry
Jonathan R. Perry
Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

The Chronicles of Narnia so vividly captures the magic of the book that Harry Potter might just want to watch his back.

Full Review Source: Contra Costa Times | comment Comment
12/09/05
Randy Myers
Randy Myers
Contra Costa Times

A loving interpretation of C.S. Lewis's beloved parable for children, and it's almost perfect in every detail.

Full Review Source: Charlotte Observer | comment Comment
12/09/05
Lawrence Toppman
Lawrence Toppman
Charlotte Observer

Enchantment, adventure, sly humor, the beauty of the seasons, life lessons about responsibility, family and sacrifice all co-exist in this film in splendid harmony. The filmmakers have created a classic.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
12/09/05
L.J. Strom
L.J. Strom
Boxoffice Magazine

Adamson's touch is rather pedestrian, as if he didn't have the confidence to let Lewis' tale soar.

Full Review Source: Salt Lake Tribune | comment Comment
12/09/05
Sean Means
Sean Means
Salt Lake Tribune

The filmmakers make many compromises in the name of epic scope and box office appeal, but they can't bend this story out of shape, and they have Tilda Swinton on hand to spank anyone who tries.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
12/09/05
Ty Burr
Ty Burr
Boston Globe

Authentic, unclouded magic for youthful minds.

Full Review Source: Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) | comment Comment
12/09/05
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah)

...a pleasant and safe cinematic experience for the whole family.

Full Review Source: Supercala.com | comment Comment
12/09/05
Paul Salfen
Paul Salfen
Supercala.com
 
 
101 - 120 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 >> >|
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