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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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121 - 140 (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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If you love the book it is hard to imagine you not loving the movie, regardless of the ideological prism through which you view it.

Full Review Source: ÜberCiné | comment Comment
12/09/05
Gregory Weinkauf
Gregory Weinkauf
ÜberCiné

4. Oreius and the rest of the centaurs break into a rousing rendition of "Day by Day" to motivate the troops.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/09/05
Pete Vonder Haar
Pete Vonder Haar
Film Threat

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe fares much better in its smaller, quieter moments that test the mettle and morality of its young heroes

Full Review Source: Lawrence Journal-World | comment Comment
12/09/05
Jon Niccum
Jon Niccum
Lawrence Journal-World

The Chronicles of Narnia does indeed capture a certain wondrous, fantastical imagination inspired by C.S. Lewis' literary classics. But the film unfortunately also suffers from Lord of the Rings envy.

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
12/09/05
Kit Bowen
Kit Bowen
Hollywood.com

Pat Robertson will clearly be surfing Fandango.

Full Review Source: Richmond.com | comment Comment
12/09/05
Mike Ward
Mike Ward
Richmond.com

Tilda Swinton... may be the scariest witch since Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard of Oz.

Full Review Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette | comment Comment
12/09/05
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Adamson knows how to give talking creatures heart, the special effects work but aren't overwhelming, and the basis is a classic for a reason. Try it on for size; you won't be disappointed.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
12/09/05
E! Online

On balance, more of the movie works than doesn't, but this isn't 140 minutes of unqualified successes.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
12/09/05
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews

Enjoyable adaptation that looks fantastic and stays remarkably faithful to the novel, though it wobbles occasionally during the emotional scenes.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
12/09/05
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

The film fares better when it gives itself over to pageantry and action -- which come in copious quantities -- and to the pantheon of gorgeously rendered, hyper-realistic CGI beasties.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
12/09/05
Tasha Robinson
Tasha Robinson
AV Club

I know it's bizarre to say CGI beavers have more life to them than the humans who interact with the computerized creations, but it's true. The whole movie feels flat.

Full Review Source: About.com | comment Comment
12/09/05
Rebecca Murray
Rebecca Murray
About.com

There is no one better than Tilda Swinton to play the White Witch.

Full Review Source: 7M Pictures | comment Comment
12/09/05
Kevin Carr
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures

[W]arm, sweet, funny, scary, magnificent, gorgeous, expansive, intimate, but mostly completely and utterly charming. And I mean Charming with a capital C, charming like the movie invented the concept...

Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
12/08/05
MaryAnn Johanson
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher

The many moments of sacrifice, resurrection, and Judas-like betrayal feel like they're from another film, and not one with talking beavers and fur coat-clad heroes.

Full Review Source: FilmJerk.com | comment 1 Comment
12/08/05
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
FilmJerk.com

This is one of the most boring stories ever told in any format... If this is the truncated movie version, how redundant was the book?

Full Review Source: About.com | comment Comment
12/08/05
Fred Topel
Fred Topel
About.com

The fantasy aspect is merely a vehicle for another purpose, [and] it underdevelops character motives as a result.

Full Review Source: Window to the Movies | comment Comment
12/08/05
Jeffrey Chen
Jeffrey Chen
Window to the Movies

The Chronicles of Narnia proves, sometimes, talking animals are not funny. Sometimes, they are waging a holy war, and Santa Claus is giving kids weapons for Christmas.

Full Review Source: WaffleMovies.com | comment Comment
12/08/05
Willie Waffle
Willie Waffle
WaffleMovies.com

By the end of Narnia, I felt like I was retaught a lesson I had long since learned instead of living the dream of a new discovery. Suitable in that there are clearly no small metaphors, only small movies about those metaphors.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
12/08/05
Erik Childress
Erik Childress
eFilmCritic.com

I was less than thrilled with the prospect, after seeing the film's mediocre trailer, of spending two plus hours with "The Chronicles of Narnia." But, boy, am I glad I did.

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
12/08/05
Robin Clifford
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

this could be considered Disney's bloodless version of The Passion, but couching these lessons of sacrifice and forgiveness in a magical world where animals talk and fauns frolic was an inspired way to appeal to the child in all of us

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
12/08/05
Laura Clifford
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews
 
 
121 - 140 (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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