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Dir. Andrew Adamson
Rating: 6.7 | 0 User Reviews | Send to Friend
By Jes Sipling
Thank God (er, Aslan?) that “things never happen the same way twice,” as the lion tells young Lucy Pevensie in the second cinematic installment of C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia. Although The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe pulled nearly $300 Million, let’s face it: The children couldn’t act, the graphics were lame, and the costumes looked like plastic and tin foil. Whether it’s the result of a bigger budget or a realization that he should take better care of a 60-year-old classic, director Andrew Adamson will win back readers with Prince Caspian. Narnia is 1,300 years older and has been taken over by the dark, power-hungry King Miraz (Sergio Castellitto), Lord of the Telmarine people. Newbie actor Ben Barnes makes a fair attempt at playing Caspian, the nephew of Miraz and rightful heir to the throne who flees for his life after his aunt births a son to the King. In his plight, Caspian encounters a few Narnians, a people reduced to bedtime folklore over the years. But rather than dancing trees and talking animals, a ruined Narnia unfolds, full of disgruntled deists. Meanwhile, the four Pevensie children, one year older and thankfully endowed with some acting chops, are popped out of England through some intense CGI magic to save their land. Though not to the caliber of what Peter Jackson gave Tolkien’s fans, Adamson captures the raw beauty of Lewis’ world and, as co-writer, keeps the screenplay extremely close to the novel: one exception being a ridiculous love-drama between Susan and the hotter-than-necessary Caspian. The soundtrack, which crescendos every 20 minutes and almost always without need, was disappointing. However, Regina Spektor’s bittersweet ending piano ballad offers more redemption than Liam Neeson’s lion roar. Full of fantasy and war, the movie brings action and adrenaline to the table with formidable creatures, impressive sword fights and some rather well-placed dwarf-sarcasm.
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