Marcia Degia - PublisherThe latest Narnia film is a fantastic journey from start to
finish. The focus lies on the two youngest Pevensie characters, Lucy
and Edmund. Once again they find themselves in Narnia, and are reunited
with their dear friend Prince Caspian.
They have grown as people, and are led on a perilous voyage which
constantly puts their lives at risk. During their quest, Edmund’s
desire to rule is fuelled by temptation and the authoritative Caspian.
Their relationship is rocked by great conflict, and we see a darker side
to Edmund before they are awakened to reality. The once overlooked
Lucy steps into her own as a strong-hearted young woman. However,
struggling to accept herself and her own natural beauty, Lucy makes a
wrong decision and needs Aslan’s guidance to find her feet again. She
is played charmingly by Georgie Henley, who commented: “I think
it’s always important for fantasy films to have real issues for the
characters to deal with, otherwise the audience can’t connect with
them.”
Impressive sword-fights with slave-traders showcase their
skill and bravery, and also demonstrate the strong family bonds that
they share. They battle to save the people of Narnia but first have to
face their own fears. The addition of cousin Eustace brings a fresh
dynamic, as he provides hilarious outbursts and witty remarks to
crowd-pleasing effect. Being cowardly and lacking a belief in the magic
of Narnia, he comically struggles to keep up with the others.
Old friend Reepicheep, seen only as a giant talking mouse to Eustace,
joins the group. As events unfold the most unlikely of friendships is
formed, as Reepicheep guides Eustace in his time of need. This
uplifting relationship brings much needed character and humour to the
film. All the characters experience some kind of self-affirmation, and
the morals throughout are relatable and inspiring.
Aslan has become more of an ethereal character, often appearing
simply as a guiding voice, and at times almost like a conscience. The
way his character acts definitely embodies the idea of the Messiah
Christ. Skandar Keynes who plays Edmund, said of the author of the
books: “C.S. Lewis has a reputation of being a big Christian, and there
is a message there that you can see with Christian eyes, however they
are also universal values.” Director Michael Apted delivers this unique vision in creative and deeply satisfactory style.
