A Look at Narnia: Prince Caspian
“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” is the highly anticipated follow-up to the C.S. Lewis classic, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. In “Prince Caspian,” the Pevensie children once again find themselves magically transported from 1940s England to the mystical land of Narnia. The children are soon shocked to learn that although it’s been only a year since leaving Narnia, 1300 years have passed in the land itself, and the state of affairs in their beloved land has taken a turn for the worse. The Telmarines, an evil group of Spanish conquerors (or are they Italian? or British?), have oppressed and marginalized the Narnians, and now this diverse group of creatures have been relegated to the woods of the land. The Narnians only hope for their land is the Telmarine prince himself, Caspian, who has recently been exiled from his own land because of a power hungry uncle.
Director Andrew Adamson picks up where he left off with the first movie, presenting a vivid tale, which for the most part, is true to beloved series by C.S. Lewis. In the Chronicles of Narnia, the land itself is one of the most important characters, and Adamson presents scene after scene of lush landscape that makes any son of Adam and daughter of Eve long for a true place called Narnia.
Despite the beautiful landscape, this is without a doubt a violent film, and yet somehow the filmmakers managed to keep the bloodshed to a minimum. The battle scenes are engaging and dramatic, and the CGI in the film continues to show a remarkable improvement in the realism of computer-generated imagery. Many of the talking animals of Narnia actually look real, and not like misplaced animated creatures in a live-action film.
The actors in Prince Caspian turn in strong performances, with the notable exception of Prince Caspian himself, whose performance is reminiscent of a petulant, scared boy (not unlike Hayden Christenson’s Anakin Skywalker), instead of a confident monarch that could rally men and Narnians alike to follow him in battle. The Pevensie children, however, all relative newcomers to major motion pictures, once again strike the perfect balance between childlike brashness, faith, and confidence.
The Senior High-Life ministry went to see the Lewis classic as part of our Film Club, a time for leaders and students to gather together, watch a film, and then discuss the redemptive themes of that film. Film Club allows us to search for truth in a film, and it helps us develop skills of meditation and reflection, not just consumption. It also allows us to enjoy one of God’s amazing gifts, great art. Film is powerful and persuasive, and Senior High-Life is excited about using this influential medium for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.