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MOVIES / ON DVD / 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)

75%
92%
79%
N/A
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N/A
75 %
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.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Rated: PG

Runtime: 2 hrs 30 mins

Theatrical Release: 08-12-2005

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 during World War II--sends Lucy (Georgie Henley), Edmond (Skandar Keynes), Susan (Anna... 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]

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Starring: Tilda Swinton, Jim Broadbent, James McAvoy, Anna Popplewell, Georgie Henley

Director: Andrew Adamson
Screenwriter: Ann Peacock, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Producer: Mark Johnson
Composer: Harry Gregson-Williams

DVD Info

Release:

Jan 5, 2009

[DVD Details]

Blu-ray Disc Features:

  • Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.39

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - English
  • Dolby Surround - French, Spanish
  • Subtitles - French, Spanish - Optional

Additional Release Material:

  • Audio Commentary - 1. Andrew Adamson - Director; Stars
  • 2. Filmmakers Commentary
  • Bloopers - The Bloopers of NARNIA
  • Featurette - 1. CREATURES OF THE WORLD
  • 2. LEGENDS IN TIME
  • 3. CHRONICLES OF A DIRECTOR
  • 4. ANATOMY OF A SCENE
  • 5. CREATING CREATURES
  • 6. CINEMATIC STORYTELLERS
  • 7. FROM ONE MAN'S MIND
  • 8. LEGENDS IN TIME
  • 9. Evolution of an Epic

Interactive Features:

  • Explore Narnia 3-D Map
  • Game - BATTLE FOR NARNIA - All New Game

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 >> >|
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Ratings Image
3/5

A slow, cold first half is followed by a lively, sunny second half.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/13/08
Daniel Etherington
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

This is a worthy opening salvo, a film that succeeds through the sheer weight of our expectations, and that won't disappoint younger audiences.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/10/07
Sukhdev Sandhu
Daily Telegraph
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3/5

It’s an enjoyable adaptation and good enough for us to welcome this new franchise.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/30/06
Ian Freer
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
4/5

The biggest disappointment is Liam Neeson's voicing of Aslan, which has all the warmth and command of a public information film.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/10/05
Robert Hanks
Independent
Ratings Image
3/5

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

Full Review | comment Comment
12/09/05
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
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N/A

Expect your heart -- and the hearts of your children -- to soar.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/08/05
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]
Ratings Image
N/A

Fans of CS Lewis’s book can rest easy.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/08/05
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

It's briskly directed for much of the way, though with no great individuality, by Andrew Adamson, a film-maker previously noted for his work in animation.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/05
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
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Ratings Image
4/5

Lewis' fantasy is beautifully realised in a vast array of colourful characters and majestic scenery.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/05
Stella Papamichael
BBC
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Ratings Image
3/5

A brave attempt, if a little on the safe side.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/05/05
Joe Utichi
FilmFocus
Ratings Image
3.5/5

The filmmakers have gone for broke, combining spectacular imagery and rousing energy. Although it's perhaps a bit overdone.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/25/05
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
Ratings Image
N/A

The story never quite lives up to the grandeur of the visuals, and the narrative tends to drag, especially in the first half.

Full Review | comment Comment
07/08/08
Steve Biodrowski
ESplatter
Ratings Image
N/A

Appreciable is its willingness to tantalize with slow reveals, thus allowing its otherwise obvious religious readings to imbue themselves more fully into the unfolding narrative.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/18/08
Rob Humanick
Projection Booth
Ratings Image
N/A

It is marked by a peculiarly English celebration of the Church Militant. That noted, it's also a ripping yarn.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/17/08
Thomas Peyser
Style Weekly (Richmond, VA)
Ratings Image
2.5/4

The bigger the scope gets, the less we really care.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/26/08
Steven Snyder
Zertinet Movies
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
01/15/08
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
Ratings Image
2.5/4

Certainly a feast for the eyes; once the story moves to Narnia, the film is never dull to look at.

Full Review | comment Comment
07/14/07
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
Ratings Image
N/A

The Chronicles of Narnia joins the ranks of other fantasy classics ... in creating an amazingly believable fantasy world.

Full Review | comment Comment
07/10/07
Felix Gonzalez Jr.
DVD Review
Ratings Image
N/A

With its crisply told narrative, excellent production values and great ensemble cast [it] is one of the best big-budget spectacles Hollywood has released this year.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/01/07
Ethan Alter
Film Journal International
Ratings Image
N/A

It is spendthrift in budget yet cautious in style, steadfast in holding to Lewis's imagination yet timorous about using any of its own.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/11/06
Stuart Klawans
Nation
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• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe at Rotten Tomatoes
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• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe at AskMen
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