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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)

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Reviews Counted: 201

Fresh: 151

Rotten:50

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.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for battle sequences and frightening moments.

Runtime: 2 hrs 30 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

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... 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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1 - 4 of 7

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Reviews for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch,...

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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A slow, cold first half is followed by a lively, sunny second half.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/13/08
Daniel Etherington
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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 Source: Daily Telegraph | comment Comment
02/10/07
Sukhdev Sandhu
Daily Telegraph
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Ian Freer
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
12/10/05
Robert Hanks
Independent

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
ViewLondon

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

Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
12/08/05
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]

Fans of CS Lewis’s book can rest easy.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
12/08/05
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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 Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
12/06/05
Peter Bradshaw
Observer [UK]

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

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
12/06/05
Stella Papamichael
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

Full Review Source: FilmFocus | comment Comment
12/05/05
Joe Utichi
FilmFocus

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

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
11/25/05
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: CHUD | comment Comment
02/27/09
Devin Faraci
CHUD

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 Source: ESplatter | comment Comment
07/08/08
Steve Biodrowski
ESplatter

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 Source: Projection Booth | comment Comment
05/18/08
Rob Humanick
Projection Booth

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

Full Review Source: Style Weekly (Richmond, VA) | comment Comment
05/17/08
Thomas Peyser
Style Weekly (Richmond, VA)

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

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

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
01/15/08
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons

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

Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
07/14/07
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

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

Full Review Source: DVD Review | comment Comment
07/10/07
Felix Gonzalez Jr.
DVD Review
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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