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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:11

Fresh:10

Rotten:1

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

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1 - 11 (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
Daniel Etherington
Channel 4 Film
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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
Sukhdev Sandhu
Daily Telegraph
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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
Ian Freer
Empire Magazine
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Fans of CS Lewis’s book can rest easy.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
12/08/05
Dave Calhoun
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
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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
Stella Papamichael
BBC
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There's no fire, no passion and not much fun.

Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | comment Comment
12/16/05
TIME Magazine
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This honorable adaptation of C. S. Lewis's novel has much of the power and charm of the source.

comment Comment
12/08/05
A.O. Scott
A.O. Scott
New York Times
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[Features] strong casting of mostly unfamiliar faces, a convincing family feeling among the four kids, solid storytelling and fluid interplay between the humans and four-legged creatures.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
12/08/05
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
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The effects in this movie are so skillful that the animals look about as real as any of the other characters.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
12/08/05
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
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The movie remains faithful to the book in both tone and imagery.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
12/06/05
Carina Chocano
Carina Chocano
Los Angeles Times
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What is lightly sketched in the novel, where much is left to the imagination, blossoms into full-blown, richly detailed life in the movie.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
12/02/05
Kirk Honeycutt
Kirk Honeycutt
Hollywood Reporter
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1 - 11 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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