Prince Caspian

So, after almost three years after the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe were released, we get to see the second book of the Chronicles of Narnia series: Prince Caspian.

For starters, the first 20-30 minutes of the movie, don't move smoothly enough to keep up with the slow pacing. Why? We kinda get a little reintroduced to the characters most of us know, well, the four kids. But after that first part, everything moves into place and we get a better action movie than the first one.

I felt this movie the same way I did with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, in that it is darker AND better it is also more violent than the first one, but it doesn't detract from the original. This movie does have a more 'epic' feel to it, the battle scenes, ALL of them, are just great, highly enjoyable, you always root for the team, but in the end, well, not everything goes the same way twice...

However, I still have no idea how the kids got back into Narnia without the wardrobe (don't ask), and again, how they become accustomed to their weapons, or like someone mentioned somewhere, who are the Narnians??? Really, just centaurs, ox, rats and dwarves?? Maybe I need to read the book, maybe I don't.

Anyways, the movie is very enjoyable and if you liked the first one, you will like this one, and how this one matured a little bit more, even when, IMO, it should've been given a PG-13 rating. Even so, for unintended comic relief (besides the talking mice), look after the 'temptation' scene (which I missed thanks to my restroom break), when they are discussing what to do next, and the characters start yelling "for Aslan", I can only say, mentally challenged, no offense, but after that, I couldn't stop laughing after about 5 or 10 minutes (and I might've missed important stuff, I know)...

Okay, I really like the LWW (and I'm such a sucker I got the 'extended' edition, which, IMO, adds nothing that stands out), and I liked and enjoyed this darker, more mature, action filled sequel. I can only hope this movie makes enough money so that Disney will invest in the rest of the books...

My favorite "not meant for comical moment" was the girl throwing her arrow through a guy, after that through the whole movie all I could think was Why doesn't she just throw the arrows, it would save time.

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I can only hope this movie makes enough money so that Disney will invest in the rest of the books...

One of our movies critics here in Phoenix, mentioned over the radio, that Disney DID purchase the rights to do all the books. Just an FYI.

Voyage of the Dawn Trader is in pre production.

Purchasing the rights doesn't mean that they will be made...the arrow thing? Nah, it was the 'mentally challenged' character that does nothing... ...I actually couldn't stop laughing, it was hillarious...

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who are the Narnians???

Anyone who isn't a "Son of Adam" or a "Daughter of Eve" basically humans. Anything that isn't human is a Narnian. Including the trees which are alive.

Given that "Prince Caspian" is probably the weakest book in the seven-book series, it's a wonder Disney was able to make a movie out of it at all and that it succeeded as well as it did. The book seems like all talk and then a big battle, and it's over. In the movie at least we get a little more variety in the action.

Oh, and the kids get back to Narnia (as in the book) because they left the horn behind, a magical horn that people can use to call them back when they're needed. Of course, after the "Prince Caspian" book ends, the two older children never come back for the further adventures. The two younger kids return with their cousins. I guess it was C.S. Lewis's way of keeping the kids in the story young. And, fortunately, the movie version of "Prince Caspian" ends as the book does, with a mention that the older kids won't be returning. (Sorry if that's a spoiler. But it's not much of one.)

John

[Post edited by John J. Puccio on May 19, 2008]

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I guess it was C.S. Lewis's way of keeping the kids in the story young.

That was always one aspects of the books I hated the most even when I was a child. I always felt it was a cheat. I mean they went from being adults to returning to the Professor's house basically the same day they left. I'm pretty sure you'd have some psychological issues from going from an adult (and royalty) back to being a kid and dealing with the mundane things like school.

Thanks Movielover and John, I guess it does pay to read the books...so yeah, it's kinda of cheat that it's always the young ones...and yes, I do agree, it is a weak story basically, and IMO, the backstory of the prince could've been explored a bit more. I just hope the next one isn't on 3D...

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Given that "Prince Caspian" is probably the weakest book in the seven-book series, it's a wonder Disney was able to make a movie out of it at all and that it succeeded as well as it did. The book seems like all talk and then a big battle, and it's over. In the movie at least we get a little more variety in the action.

thanks for the info. my fince enjoyed it. she is a fan of narnia.