Main Review
Once again Narnia fans will see another vision of author C.S. Lewis come to life in the newest installment of The
Chronicles of Narnia series, “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.” Always exciting, the new movie, which premiers on
December 10, will draw the audience into the story, just like the children are drawn into the now familiar world of magic
through different passages each time. Lucy (Georgie Henley) originally found Narnia by stepping through a wardrobe. But
this time, the adventure found her when she and her brother, Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and unpleasant cousin Eustace
(Will Poulter) were drawn into a picture on the wall when water started pouring out of it into a bedroom.
The water rose quickly over the three children’s heads, and when they swam to the top, they were no longer in the dull,
white-washed upstairs bedroom at Aunt Alberta’s house, but in the middle of the ocean with the prow of a great ship
heading straight toward them. Not a bad start, huh?
The children quickly board the vessel, where they are welcomed back as Queen Lucy and King Edmund by none other
than King Caspian (Ben Barns) who, in the last movie, “Prince Caspian,” the children helped to become King. My only
critique here is that in “Prince Caspian” Ben Barns had a decidedly Spanish accent. In the new movie, he sounded very
British. The adventure quickly takes off as the children discover they are on a quest to find seven lords that were loyal to
Caspian’s father, lords that the wicked Kind Miraz had sent on a voyage from which he knew they would be unlikely to
return.
Cousin Eustace, who was dragged along kicking and screaming, turned things upside down with his sulking and
whining. Being a thorough modern, educated and unimaginative fellow, Eustace was appalled at the sight of a talking
mouse and fainted when a deep booming voice came from a large burly minotaur. His character changed significantly
throughout the story, most notably when he was transformed into a dragon, and needed the help of Aslan to change back.
The movie itself is exciting, fast-paced, and entertaining. However, for fans of the original book by C.S. Lewis, it may prove
to be disappointing. The movie deviated from the story line almost entirely, adding strange elements that were not in the
book, and leaving out other thing that would have given the story line much more depth. Very early in the story, the
audience is introduced to “the green mist,” a mysterious vapor that takes human sacrifices, and later comes to represent
temptation in the lives of everyone on the voyage. While defeating the green mist becomes the main objective in the
movie, this concept does not appear at all in the book. Also in the movie, the main battle against temptation and the green
mist takes place on the Dark Island, a land which makes only the briefest appearance in the book, and is not at all
significant. There are also scenes that seem very rushed, and are consequently confusing. Parent, be cautious - the
movie itself is exciting and fun, but may also be scary for young children. The Dark Island battle scene was very intense,
and Eustace, as a dragon, gets stabbed in the side with a sword.
Even though some of Lewis’ message was lost in translation, the very end of the movie really grasps an amazing theme.
While Aslan is saying goodbye to the children, Lucy asks if they will ever see Him again. He says, “You knew me here for
a little while so you could know me better in your own world by another name.” Truly, a beautiful picture of Jesus, which is
exactly what Lewis was trying to create.
Closing Thoughts
Overall, this is a movie that families can watch together and enjoy. Then I hope you will read the book, and let Narnia
come to life in your imagination as well.
Review Written By: Liz Haveman [liz.haveman@christianmusicreview.org] on 12/3/2010
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