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Movie review
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Opening the wardrobe door once again, by Wendy
Knowlton, The
Melbourne Anglican
The lasting impression of the Narnia books is one of
wonder. A wardrobe in a spare room leads to a land of
eternal winter; from the Wood between the Worlds one can
jump into dying lands or witness the birth of a world so new
everything grows, even a stolen lamp post. A lion’s
breath can carry a child from a mountain beyond the clouds
to a safe landing below; stars are glittering people, and
the deep places of the earth are studded with living jewels,
glowing and soft as fruit.
In the midst of the fantasy and the mingling of
mythologies C.S. Lewis was, of course, writing a Christian
allegory. Children may not notice or understand the
significance of the stone table split in two, the forbidden
apple in The Magician’s Nephew or the stable of The
Last Battle that contains something bigger than the world
beyond its door, but that’s why the Narnia books can be
re-read into adulthood with lasting enjoyment and increased
appreciation.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first in
what will surely be a series of films, opened in Australia
on Boxing Day. Now that the worlds of Harry Potter and The
Lord of the Rings have been so successfully realised on
screen, there is no fear that fauns, centaurs, giants and
talking beavers (who yearn after sewing machines!) cannot be
convincingly portrayed. But just as important as the special
effects is the film maker’s ability to capture the
spirit of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. There is
such an English-ness about these books with their little
swipes at public schools, their focus on royalty and
ceremony and the charm of phrases such as ‘by
gum’, ‘old chap’, ‘jolly good’ and
‘perfectly splendid’. And behind the narrative is
the rather professorial voice of Lewis admonishing his
readers to remember little rules, such as: ‘It’s a
very silly thing to shut oneself in a wardrobe’ or
‘Always remember to wipe your sword’. (The
important thing is not so much the killing of a vicious
wolf, but cleaning up nicely afterwards!)
Most important though, Aslan must be perfectly
realised. As the Christ figure of Narnia he must be great
and terrible and lovable and awe-inspiring. He must be
convincing as a creator and saviour and someone you yearn to
encounter.
Aslan’s fate at the hands of the White Witch and his
knowledge of magic deeper than she can imagine, are central
to the story. These are children’s books that deal with
betrayal and despair and death. However there is also
courage and redemption and forgiveness. Here is a world
where children can mature and be brave like Peter, nurture
like Susan, redeem themselves like Edmund, or simply delight
like Lucy.
So as New Zealand, with a bit of help from Prague,
transforms from Middle Earth to Narnia, it’s to be
hoped that a new generation of children will be enchanted,
that ideas will enter their minds and develop further as
they grow older, and that every old wardrobe will acquire a
tantalizing sense of mystery as they slowly open its
door.
This review is reprinted with permission from TMA
Another comment
The website Christian
Answers.net says ‘This movie is a faithful
adaptation and provides high quality, wholesome
entertainment. You may not get everything from the movie
that you get from the book, but the essence is there. It
feels like there is more heart that comes through in the
book, but while watching the film there is still the feeling
of a grandfather divulging a significant tale to his
grandchildren.’
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