I really liked the first film. It was quite true to the book, but the main problem was the over-long battle scene. Unfortunately, this film departed further from the book in a way which i felt undermined the previous one and had very long battle scenes compared to the book, presumably due to the LOTR market. I really hope that they make 'Voyage Of The Dawn Treader' and look forward to it because of the near-complete lack of fighting.
Having said that, there were things i liked. I am going through a phase of interest in mediaeval stuff, so i quite liked the likes of the costumes and the accoutrements of war, though doubtless they were quite inaccurately portrayed. I also felt a connection with two of the actors, because Anna Popplewell looks like one of my old girlfriends, though i'm far too old to be lusting after someone young enough to be my daughter, and i'm also a big fan of Eddie Izzard. The portrayal of the Telmarines as Hispanic was true to the book, but it may have exposed C S Lewis' own racism. I have a quibble with this. Shouldn't they all have been speaking Spanish? I was also interested in the idea that the baddies use crossbows and the goodies longbows.
My son, whom i took to see this as a special treat, was disappointed, mainly because of the long battle scene. He's as bloodthirsty as the next eleven year old boy, so that can't have been it, and since he doesn't share my distaste for violence, it suggests that it fails on its own terms (though that might be the lack of Daleks for him).
So, all in all, rather disappointing but i have some hope for the sequel, should it be made. Presumably it will. However, if they mess with it, i won't be at all happy. I want these films to be close to the books, which are classics.
Having said that, there were things i liked. I am going through a phase of interest in mediaeval stuff, so i quite liked the likes of the costumes and the accoutrements of war, though doubtless they were quite inaccurately portrayed. I also felt a connection with two of the actors, because Anna Popplewell looks like one of my old girlfriends, though i'm far too old to be lusting after someone young enough to be my daughter, and i'm also a big fan of Eddie Izzard. The portrayal of the Telmarines as Hispanic was true to the book, but it may have exposed C S Lewis' own racism. I have a quibble with this. Shouldn't they all have been speaking Spanish? I was also interested in the idea that the baddies use crossbows and the goodies longbows.
My son, whom i took to see this as a special treat, was disappointed, mainly because of the long battle scene. He's as bloodthirsty as the next eleven year old boy, so that can't have been it, and since he doesn't share my distaste for violence, it suggests that it fails on its own terms (though that might be the lack of Daleks for him).
So, all in all, rather disappointing but i have some hope for the sequel, should it be made. Presumably it will. However, if they mess with it, i won't be at all happy. I want these films to be close to the books, which are classics.