Prince Caspian (2008) Directed by Andrew Adamson From the Novels of C. S. Lewis


The Pevensie siblings are no strangers to magic. Sent to the country for their safety during the bombing of London, they discovered a far away country called Narnia, through an old wardrobe. There they fought against an ancient evil, overthrowing the White Witch who kept the land locked in eternal winter. With the help of Aslan, the mythic Lion savior of Narnia, Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy (Georgie Henley) become the High Kings and Queens of Narnia, ruling a land of satyrs and centaurs, and talking animals. Eventually they returned to England after many years ruling Narnia with wisdom and justice.

And though years had passed, and they had grown into young men and women, they found themselves children once more, and no time had passed for them.

Now, a year has passed. Peter is having trouble with some of the other lads, and with the rest of the family. He gets into a fight with three other lads in a tube station. Edmund, being a good brother, leapt in to help. His reward was less than stellar.
Edmund: (after the fight ends and his brother says nothing.) “You're welcome.”
Peter: “I had it sorted.”

Shortly after that, the Pevensies fell the call of magic.

In Narnia, (or rather in nearby Telmuria) a woman gives birth, and an old man wakes a young man, and sends him into exile. The woman is Queen Prunaprismia (Alicia Borrachero) Her baby gives her husband, Protector Miraz (Sergio Castellitto) an heir. And that makes the old man, Doctor Cornelius (Vincent Glass) fear for his charges life. Miraz can not be King so long as his nephew lives. Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) makes his way into the wardrobe to a secret passage (nice touch, that) but watches as the General of the Army, Glozelle (Pierfrancesco Favino) order his men to fill his bed with three volleys of crossbow quarrels. Convinced beyond denial, Caspian flees the castle. The last gift of Cornelius is a horn, Queen Susan’s Horn, the one that will summon the High King and King and Queens of old. Caspian flees into the Woods of Narnia, believing no one would dare follow him into those haunted woods.

But the soldiers fear Miraz more than any number of Minotaurs and talking bears, and they chase the Prince deep into the trees. Unhorsed, attacked by dwarves, and with the Protectors men closing in, Caspian sounds the horn.

Thus the High Kings and Queens of Narnia are drawn home once more. But 1300 years have passed. Narnia fell to invasion, having no Son of Adam, no Daughter of Eve to sit the throne. Many animals have forgotten how to talk, the centaurs are few and the trees have forgotten how to dance.

Peter and Caspian do not get along very well; both are ruler, in their own minds, of the same piece of land. Caspian and Susan strike sparks off each other as well, but it is a very different thing.

So, the Pevensies agree to help Caspian regain his throne, in exchange for his country no longer harrying Narnia or her peoples.

Beyond a tale of high adventure, lies another, deeper one. They Pevensies must cross a river. Lucy catches a glimpse of Aslan on the far side but the others don’t believe her (though Edmund is more inclined) “Would you please stop talking to me like grown-ups? I didn't think I saw him I know I saw him.” But still, they go up to the river, to the ford, where the army of Telmarines is building a bridge.
Back down the river where Lucy saw Aslan, they find a way down the gorge, and make it to the far side. Lucy had been right.

Lucy has faith. Peter wants proof, he wants answers, and he wants results. He is growing up.

Lucy has faith, and that is the quality that Aslan values the most.

The Production

Narnia was a bigger, grander movie; vast armies vied with each other. Hundreds of centaurs, satyrs and griffins vied with the wolves and Minotaurs of the White Queen. It was grand in scope, epic in breadth. And it was fabulous.

But this movie is smaller, more intimate. The armies are there, but smaller. Narnia has suffered 1300 years of attrition. And this smaller scale works on so many levels to help this movie. It really feels like they got all the bugs out making the first movie.

And the animation is better, particularly with the Centaurs and Satyrs. There is a colt, who is the cutest little guy, trying hard to be an adult. That is a human story, the herd’s gentle correction and teaching a human gesture. It helps establish the humanity of the non-humans. And there is a blond satyr standing watch, a totally convincing wedding of actor and program. Flawless.

The score also works to build the movie, with out intruding, or calling too much attention to itself.

The story is smaller and simpler as well. And like I said, it works to help fit the book into the medium of the movies as well.

All in all, an excellent production, in many ways superior to the first. Its vision never exceeds its capabilities.

Check out these Faery Tales.
MirrorMask
Night Breed
The Dark Crystal
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Legend
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
The Water Horse
Princess Mononoke




Recommended: Yes