Chronic yawnia - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Reviews

Having never read the books, I went in with an indifferent view hoping to see a great story. Instead I walked out feeling it was a bland juvenile concept. Hollywood had obviously rushed to pump out another Harry Potter/Lord of the Rings formula type movie for the Holidays. I was slightly entertained and this is far from a franchise movie classic. In the beginning, we are taken to an air raid in England. After a close call, the mother decides it is not safe for the children to stay and ships them off to live with the nutty but rarely seen professor in his mansion which happens to be run by a mean old lady. The movie quickly moves you along through this. Whether this is a plus or not as it helps speed the movie along little character development takes place - obviously to make room for the more interesting visuals later in the film. While playing hide-and-seek the youngest girl discovers a giant armoire in a barren room covered by only a sheet. She hides in it. As she moves further back through the closet, she finds her self outside in the snowy woods far from home where she befriends one of Narnia's citizens. When she returns through the cabinet, it appears time stood still on the other side. Her brothers and sister don't believe her at first but eventually discover it for themselves. The sons and daughters of Adam and Eve - a term in the movie that made me realize why Churches across America promoted a fantasy world of magic and mythical creatures - are to rid Narnia of the evil queen and rule the talking animals and mythical creatures. Santa Clause makes a visit and gives the good children weapons to fight with. ?!? In the story the youngest brother sells his brother and sisters out but his guilt overcomes him. Trust me it?s a very weak conflict in the story. Each new scene of the movie brings nothing more to the story and does nothing for the climatic battle where children battle it out in mediocre battle scenes with larger and more experienced soldier beasts. We know who wins and apparently from age progression in the next scene, the children had lived out the next 10 years or so of their lives in Narnia until one day they come upon the Armoire they entered from. They enter it with mystery not remembering much about it only to come through on the other side as children again. And there stands the nutty professor...The End. This movie has been compared to Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings. That is like comparing generic cola to Coke or Pepsi. While is does quench a thirst, the knockoff formula doesn't compare in taste. The visuals were good as it should be now. As I said earlier it?s a bland juvenile concept and must be better as a children's book as they have more of an imagination to fill in the story blanks of this movie.